049: Introduction to the Enneagram

<p>There are a lot of different ways that we look at personality types. The reason we have all of these different categories is because it helps us to understand ourselves and others. Why we behave the way we do. Why others behave in ways we can’t understand.</p> <p>I’m an introvert, which means that I get my energy from being alone. I can’t imagine what it would be like to get energy from others, but because I understand the idea that there are other personality types, I can recognize an extrovert as an extrovert even though we have a fundamental difference in personality.</p> <p>Different personality type indicators have different focus. Today, I’m going to introduce the Enneagram Types. I’ve also covered Myers Briggs if you want to listen to that episode as well. <a href="http://www.pmocoaching.com/podcast/017">Its episode 17</a>.</p> <p>In this episode, we are only going to be able to cover the Enneagram at the highest level because there are 9 personality types and you can’t cover them all in a 10 minute podcast. Enneagram is primarily concerned with your instinctual motivators. Another way to say it is to talk about it in terms of habits. We all have an instinctual way we interact with the world based on our underlying motivators. Someone who is motivated by fear is going to react differently than someone who is motivated by shame.</p> <p>Enneagram starts by lumping the 9 types into 3 triads, each of which is defined by its underlying motivator:</p> <p><strong>The Instinctive Triad</strong>. The 3 types in this category are driven by anger. They respond to life at the gut level and are typically very honest and direct. What sets the 3 types apart within the triad is how they manifest the anger.</p> <ul> <li>Type 8, the Challenger, externalizes it.</li> <li>Type 1, the Reformer internalizes it.</li> <li>Type 9, the Peacemaker, avoids it.</li> </ul> <p><strong>The Feeling Triad.</strong> This group of people are driven by feelings and instinctually motivated by shame. They develop habits that help them cope w