The Enneagram with the
Riso-Hudson Business Type Names

Enneagram and Business

The nine personality types can also be studied in other 3x3 group combinations. For example, we can focus on the three primary functions (or "Centers") of head, heart, or instinct, or on the types’ general social styles (assertive, withdrawn, or dutiful), or on how they react to stress and conflict (through positive reframing, through intensified involvement, or through increased competency). For more information about the various groups, see our books Personality Types, Understanding the Enneagram, and The Wisdom of the Enneagram.

One of the most practical uses of the Enneagram is to help managers be more insightful about the problematic qualities that the different types bring to the workplace. For example, the following "Enneagram of the Dysfunctional Workplace" clarifies some of the troublesome influences of each type, particularly as pressures build and people operate in more disruptive ways. Naturally, the different types need to be managed differently if they are to resolve these negative tendencies.

The Enneagram of the Dysfunctional Workplace^sm

Enneagram Business Types

Through the clarity and comprehensive of The Insight Approach^® the Enneagram can serve as a guide to a wide range of management applications such as team assessment, team building, coaching, executive development, and dealing with downsizing issues, to name just a few.

The Levels of Development

The Levels of Development are an original contribution of Don Riso and Russ Hudson not only to the Enneagram but to general psychology. The Levels allow for a more useful and growth-oriented understanding of the idea of personality type by adding a "vertical" dimension to the "horizontal" distinctions that the Enneagram makes. The Levels have been praised by consciousness pioneer Ken Wilber as the most important dimension of Enneagram work today.

The nine personality types can be understood as a "continuum" of nine internal stages, each with specific behaviors and motivations. Everyone moves "up" and "down" the Levels of their type continually. Much like a thermometer measures the temperature of something, the Levels of Development measure the level of health, maturity, and openness to reality—among other qualities—for each type. Having an "internal thermometer" of each type’s degree of flexibility and maturity enables managers and HR professionals to see how well people are functioning and to design interventions that will be most helpful for the individual.

The nine Levels themselves have overall themes, the understanding of which helps people see their behavior more objectively. For instance, for each of the nine personality types, the themes of the Levels of Development are:

Healthy	Level 1	The Level of Mastery
	Level 2	The Level of Ego Definition
	Level 3	The Level of Personal Contribution
Average	Level 4	The Level of Role Identification
	Level 5	The Level of Interpersonal Control & Conflict
	Level 6	The Level of Overcompensation & Aggression
Unhealthy	Level 7	The Level of Abusiveness & Depression
	Level 8	The Level of Deep Pathology
	Level 9	The Level of Pathological Destructiveness

The above information may seem abstract—until it is applied to each of the individual personality types. The following traits for Enneagram Type Eight, The Challenger give an idea of how this approach can be used for coaching people to "move up the Levels."

The traits listed here for each Level are highly abbreviated. There are actually clusters of dozens of related traits at each Level as well as the specific motivations that form the backbone of each type. See Personality Types for the most complete descriptions of the Levels available.

The Levels for Enneagram Type Eight

Level 1	Big hearted, forbearing, self-surrendering—often a great leader
Level 2	Self-assertive, strong, action oriented, usually a visionary
Level 3	Authoritative, decisive, bold, powerful, honorable
Level 4	Pragmatic, self-interested, competitive, tough on self & others
Level 5	Controlling, dominating, ego-centric, demanding obedience
Level 6	Willful, confrontational, belligerent, threatening retaliation
Level 7	Dictatorial, violent temper, physically and verbally abusive
Level 8	Megalomaniacal, grandiose, terrorizing, feels "invincible"
Level 9	Dangerously violent, paranoid, destructive, sadistic

For More Information

See the Practical Applications Section.

Links to the Other Business Pages:

Page 1 The Enneagram in Business
Page 2 Introduction, The 9 Types, Guidelines
Page 3 Business FAQs
Page 4 The Personality Grid, Interpersonal Grid, Disruptive Grid
Page 5 Enneagram with Types, Dysfunctional Workplace, Levels
Page 6 Usefulness in Workplace, Programs & Consulting Group
Page 7 The Nine Domains Approach

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.

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The Enneagram Institute is a Service Mark of Enneagram Personality Types, Inc.
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The Enneagram with the Riso-Hudson Business Type Names