The Personality Grid^sm

The following Personality Grid^sm shows how all nine types take on specific Interpersonal Roles. As the Grid indicates, the nine types can be divided into three groups of three: those whose "social function" is as a soloist, an initiator, or a cooperator. These three groups are further subdivided into three groups depending on those whose concern is primarily focused on developing the self, on looking to the future, or on influencing others. The words in parentheses describe the principal asset or talent each type attempts to bring to the workplace. The italicized title is a healthy role of the type.

The Interpersonal Roles Personality Grid^sm

	Social Function
Area of Concern	SOLOISTS	INITIATORS	COOPERATORS
DEVELOPING THE SELF	The Designer (Creating) The Intuitive Originator	The Achiever (Communicating) The Competent Pragmatist	The Mentor (Supporting) The Thoughtful Contributor
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE	The Investigator (Discovering) The Perceptive Expert	The Enthusiast (Popularizing) The Joyful Visionary	The Troubleshooter (Implementing) The Dependable Associate
INFLUENCING OTHERS	The Peacemaker (Mediating) The Comforting Optimist	The Challenger (Empowering) The Self- Confident Authority	The Reformer (Improving) The Conscientious Teacher

Copyright, 2001, The Enneagram Institute

All Rights Reserved

Each type also has less-than-optimal aspects to it, and these characteristics could also be added to the above Personality Grid^sm to indicate more disruptive qualities.

In all of the following "Disruptive Roles," people become more defensive about their identity and more willing to get into conflicts with others to maintain their sense of self. It is when people get stuck in these roles that much of the egocentric posturing and "game playing" found in organizations takes place. People then find it increasingly difficult to put their own ego agendas aside for the common good or to cooperate with others in the organization.

The Disruptive Roles Personality Grid^sm

	Social Function
Area of Concern	SOLOISTS	INITIATORS	COOPERATORS
DEVELOPING THE SELF	The Designer (Creating) The Temperamental Withholder	The Achiever (Communicating) The Slippery Operator	The Mentor (Supporting) The Self-Important Busybody
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE	The Investigator (Discovering) The Detached Technician	The Enthusiast (Popularizing) The Scattered Chatterbox	The Troubleshooter (Implementing) The Ambivalent Skeptic
INFLUENCING OTHERS	The Peacemaker (Mediating) The Passive Wishful Thinker	The Challenger (Empowering) The Heavy-Handed Taskmaster	The Reformer (Improving) The Rigid Scorekeeper

Copyright, 2001, The Enneagram Institute

All Rights Reserved

Information about various aspects of the personality types could continue to be listed in a series of Personality Grids. However, the nine personality types are not static categories but are related to each other in revealing ways and can be arranged around a circle. We can also draw lines between the types to represent the connections between them—and the Enneagram symbol results.

The Enneagram not only delineates the nine basic personality types but the internal lines indicate potentials for further adaptive and defensive behaviors for each type. This dynamic quality is unique to the Enneagram and makes this system extremely helpful in interpersonal and business settings. Beyond its usefulness to managers, the Enneagram brings depth and clarity to executive development, leadership, team building, customer service and sales—as well as many other areas of personal and organizational life.

For additional information, availability, and fees, contact The Enneagram Institute^sm * The Personality Grid, The Enneagram Institute Consulting Group, and The Insight Approach are Service Marks of The Enneagram Institute.

Copyright, 2001, The Enneagram Institute

All Rights Reserved

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Links to the Other Business Programs Pages:

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Introduction, The 9 Types, Guidelines Business FAQs The Personality Grid, Interpersonal Grid, Disruptive Grid Enneagram with Types, Dysfunctional Workplace, Levels Usefulness in Workplace, Programs & Consulting Group Business Resources

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