U.C. Back 2 Business Alumni Monthly Gathering

Saturday July 28, 2012

An Introduction to the Enneagram

By

Margaret Rahn, MBA, MA

-Ennea (Greek meaning 9)

-Gram (Greek meaning figure or drawing)

The Enneagram

Circle

Hexadd Triangle

Sourced in esoteric traditions -- Kabbalah, Sufi and Christian: 4th – 12th century A.D.

– An early monastery method of study to understand personality and spiritual growth

– The symbol dates back ~2,500 years; passed on largely by monasteries

History of the Enneagram

History of the Enneagram

- ~1915 Introduced to modern thinking by George Gurdjieff; a Greek Armenian (1866-1949). Studied in monasteries in Egypt, Afghanistan, Greece,

Persia, India, & Tibet.

Taught in Russia, France and the U.S.

- 1950’s-1960’s Oscar Ichazo of Bolivia studied in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Middle East. Developed the template used by psychologists today.

Taught in Africa, Chile.

- 1977 Psychologist Don Riso engaged the Enneagram with Perry’s work on the human emotional/psychological stages of development towards adulthood.

- Continued use and development in psychology, education, spiritual direction and organization development.

History of the Enneagram

Why study the Enneagram?It serves as a reflective tool to grow in self awareness and understanding, and thus, leads to an enhanced

understanding of one’s way of engaging & responding in relationships. It is based on how we sense, or take in, & respond to our world through three centers of

intelligence: the heart, the mind & the body.

The Intelligence Centers of the Enneagram

HeartIntelligence Centered in the Emotions

Type Two Provider-Giver-Helper• Feeling based. • Empathic.• Driven by instinctual response to help others to ensure relationship• Need to be needed. Setting personal boundaries can be difficult.• Instinctively understand/ read/ anticipate the needs of others.• Tends to lack conscious awareness of own needs• A “give to get” manipulation style.

Focus of Attention (FOA): “Will others like me? Am I needed?”

Pooh Character: Kanga (mother

of Roo)

HeartIntelligence Centered in the Emotions

Type Three Doer-Achiever– Image of success; will change to project an

image according to the needs of the group.– Competitive; goal focused. – Intolerant of others who allow feelings to get in the way of doing– Thrive on being busy. Believe that they are loved for doing, not for

being.– Motivated to perform by love (Kousnes & Posner;

recognition/acknowledgement)– Look to the outside world for validation.– Concerned that if they stop doing, they might have to feel.

Focus of Attention (FOA):“How can I gain the respect & esteem of others?”

Pooh Character:

Gopher

HeartIntelligence Centered in the Emotions

Type Four Idealist-Romantic– Melancholy; depression; strong inner critic;

compares self to others grass is always greener– Motivated by authenticity. Creative. Dislike of the ordinary; wants to

be extraordinary.– Special depth of feelings; a sense of longing. Expresses dramatically;

“Delightful!” “Horrific!”– Sense of being different. Artistic. Appreciation for beauty; art, nature,

fashion, etc.– Original Source; values alone time. Growth comes from a balanced

emotional life.

Focus of Attention (FOA):“Can “Can I express myself?”

Pooh Character:

Eeyore

Type Five Sage-Observer– Knowledge in depth; knowledge for the

sake of knowledge– First reaction is to review an experience mentally. Detached.– Inwardly focused (vs. outwardly like 2’s). Conserves energy.– Being serious is valued by 5’s. Wants to understand all facets of things.– Avoids emotions. Energy is in the head. Always observing self.– Has strong feelings but does not express them; takes time & space to

assess & feelings– Willing to share info; an information resource center.

Focus of Attention (FOA):“ Will my resources, time,

& energy be demanded?”

Pooh Character:

Owl

MindIntelligence Centered in the Analytical Mind

MindIntelligence Centered in the Analytical Mind

• Type Six Questioner-Loyal Skeptic– Goes to worst case scenario in problem situations.– Instinctively scans for information in all situations.– First instinct is to not trust. Fear based.– Often are not in touch with their feelings.– Question everything; Shore up the ship; Contingency planner.– Two types: the phobic who retreats, or, the counter phobic who

moves against.– Organized & Delivers the goods.

Focus of Attention (FOA):“What could go wrong here? Whom can I trust? Am I making the best decisions?”

Pooh Character:

Piglet

MindIntelligence Centered in the Analytical Mind

Type Seven Adventurer-Epicure– Energetic. Optimistic; there is always a positive scenario.– Options. Adventure. Never bored.– Pleasure; positive; happy, exuberant.– Intellectual; active mind.– In project management she is a creative, innovative imagineer & fully

invested at start up. By mid-project she has already moved onto the next adventure.

Focus of Attention (FOA):What is exciting? Do I feel constrained?Can I avoid pain?”

Pooh Character:

Tigger

BodyIntelligence Centered in the Gut Responses

• Type Eight Protector-Defender

– Justice/fairness. Will take on a fight. – Action w/o regard of consequences. “I just have to take action.”– Courageous. Having known vulnerability, will move to offense as the

best defense.– Persistent. Voracious appetite. Passionate.– Direct/authoritative. Like to do it their way.– Intense. Their strength and aggression can be daunting.– Challenge is to combine assertion & control with interdependency &

cooperation.Focus of Attention (FOA):“Is everything under control in an

effective & just way?”

Pooh Character:

Gorilla

BodyIntelligence Centered in the Gut Responses

• Type NineMediator-Moderator

– Gateway to heaven; sees all points of view. – Harmony; focus on keeping the peace and maintaining

calm/equilibrium– Merging; core issue is self worth. Self-forgetting.– Inertia; has to be coaxed to give to self. Energy is in the body. Energy is

slow & deliberate.– Avoids conflict passive aggressive; stubborn.– Strong awareness of the environment, people and places.

Focus of Attention (FOA):“Is everyone being heard?

Including me?”

Pooh Character:

Pooh

BodyIntelligence Centered in the Gut Responses

• Type One Judge-Perfectionist– Black & white thinking. Comparing mind.– Critical voice; self critical; deeply rooted internal critic. Anger. Self

judging.– Perfection; precise; high standards. Procrastination because working

so hard to make it right.– Focus on what’s wrong &, at all costs avoids being wrong. Perfect is

not enough.– Conscientious; responsible; detail oriented.– Caring. Passionate.

Focus of Attention (FOA):“What is right or wrong,

correct or incorrect?”

Pooh Character:

Rabbit

The Intelligence Centers of the Enneagram

You and Your Personality Style

via the Enneagram

Enneagram Typing CardsTo help you identify your Ennegram type:

1. Read the side of the card with the image & the identifying phrases.2. Divide the cards into three piles that best describe you as:

a) “Yes.” b) “No.”c) “Maybe.”

3. Turn the cards over. Read the key characteristics and brief description of each type.

4. Divide the cards into two piles: a) “Yes.”b) “No.”

5. Discard the “No.” pile.6. From the “Yes” pile, pick the top three cards that best describe you and

place in an order from “Most” to “Least.”

The Intelligence Centers of the Enneagram

The EnneagramSo what?

• The Goal = To Grow in Awareness of Our Habits of Personality

• The How = Self Observation

• The Call = Balance of the Intelligence Centers of Heart, Mind, and Body

The Intelligence Centers of the Enneagram

• The goal is to grow in awareness of our habits. In our interpersonal exchanges we engage with habitual responses. Effective communication though, requires a large repertoire in order to provide for the varying needs of different situations. The more ambidextrous we become or the more fluid in skill in all the personality styles, the more fully we will be able to express our true selves in our personal and professional relationships.

• So, always, observe yourself. Grow your awareness of your ways of being in relationships. “If you are not observing yourself you are operating in automatic.” Choice is created by simply taking a pause, observing yourself and asking, “Is my normal way of reacting going to help in this situation? Or, given choice, how might I better choose to respond?”

• Often we fall into a habit of responding from only one emotional center and we find ourselves being driven by the reeling obsessive thoughts of the mind, the emotional leaps and plummets of our heart, or our immediate primal gut responses of fight or flight.

• The call is to always strive for balance. How do we achieve balance? By self observation and asking, “What’s going on in the mind?” “What’s going on in the heart?” and, “What’s going on in the body?” The invitation is to notice where you are; if your response is only analytical, in the mind, and the situation and relationship requires sensitivity, be intentional in that moment to consider how your heart and body intelligence can inform this exchange. If your heart has taken over your engagement with extreme emotion, take a break and re-gather yourself by incorporating body and mind intelligence. If body wants to haul off and hit someone, first, breathe. Then, breathe again so to purposefully create a moment where you can re-member your heart and mind.

• By growing towards a balanced response that involves all intelligence centers we reorient ourselves to respond more fully from a harmony of heart, mind and body. That’s what is wanted from others, our full presence. Being fully present to others in relationship, professional and personal, is the essence, form and the fulcrum of relationship.

• Awareness of one’s habits, self observation, and an intentional practice of choice in the ways we express ourselves, is the invitation of the Enneagram. Thank you for spending this time with me to pause and look at ourselves through the lens of the Enneagram.

All Good,

Margaret

Sources for learning more about the Enneagram…

• Personal Coaching:

– Margaret Rahn, MBA, MA; Certified EnneagramCoach 513-600-1037 mmrahn@yahoo.com

– Deanna Martin, MA; Certified Enneagram Coach www.goconscious.com/home/staff/deanna_martin.html

Sources for learning more about the Enneagram…

Books:• Essential Enneagram: The Definitive Personality Test and Self-

Discovery Guide -- Revised & Updated by David Daniels and Virginia Price (May 26, 2009).

• The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships by Helen Palmer(Dec 15, 1995)

• The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebbert(Sep 1, 2001)

• The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson(Jun 15, 1999)

Teachers and authors: David Burke, Thomas Condon, David Daniels, Andreas Ebert, Russ Hudson, Andrea Issacs, Claudio Naranjo, Deborah Ooten, Helen Palmer, Don Riso, Richard Rohr, Terry Seracino and Mario Sikora.

Sources for learning more about the Enneagram…

Sites:

• Conscious Living Center: www.goconscious.com/home/consciousness_ascending.html

• The International Enneagram Association: www.internationalenneagram.org

• The Enneagram Institute: www.enneagraminstitute.com

• Enneagram & Winnie the Pooh Characters: http://blog.theenneagraminbusiness.com/2009/12/fun-pooh-and-enneagram.html

Sources for learning more about the Enneagram…

Local Events:

• Enneagram Panel Day in the Narrative Tradition.

Moderated by Deborah Ooten, PhDFor beginners who may not be sure of their type, & for long standing practitioners; all levels of experience are invited.

Saturday, Sept 15. 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m.

Location:

William Howard Taft National Historic Site

2038 Auburn Ave.

Cincinnati,OH 45219

Type 3 10-10:30Type 6 10:35-11:05Type 9 11:10-11:40Lunch 11:45-12:15Type 1 12:20-12:50Type 4 12:55-1:25Type 2 1:30-2:00Type 8 2:05-2:35Type 5 2:40-3:10Type 7 3:15-3:45

For more info: Beth Ohara513.621.3600

beth.ohara@goconscious.com

Sources for learning more about the Enneagram…

Conference:The Enneagram & Grace: Nine Journeys to Divine Presence

Date(s): September 29-30, 2012

Led by Richard Rohr, OFM & Russ Hudson

Location: Northern Kentucky Convention CenterTime: 10:00 am-5:30 pm

Co-Sponsored by Consciousness in Action, The Enneagram Institute of Central Ohio and The Enneagram Institute of Colorado

http://www.goconscious.com/home/events/parms/1/event/the_enneagram_grace_nine_journeys_to_divine_presence.html

Questions? Call 513-554-3070