Spero Careers Canada – Enneagram in the Workplace
Learn About the Enneagram in the Workplace
If you’ve landed here, that means someone would like you to complete the Enneagram in the Workplace. Lucky you!
What is the Enneagram in the Workplace?
The Enneagram is a system of personality which describes people in terms of nine types, each with their own motivations, fears, and internal dynamics.
The Enneagram is an emotionally focused system of understanding people — honing in on one’s core emotional motivations and fears. Each of the nine personality types has its own driving force, which is centered around a particular emotion.
Some Enneagram types experience strong emotions, while other types aim to avoid emotions in one form or another. However, whether running from emotions or diving into them, each type describes some aspect of emotional experience.
The nine types of the Enneagram are divided among Heart Types, Head Types, and Body Types.
- Heart types depend on their emotional intelligence to understand their own reactions and connect with others.
- Head types depend on their intellectual intelligence to make sense of things and navigate the world around them.
- Body types depend on their instinctual intelligence to follow their “gut” and respond to threats and opportunities.
Are you here to take a test? Visit our account on Truity.com to take the Enneagram in the Workplace. The results are only seen by you and the Spero team. We do not share with anyone without your permission. The Enneagram is only ever used in a coaching capacity.
If you’ve arrived here from Sheridan College, your instructor should have given you an access code.
If you have not received that, please contact elizabeth@sperocareerscanada.ca and a code will be sent to you.
Learn About the Enneagram Types
Enneagram Type 1 - The Perfectionist
Enneagram Type Ones like to do things correctly and to high standards, are sticklers for rules, and pay close attention to detail. They also avoid making mistakes. To others, they appear perfectionistic, responsible and exacting.
Enneagram Type 2 - The Giver
Twos are defined by their desire to belong and to be loved by others. They are helpful, nurturing and caring towards others. They are eager to involve themselves in others’ lives. Twos rarely say no when others ask them for help, and want to prove value to others by always being there for them.
Enneagram Type 3 - The Achiever
Threes are defined by their desire to be significant and to distinguish themselves through their achievements. To others, Threes appear confident, ambitious and goal-oriented. They are unsure of their innate self-worth, and look for validation through their accomplishments.
Enneagram Type 4 - The Individualist
Fours are defined by their sense of being special and different from other people. They are often creative, and present a unique, distinctive persona to the people around them. Fours experience a deep conflict in that they long to connect with others, but they feel that because they are so unusual, very few people are able to truly see them as they are.
Enneagram Type 5 - The Investigator
Enneagram Fives are defined by their desire to conserve their energy and to avoid being drained by engagement with the outside world. They focus on being knowledgeable and competent so that they can be as self-sufficient as possible. Fives enjoy deepening their understanding of the world, expanding their intellect, while minimizing their physical and relationship needs.
Enneagram Type 6 - The Loyalist
Sixes are defined by their desire for safety and security. They seek to anticipate and avoid risk, and to ally themselves with trustworthy authority figures and institutions. Sixes are alert and vigilant, always thinking several steps ahead to anticipate and prepare for what could go wrong.
Enneagram Type 7 - The Enthusiast
Sevens are defined by their desire to experience everything life has to offer while avoiding pain and boredom. They appear to others to be lively, fun-loving and hedonistic. Sevens are often very busy people who bounce from one activity to another in their quest to squeeze every possible bit of enjoyment out of life.
Enneagram Type 8 - The Challenger
Eights are defined by their desire to be powerful and to avoid any vulnerability. They present a confident, assertive, and decisive image to others. Eights can be argumentative and intimidating; it is important to them to stand up for what they believe in and to protect those who are weaker than themselves.
Enneagram Type 9 - The Peacemaker
Nines are defined by their desire to maintain a sense of inner peace and harmony, and to avoid conflict or other emotional disturbances. They are typically agreeable, calm, and easy to be around. Nines rarely rock the boat, but they can be stubborn. While they typically go with the flow, they dislike being controlled and will respond with passive resistance if pushed too far.
What Does the Enneagram Tell Us?
According to the Enneagram, each of the nine personality types is defined by a particular core belief about how the world works. This core belief drives your deepest motivations and fears — and fundamentally shapes a person’s worldview and the perspective through which they see the world and the people around them.
Our core beliefs are not necessarily incorrect, but they can be limiting and operate as “blinders” for people. Understanding our Enneagram type and how it colors our perceptions can help us to broaden our perspective and approach situations more effectively.
Understanding a person’s Enneagram type helps us to see why they behave the way they do. Each Enneagram type has a set of core beliefs that will consistently motivate them to take particular actions and guide them to make certain decisions. Behavior that may seem confusing or contradictory can often be explained when we understand a person’s Enneagram type.
The Enneagram also helps us understand how people react to stress. By describing how each Enneatype adapts and responds to both stressful and supportive situations, the Enneagram shows opportunities for personal development and provides a foundation for the understanding of others.