Have you heard of the Enneagram or have you ever taken the test? If not, know that this is an important way to discover your personality type, among the nine described by the figure.
The Enneagram can help us in many ways, as it highlights our strengths and areas for improvement. For this reason, it is widely used by companies in people management and selection of new professionals.
Check below everything you need to know about the Enneagram and learn how to take this test and discover your personality type.
Good reading!
What is the Enneagram?
The Enneagram is a geometric figure that represents nine personality types present in human nature.
The word Enneagram originates from the Greek, ENNEA, which means “nine” and GRAMMOS, which means “figure/drawing”. Thus, the word represents a figure that has nine points.
The Enneagram is nothing more than a way to get to know ourselves and understand how it can help us in different ways. But attention! Before starting to work with the Enneagram, you need to identify your type and this identification can come from a test.
It is from this identification that it is possible to start the development work. The Enneagram allows us to move forward and makes real progress possible because the starting point is where we really are.
True and authentic self-knowledge is invaluable and with the Enneagram, if we want it, we will have the way.
What is an Enneagram test?
It is a model that describes individual differences based on nine types of people. (Below you can see what they are!). This model is illustrated by an enneagram itself – a nine-sided geometric shape.
Thus, the enneagram test describes nine personality types that are interconnected and easily observable in everyday life.
We are talking about a model that has been widely adopted, mainly by the Human Resources of companies, as a way of managing people and helping in the selection of new talents.
The modern Enneagram was elaborated in the 1950s by the Bolivian researcher Oscar Ichazo in his work “Enneagon of Ego Fixations”. Oscar started teaching him in Personal Development Workshops.
This personal development program for Oscar included testing and using other symbols and symbolism. It started in Chile and went on to the United States, already under the name of Enneagrama da Personalidade.
From then on, other scholars began to spread the Enneagram test, such as the Chilean psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo, who after learning from Oscar, also took the test to the US, however, with some modifications following his own style. Naranjo began to teach it to very diverse audiences.
Today, after a series of improvements, the Enneagram test has become a recognized model of self-knowledge, it is no wonder that it is still widely used, especially by HR professionals.
After all, it is a very effective technique to strengthen the positive aspects of our personal and professional behaviors, in addition to stimulating teamwork among professionals with different styles and guiding how to overcome behaviors considered “weak”.
However, it is worth noting that the result should not be seen as decisive for an analysis of any professional.
What does the enneagram symbol mean?
As we have already said here, the Enneagram is a nine-pointed geometric figure that works as a procedural symbol.
Thus, each of its ends represents a basic psychological type corresponding to personality formats.
Composed of a circle, a triangle and a hexad, the Enneagram can be used in understanding and studying any ongoing process.
Its logic is that the end is always the beginning of a new cycle. So, each element of the Enneagram represents an evolutionary process.
Check out the meaning of each shape in the figure below:
- Law of One: represented by the Circle, teaches us that everything is one (one), that is, the entire reality is one thing. When applied to humans, the Law of One reminds us that we are all one and that each of us is a whole, one reality.
- Law of Three: represented by the Triangle, this law also teaches us that everything is one thing, however, each thing (whole and one) can manifest itself in three different ways. When applied to people, this law says that we manifest ourselves in three different ways: through action, through reason and through emotion.
- Law of Seven or Law of Octaves: represented by the Hexad, this law teaches us that nothing is static, so everything is in motion and in the process of becoming something else. When applied to humans, we notice that this law helps us to explain the evolution of emotional states.
When we put these three elements together – the circle, the triangle and the hexad – we have the Enneagram. A symbol that seeks to demonstrate the integrity of something, whose identity results from the interaction of three elements and evolves over time.
How does the Enneagram test work?
The Enneagram test works as follows: Mental health professionals, such as psychologists, ask individuals a series of questions. And based on the answers, they can identify the personality type of the person.
Currently, there are several sites on the internet that have online Enneagram tests, but they are not highly recommended, as they are just a summary of the actual exam.
The ideal is really to do it with a psychologist, capable of applying the technique properly and giving the result/complete analysis. With that, he can also show you the paths you need to follow.
The Enneagram test has many benefits, because by doing so you will have more self-awareness and you will know what your strengths and weaknesses are , very important for your personal and professional development (after all, we always have to talk about ourselves in many situations, such as job interviews, right?).
That is, with this test you can improve your life in all aspects.
What is the purpose of the Enneagram?
The main objective is to map people’s personalities, considering the nine points already mentioned above and the patterns of behavior that are constructive and destructive, in addition to pointing out alternatives for the person to develop through self-knowledge.
In companies, for example, the Enneagram can help managers and leaders, whether in the distribution of tasks, in motivational actions and/or in understanding the needs of their team.
In addition, it assists HR professionals in managing people and selecting new talent.
And yet, it is a way to help employees get to know themselves, understanding their difficulties, their strengths that help with productivity and their weaknesses, which need to be improved.
How to make a person’s enneagram?
Before taking the Enneagram and discovering a person’s personality, it is important to understand that personality is formed in childhood. That is, it is created from something that happened at this stage, a form of survival.
But anyway, how to find out your personality type ? We bring here some tips so that you can identify your profile.
- 1st TIP: Observe the behavior of each Enneagram personality type and see which ones make the most sense in your case. However, also look at internal motivations and not just behavior, as you can identify with many.
- 2nd TIP: Study, research and try to understand in depth what the Enneagram is. Surely this article helped you, but look for more about it so that you can understand as much as possible.
- 3rd TIP: reflection and perception about yourself. Reflect and reflect a lot on your behaviors and the reasons that lead you to have these behaviors and analyze them along with the Enneagram personality types that you believe make the most sense to you.
- 4th TIP: take the Enneagram test, as many bring a simpler language for you to understand without doing all the steps above, since not everyone has the time or patience for this. Some people even prefer to start with the test and then do all the analysis on themselves.
The important thing here is to perform the Enneagram. Find the way that best suits your case. Discovering your personality type helps you find yourself, improve many aspects of your life and improve it in some way.
But attention! Keep your mind open to not only your positives but also your negatives.
What are the 9 Enneagram personality types?
In the enneagram, we have nine personality types . Check them out below:
Type 1 – Perfectionist and demanding
He is a determined, practical and responsible person, but also hostile, irritable and stubborn, as he aims for perfection.
Therefore, he focuses all his attention on the error, on what must be corrected. The phrase that describes this type is “I do it my way”.
Type 2 – Friendly and Proud
The central point of this person is to be loved by others. Therefore, he is called helpful and will help in every situation he can.
In general, you are a conqueror who knows how to use your strengths such as charisma and willingness to involve. On the other hand, the negative points are attachment and arrogance. Her phrase is: “I must help others”.
Type 3 – Successful
This is a flexible, focused and motivating profile, but who can have low self-esteem, at the same time that he can be frantic and manipulative. Here what they want at all costs is to succeed and this is the main objective. That’s why the phrase that describes them is: “I need to be successful”.
Type 4 – Dissatisfied and emotional
People who have adopted type fours are emotion-centered, sensitive to their environment, and emotionally unstable.
Their sensitive emotional perception makes them people who see what most people don’t. What is easily recognized is dissatisfaction. Therefore, they seek self-knowledge and self-understanding. The phrase of this personality type is: “I am unique”.
Type 5 – Observer and Strategist
People who have adopted type fives are mind-centered, have a curiosity for understanding, and become extremely rational planners. The central idea of type five is total knowledge.
With his accurate and constant observation, he always tries to understand more about the world and people, in an eternal cycle to use the acquired knowledge and learn more. The phrase that highlights this personality type is: “I need to understand the world”.
Type 6 – Careful
People who adopt type six are action or emotion centered, aiming for control. They are attentive and suspicious, although they do not necessarily express it.
They prefer to get ready to throw themselves offhand. We can notice, in this trend, the representation of a single type, in the via negativa and the via negativa. The phrase that stands out is: “I am skeptical”.
Type 7 – Happy and optimistic
The central objective here is the search for happiness, for joy. He is usually someone fun and optimistic and is always ready to hear a new idea, to dream of a new project.
Negatively, they can be impulsive and flighty, moving hourly towards a new dream. The phrase that defines this personality type is: “I am happy and open to new ideas”.
Type 8 – Defiant and authoritative
Type eight is that person who is always in confrontation with others. Due to this single characteristic, he already has a great tendency to lead groups and people.
They are motivated to action, and can positively motivate people to achieve their goals and the group’s goals. The phrase that defines it is: “I must be strong”.
Type 9 – Mediator
The mediator is that person who seeks peace, that is, seeks to resolve conflicts, disagreements and disagreements. He always wants to create unity among people. Therefore, his representative phrase is: “I am at peace”.
Subtypes
Each enneagram type is divided into three subtypes. See below:
Conservative
Conservatives focus on themselves and their own survival in the environment they are in.
They are linked to material goods, they even want to save money, but not to show it to others, but to ensure their preservation as living beings.
Sexual
They prefer one-on-one relationships. In general, they are people who are always in search of great love, a great passion, focusing their lives on the sex-affective relationship.
They are intense and can even be lacking when they are not related. They are usually sincere and frank.
Social
These prefer group relationships, they are sociable. However, they are concerned with the opinion of others and can be too guided by the opinions of others and/or social standards.
They may even like gossip and anything that involves the human being’s social instinct, such as social gatherings and parties. In general, they are people who are easy to make friends with.
Which types combine best?
Knowing all personality types means acquiring new skills and competencies that help in both professional and personal life.
To understand which Enneagram personality types go well together, you need to look at the behaviors of each personality type and analyze which ones suit you.
For example, if you identify yourself as type 9 (mediator), as you are always looking for conflict resolution, you might match type 2 (friendly and proud), who seeks to help other people.
But if you identify more with type 7 (happy and optimistic), who constantly dream of a new project, your perfect match may be type 5 – (observer and strategist), who is always seeking knowledge.
Other possible combinations can be: type 1 – (perfectionist and demanding) with type 3 – (successful) or even with type 8 – (challenging and authoritarian), since everyone aims to achieve their goals perfectly and achieve success.
Type 4 – (Dissatisfied and emotional) can combine with Type 6 (Careful), as the latter can focus on their emotions.
Is it possible to change Enneagram?
We all have a life story, facts and factors that brought us here and defined who we are today. We can say that we are like a tree, since when we form our personality , already in childhood, we plant fundamental roots in our way of acting.
As much as we are able to neutralize or enhance certain characteristics, our unchanging traits will always be with us. In short, the Enneagram does not change, but our lives do.
We all evolve and always seek to learn, so we don’t need to stick to certain actions, but seek help to alleviate what bothers us and help us to mature and move forward.
The Enneagram highlights our mitigated difficulties and our positive points . When we understand this, it becomes easier to act on our behalf and take control of our lives.
Conclusion
The Enneagram has been used a lot, mainly by companies, as it helps us in our self-knowledge.
It is through it that we can evolve, highlighting our positive and negative points. Our Enneagram does not change, it evolves and we have to look for it.
There are nine personality types, plus three subtypes. We can identify with many of them and even combine them, but we must analyze which ones suit our case.
Finally, taking the Enneagram test is very important to help us in all aspects of our lives.
