The Universal Enneagram

Applications in the Real World

So many practical applications are possible with the Enneagram because it is a framework that clarifies the mutually sustaining, self-balancing components that are part of any complex process. Whenever we wish to understand any process more clearly (and why any course of action does or does not work), we can use the Enneagram as a guide.

For example, to start and operate a successful enterprise, one needs vision and confidence (Eight), the ability to bring people together and to listen to them (Nine), ethical standards and quality control (One), the ability to serve people and anticipate their needs (Two), promotional and communication skills (Three), a well designed product and a sensitivity to its emotional impact on individuals (Four), technical expertise and innovative ideas (Five), teamwork and self- regulating feedback (Six), and energy and optimism (Seven). Thus, each type, seen metaphorically, is a necessary component of the whole, and without it, something important will be deficient or even entirely missing. This kind of analysis can be made on many different conceptual levels for an amazing variety of phenomena.

We can use the Enneagram to understand a multitude of business applications, relationships, parenting, cultural differences, and personal growth. We can also use the Enneagram to gain more insight into academic psychology, philosophy, education, biography, the arts (and the styles of composers and creative artists), mythology and the study of archetypes, religion and mysticism, prayer and ascetic practices, spirituality and spiritual direction, psychological testing, brain chemistry, casting and acting, advertising, sales, marketing, and all forms of communication, various kinds of therapy (and the personalities of the psychologists who created them), marriage, career, and legal counseling, sports coaching, lawyer and jury selection, politics (and the character of officeholders and those running for office), and various dimensions of cultural studies. These are just some of the areas in which people are either currently applying the Enneagram or seeking more information about how to do so.

No matter how we use the Enneagram, we need first and foremost to discover our own personality type and (where possible) to ascertain the types of those we are dealing with. If the Enneagram is to be used for personal growth, relationships, therapy, or in the business world, one's primary personality type ( and those of others) must be accurately assessed. The Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (version 2.5) provides a reliable, independently scientifically validated tool for that purpose. But we must remember that discovering our type is only the first step in the process of self-discovery and working with this system. Finding our type is not the final goal but merely the starting place for one of the most fascinating and rewarding journeys of our life.

In Business

Organizations around the world are demanding more accurate information about the needs of clients and employees—and how best to communicate with them. Many are also interested in developing a more humane and person-centered approach to the workplace so that they can attract and retain valuable employees and achieve peak productivity. If we want to maximize our productivity in the workplace, we need to learn how to manage ourselves and how to manage different types of people. The Enneagram is uniquely suited to meet these needs—and many more—in the business world.

The key to success in any venture is the ability to communicate with others, to inspire them to share your vision and goals, and to provide clear direction and keep things on track through clear feedback. Yet communication is often difficult if personality type is not taken into account because people tend to believe that others think the same way they do and that others have the same motivations, values, priorities, and reactions as they do.

Even if we understand that different people need to be managed differently, without an adequate idea of what those differences actually are, it is difficult to manage people more effectively. Once type differences are taken into account, however, solutions grow out of insights about the nature of each type, its habitual reactions, and its motivations. When type is taken into account, communication becomes exponentially more effective and people can recognize and make the most of human diversity. The Enneagram helps managers and personnel at every level understand that there are nine different points of view, nine distinct sets of values, nine different communication styles, nine ways of solving problems—and so forth—and that they are all equally useful and valid. All of the types have something necessary to contribute to a thriving, balanced work environment.

By understanding personality types, we can speak the language of others, which may be very different from our own. Real communication is then possible, and we are able to deal more even-handedly with conflicts, ineffective work habits, office politics, and different management styles, among other important work issues. The Enneagram lubricates all interactions in the workplace by giving people a common vocabulary and frame of reference. Moreover, it helps retain valuable employees by increasing job satisfaction and productivity. It can be used in an executive search to find the right person for the job—and in executive coaching to help people work at the highest level of their capacities. The Enneagram is also particularly valuable for team development, conflict resolution, negotiation, and leadership development.

Furthermore, the Enneagram helps us see our own personality dynamics more clearly. Once we are aware of the importance of personality types, we see that our own style will not be equally effective with everyone. Thus, one of the most useful lessons of the Enneagram is how to move from a management style in which others are expected to mold themselves to our way of thinking and values to a more flexible management style in which we act from an awareness of the strengths and potential contributions of others. By doing so, we help others become more effective themselves—and as a result, harmony, p roductivity, and satisfaction are likely to increase.

The following brief descriptions of the nine types emphasize how they appear in the business world. (We also use different names for some of the types, since in our experience, these are more acceptable in the business world.) You may be able to identify yourself or someone else through this brief "paragraph test," and you can use the descriptions to corroborate what you have found by taking the full RHETI. Needless to say, these brief descriptions are by no means complete—but they are a good place to see the utility of the Enneagram in this context.

The Nine Types in Business

Type One - The Reformer

The rational, orderly type. Principled, purposeful, self- controlled, and perfectionistic. Ones are concerned with maintaining quality and high standards. They focus on details and like to improve and streamline procedures. They are often good at coaching others on how to improve themselves, be more efficient, and do things correctly. Well-organized and orderly, they can also be overly critical of themselves and others. They dislike waste and sloppiness, but can deteriorate into micromanagement and constant, demoralizing criticism. At their best, they have good judgment, make wise decisions, and model ethical and responsible behavior.

Type Two - The Mentor

The helpful, interpersonal type. Generous, appreciative, people-pleasing, and possessive. Twos are sensitive to the needs of others and seek to be of service. They appreciate the talents of others and act as confidants and guides, good at networking people and services. However, they typically have trouble saying no to requests and tend to become stressed by trying to help others too much. They dislike impersonal rules and work situations and can deteriorate into favoritism and time-wasting personal overinvolvements. At their best, they are empathetic and generous and help build team interpersonal connections.

Type Three - The Achiever

The adaptable, ambitious type. Focused, excelling, driven, and image-conscious. Threes know how to work efficiently to get the job done according to customer expectations. Often attractive, charming, and energetic, they are conscious of the image they project of themselves as well as of their team and company. They like getting recognition and are attracted to success and positions of prestige. They can be competitive and workaholic, driven by the need for status and personal advancement, deteriorating into cutting corners to stay ahead. At their best, they are accomplished and admirable, often seen as inspiring role models by others.

Type Four - The Designer

The introspective, artistic type. Expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed, and temperamental. Fours deliver personalized service and/or develop distinctive products known for their refinement and sense of style. They can be uncompromising in their pursuit of the right effect, word, or design and of gauging the personal impact of a product. They dislike tasks that they feel are not creative or give them room for their personal imprint. They may be hypersensitive to criticism and can deteriorate into moodiness and erratic work habits. At their best, they bring intuition and creativity into the workplace and enrich it with their sense of depth, style, and appreciation of the personal dimension.

Type Five - The Investigator

The perceptive, provocative type. Curious, innovative, secretive, and eccentric. Fives are tireless learners and experimenters, especially in specialized or technical matters. They like to understand in detail, spend time on research, and follow their curiosity wherever it leads. They are highly analytical and preoccupied with discovery, not paying attention to project time constraints and relationships. They can deteriorate into arrogance and noncommunication, intellectual bickering and oneupsmanship. At their best, Fives are visionary pioneers, bringing strikingly new ideas and profound depth to their work.

Type Six - The Troubleshooter

The engaging, loyal type. Likable, responsible, anxious, and suspicious. Sixes are diligent and reliable workers. They build alliances and partnerships that help orient their co-workers and get things done. They are able to assess the motivations and relative merits of others and scan the business environment for potential problems. They dislike taking risks and want consensus and predictability. They can be indecisive and have difficulty taking responsibility or action without group authority and can deteriorate into evasiveness and blaming others. At their best, Sixes are self-reliant, independent, and courageous, often calling a group back to its root values.

Type Seven - The Enthusiast

The accomplished, upbeat type. Spontaneous, versatile, impulsive, and scattered. Sevens thrive on change, variety, excitement, and innovation. Often articulate and humorous, they are able to get others to support their ideas. They are in touch with the latest trends and are constantly looking for new possibilities and options. They are natural multi-taskers but can also get overextended and lack follow-through. They can deteriorate into endless talk and distractions, scattering their energy and talents and leaving many projects unfinished. At their best, Sevens focus on worthwhile goals and become highly productive and accomplished.

Type Eight - The Challenger

The powerful, decisive type. Self-confident, commanding, willful, and confrontational. Eights have a clear vision of what they want to accomplish and the willpower to make it happen. They make difficult decisions and see serious problems simply as challenges to be met, obstacles to be overcome. They want to be in control and find it difficult to delegate tasks or share leadership. They champion people, protecting and empowering them, but also can deteriorate into intimidation to get their way, making unnecessary enemies both within and outside the organization. At their best, they are magnanimous and generous, using their strength to improve others' lives.

Type Nine - The Peacemaker

The easygoing, accommodating type. Receptive, reassuring, agreeable, and complacent. Nines create harmony among group members by emphasizing the positive so that conflicts and tensions can be eased. They are supportive and inclusive and work with everyone, humbly allowing others to shine. They dislike conflict and division in the team and try to create harmony and stability. But, they may accommodate others and avoid self-assertion too much, becoming secretly angry as a result. They can deteriorate into ineffectual "make-work," stubborn passivity, and serious neglect. At their best, they are able to negotiate differences and bring people together in a stable but dynamic way.

Click here for more information about using the Enneagram in business.

In Relationships

One of the main facts of life that we all have to learn is that our happiness depends on the quality of our relationships. We do not thrive in isolation. Having good relationships with intimates, friends, family, and coworkers—with everyone we meet and interact with—is necessary if we are to be happy and fulfilled.

Our relationships are also a bellwether of our emotional and spiritual health: the degree to which we can have healthy, growing relationships mirrors the degree of our psychological functioning as well as our spiritual maturity. It is very difficult for a demanding, fearful, grasping person to have satisfying relationships, whereas a gracious, accepting, and compassionate person most often does. Our own Level of Development (which measures our degree of awareness, nonattachment, and freedom from destructive reactions) is the surest gauge of our ability to have and sustain relationships—and to give as well as receive in them.

The Enneagram can help us become much clearer about our relationship values, expectations, communication and argument styles, thinking and decision patterns, ways of resolving conflicts, fears, defenses, and various coping mechanisms—to name just a few of the elements that affect relationships. These apply to marriage, friendships, and professional relationships—to all kinds of interactions. Each personality type thinks differently, has different values and approaches, and wants different things in a relationship. Furthermore, beginning in the average Levels, each type has its own set of issues that make compatibility with other types either more or less difficult. The compatibility strengths and weaknesses for all 45 combinations of types can be described for each (for example, we can talk about what issues Fours and Ones will have, as well as those for Fours and Twos, Fours and Threes, and so forth for all type combinations.)

Good relationships depend on our being able to understand ourselves and others, to see our own needs and the needs of others, and to accept the legitimacy of others' viewpoint while expressing our own. In short, we must be able to treat others as we wish to be treated, even if we have not been treated so well in the past ourselves. Our relationships therefore become the opportunity to revisit the past and to transform ourselves according to more conscious choices in the present.

What Each Type Looks for in a Relationship—and What Interferes

Click here for more on relationships, including descriptions of the 45 type compatibilities.

In Parenting

What needs to be said right away in any discussion of parenting is that parents do not create a child's personality type. All Enneagram teachers and researchers agree that personality type is built on temperament and that, in ways we do not fully understand, this is inborn. A child comes into the world with his or her personality type already determined by prenatal events, although we do not know what all of these are. There are theories that type is determined by genetics, by in utero events, by the emotional state of the mother, or even by past lives and the need for a soul to be a certain type to learn the lessons of that type. But the truth is, we really do not know all of the causes of type.

This is not to say that early family conditions and parental influences are not important: far from it. While they do not cause type, they highly influence how emotionally healthy or unhealthy a child becomes. A child who is fortunate enough to be born into a family of well-balanced parents will start life as a relatively healthy example of his or her type. Conversely, a child who is born into a relatively dysfunctional family will have to close down his natural openness, spontaneity, and vitality and need to erect defenses against the various forms of violation that exist in the family. In the authors' terms, one child will be at a healthier Level of Development, while the second child will grow up at a substantially lower, unhealthier, Level. Hence, the second child will have more emotional challenges than the first child.

In short, parenting does count—not to produce a personality type, but to influence how healthy a child of that type will be. It is therefore not difficult to see that when parents work on themselves through psychospiritual tools such as the Enneagram, they are not only doing something good for themselves, they are making possible one of the greatest gifts they could give their children—an emotionally healthy childhood and a happier future. Parents who help their child develop self- esteem, emotional stability, open curiosity, trust in self, an enjoyment of life, strength and self-confidence, easiness with themselves, the ability to regulate themselves, and empathy for self and others (qualities found in the nine types) set the stage for the development of all of their child's potentials and future accomplishments.

One of the most useful areas for parents to become aware of is the differences of fit between themselves and their children. Not every child will be an easy fit for every parent. If two parents are highly energetic, sociable, and extroverted, and their child is quiet, serious, and reserved, the fit between the parents and the child can become strained. The child may unconsciously feel that he or she is a disappointment to the parents, which can cause serious emotional difficulties for the child. The parents might try to manipulate or pressure the child to be more like them. Or they might feel guilty or inadequate for not understanding their child—or even for not completely liking and enjoying their child.

Differences of fit between parents and children can become more clearly understood with the Enneagram. This is not to say that understanding alone will be enough to undo any potential problems. But without insight and understanding there can be no solution to problems. Above all, parents need to see their children not as their possessions to be molded according to their own emotional needs but as independent beings who have their own value and are worthy of being treated with dignity and respect.

The following chart indicates a few of the major expectations of each type of parent toward their children, no matter what type their children may actually be. Being aware of these unconscious expectations and not allowing yourself to manipulate your children into having to measure up to them will go a long way toward improving parent-child relationships.

What Parents Expect from Their Children

One of the best attitudes for parents to have toward their children is an amazed curiosity to support the child's own unfolding. In childrearing, only one thing is certain: children will develop in unexpected ways. If parents try to block the child's natural unfolding, they will not succeed. The unfolding will not stop but merely become distorted and neurotic. It is therefore always best for the parent to observe the child's type (with its innate gifts and capacities) and to elicit the best aspects of the child's type rather than try to change him or her into someone fundamentally different from who he or she already is.

In Cultural Studies

People often ask if countries have a particular personality type. (In a similar vein, they ask if companies and organizations have a specific personality style—and if religions do as well.)

The answer to these questions is "Yes, they do"—although unfortunately there is as yet no hard scientific evidence to back up this observation. Researchers will have to sample populations to determine the exact mix of the types in any given group or nationality. Nevertheless, we would not expect to find an even spread of the nine types across any population, whether it is the United States, a business, or your local church. For example, intuitively, it is clear that the population of the United States in 2003 is not made up of 11.1 percent of each of the nine types. Yet it is not clear what the precise composition of the American population is. Field testing with a validated test (such as the RHETI, version 2.5) would have to be done to determine the exact proportions in any large population with some degree of accuracy.

Even if this were done, it would not necessarily mean that the culture of a country would be directly reflected in the personality makeup of its citizens. Culture has deeper roots than the personality types of those who make it up at any given time. For example, if empirical testing were to reveal that in the United States in 2003 there was a predominance of types Six, Nine, and Seven, and that Six was numerically the largest group, this would not necessarily mean that the United States should be characterized as a Six country culturally—although over time it might become so.

Nevertheless, countries do seem to have a dominant personality type (or perhaps more appropriately, style), although we have observed that, in any country at a given time, three dominant types seem to be the main components of the "national character." These three dominant types not only color the personality of the country as a whole, they also change from historical era to historical era. For example, we think that the United States in 2003 is culturally predominantly a Three, Six, and Seven country. This means that we see the Three's drive for success, fame, status, narcissism, and concern for their career and image are major themes in the current American character. This is joined by the Seven's love of the new and immediate, their high energy, love of change and variety, and insatiable consumerism. Added to these two threads are the Six's traditionalism, conservatism, respect for law, authority and institutions, "family values," and apprehensiveness about the future. These three types (seen metaphorically and psychologically) are the three uppermost elements in the American psyche at this time.

From the perspective of the Enneagram, all value sets based on personality needs and biases are equally relative. They all have their positive, enriching aspects as well as their negative, destructive ones. Using the Enneagram to analyze and understand cultural differences may be one of the most important applications of this system for diplomacy and international understanding. After all, one of the messages of the Enneagram is that, fundamentally, we are all alike—all of us are human beings who have similar hopes, fears, needs, limitations, and aspirations. Despite cultural differences and historical accidents, we are more similar to each other than we could have imagined. Our belief in "the oneness of humanity" becomes a living perception and the basis for positive action in the world, not merely a fine-sounding but empty phrase. Once the world understands this, the possibility of real peace will become greatly increased.

The following assignment of three personality styles in the national character of several countries is, of course, an educated guess until appropriate empirical research can be done.

In Personal Growth

We must always remember that the primary use for the Enneagram is for self-discovery and personal growth. The Enneagram helps bring to light what was formerly hidden from us—to "make the unconscious conscious," as Freud put it. From a spiritual perspective, the purpose of the Enneagram is to point out to us the patterns of distortions and illusions that we mistakenly take to be ourselves. It is a tool for self-realization and self- actualization—for clarifying our psyche so that it can be given up in a surrender to the Divine.

The nine types are detailed reminders of our "waking sleep" (as Gurdjieff taught), of "who we are not," rather than identities that cause further attachment to our ego and the perpetuation of our illusions and suffering. As such, the personality types are really catalogues of our own particular case of mistaken identity, and they contain a considerable amount of bad news for our egos. But if we look deeper, we can also see that there is in the Enneagram an implied invitation to stop our self-destructive patterns by seeing them more objectively and compassionately. Our waking up is the beginning of the process of transformation.

The Enneagram helps us take concrete steps toward recovering our True Nature, our spiritual selves. But even the most dedicated spiritual seekers generally do not go from a genuine spiritual realization to a permanent transformation without a lot of significant Inner Work over a long period of time. Old patterns of behavior, beliefs, attitudes, values, defenses—and much else—must be exposed and clarified in our psyche. This is not a short, all-at- once process, and one encounters many obstacles and paradoxes along the way.

Yet here again the Enneagram can help to make traveling the path of self-knowledge surer. By exposing the psychospiritual obstacles presented by our type, it makes working with them clearer, especially if we see them in a larger context. By reminding us to bring awareness to the moment, it helps us see our behaviors and motivations, fears and desires, attitudes and defenses in action. By observing ourselves in the moment, we learn to reverse the hidden, self-defeating mechanisms of our type. By fully acknowledging and staying present to our fears, hurts, and cravings without acting them out or repressing them, we discover who we really are and find our inner strength—and a way out of our problems.

If we stay awake to our inner states, even to our suffering, quite miraculously, things begin to shift. We find that life becomes easier, because we can use our time and energy for living creatively rather than wasting them on internal turmoil and conflicts. We also discover that, once our unconscious, automatic patterns start dropping away, we become free of older, limiting identities. We then naturally find ourselves drawn to healthier ways of living and relating—and to a felt sense of our own dignity and the dignity of others.

As we move into a new millennium, we recognize more than ever the vital importance of waking up. By this, we mean not only waking up to the truth of what our personality is up to, but just as important, waking up to the majesty of our depths, to the riches of the spirit. For real change to occur in the world and for human beings to discover their common humanity, there must be real transformation first in each individual so that we can become vehicles of Consciousness. Only by more human beings becoming more deeply conscious will we escape from our self-destructive impulses. This can only happen one person at a time, beginning with ourselves, here and now.

Click here for more information using the Enneagram in personal development.

Learn More

The accuracy and usefulness of the Enneagram, including the RHETI questionnaire (Version 2.5), is made possible by The Insight Approach^sm of Don Riso and Russ Hudson. The Insight Approach^sm emphasizes clear and precise understanding of each personality type and the Enneagram system as a whole. The Insight Approach^sm relies on the internal Levels of Development of each type as well as rigorous conceptualization and investigation, individual observation and interviewing, and in-depth understanding and intuition for information about the system.

For the only in-depth Training Program that covers all elements of the complete Enneagram system, consider coming to the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Professional Training Program. Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson offer a comprehensive, three-part Enneagram Professional Training Program each year. The Training is designed to equip serious students of the Enneagram to teach and make applications of the system in areas as diverse as personal growth, business, education, spirituality, relationships, therapy, and counseling. Contact us for more information about our Training Program.

Don Riso and Russ Hudson also give Workshops worldwide on relationships, on Inner Work with the Enneagram, on the Psychic Structures and the Superego, on business applications, and on other basic and advanced topics.

Click here for how to contact us for more information about Riso-Hudson Enneagram Trainings and Workshops, new publications, business seminars, audio tapes and other resources, or to have your name added to our mailing list.

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