The Enneagram Made Easy

The Enneagram Made Easy (Chapter 1) | Image by James Lewis

I didn’t realize how confusing the Enneagram was until I tried explaining it. 

Enneagram Nan | Image Courtesy of Nan

Fortunately, I had a sherpa, Enneagram Nan, who calmly guided me through it. She describes it as, “a map of compassion” which is a very concise but powerful statement. After working with Nan, the Enneagram has now become a personal journey of understanding which consists of two parts: understanding myself and understanding others. Through years of self-work, I have discovered it’s best to start with things I can control as opposed to futilely expending energy on things I cannot. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am not an Enneagram coach, teacher or workshop facilitator. I am just a person, so please take this next sentence with a grain of salt. My recommendation for your Enneagram journey is to start with understanding yourself. Once you are comfortable acknowledging not only your healthy but also your unhealthy self, you are ready to begin. We all have a dark side which can and will cast a shadow over our light side, and that is ok. If we can better understand our dark side and what triggers it, then we are better equipped to handle how we respond to stressful situations.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, my approach would be to take a test, read a book, and find a coach. This isn’t meant to be prescriptive; you do not have to go in this exact order to achieve optimal results.  I just happen to be very linear in my way of thinking (the curse of a recovering engineer). And as a Type 2, I’m all about helping others. Which is why I started with the test—so I could assist others by offering first hand perspective. Whereas a Type 5 might want to start with reading a book and have a better overall understanding of the overall system before diving inward. 

In other words, you be you. That’s kind of what the Enneagram is all about. In the remainder of the article, I simply lay out my recommended sources for each suggestion based on my personal experience.

Take a Test

All Nine Enneagram Types reside within each of us, but we each have a dominant Type that rules the roost. There are several tests available online you can access to score your Type. Based on Nan’s direction, I took the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (RHETI v2.5) which costs $20, consists of 144 questions and takes about 45 minutes to finish. Once I completed the test, I received my results which was a 25-page pdf starting with my score for each Type sorted from highest to lowest. It is important to note that your dominant Type is most likely your highest or top score, and certainly among the highest two or three. My top three scores were:

• Type 2 - The Helper: 28

• Type 7 - The Enthusiast: 21

• Type 6 - The Loyalist: 20

My test results also provided a wealth of information on my top three Types. And there were elements of each Type that I very much related to (remember all Nine Types live within us). But this leads to one of the primary issues with self testing: Misidentification. Simply put, our greatest opportunity for growth is within our own Type. Accordingly, correctly identifying your Type will be the most direct path for learning about yourself. Which is why I suggest working with a certified coach (like Nan) to help you correctly identify your Type. 

Read a Book

The Enneagram Made Easy (Cover) | Image by James Lewis

One of the several books Nan recommended during our podcast is: The Enneagram Made Easy (Baron & Waegle, 1994). It is informative yet non-intimidating. You don’t need a degree in Psychology to understand it. It is filled with fun illustrations (think The Far Side by Gary Larson) which makes it entertaining and relatable. Chapter one presents a great overview of not only the Nine Enneagram Types, but also introduces the reader to important concepts such as Moving Around the Enneagram in terms of growth and stress, The Wings, and The Three Centers. Each Type has its own dedicated chapter which highlights helpful insights specific to that Type. The final chapter explains how the Enneagram and Jungian Types of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) relate to each other for those who have completed a MBTI assessment. 

Find a Coach

Anyone can develop skills on their own, like learning how to pass, dribble, and shoot a basketball. You can learn about the Enneagram independently. But if you want to tie it all together, especially if you want to avoid misidentifying your Type, work with a coach. This proved very valuable to me. When I initially reviewed my RHETI results, I misidentified myself as a Type 7 (my second highest score). I think mainly because that’s how I wanted to see myself: Spontaneous, Outgoing, Adventurous, Variety-Seeking, and Talkative. That persona definitely appeals to me, why wouldn’t it. But when Nan (who is a certified coach) walked me through The Three Centers, I had the revelation that I am a Type 2 (my highest score). What she explained to me is that each Type has a home base inside of The Three Centers:

• The Instinctive (Gut) Center: Types 8, 9, 1

• The Feeling (Heart) Center: Types 2, 3, 4

• The Thinking (Head) Center: Types 5, 6, 7

So, my first thought was that my two highest scores are in two different Centers, rather than both being in the same home base. Nan further explained that each center has its own unique driver (what motivates us) and dominant unconscious emotional response. The driver of the Heart Center is connection, approval, and recognition with an emotional response of shame. The driver of the Head Center conversely is safety, certainty, and guidance with an emotional response of fear (anxiety). Suffice to say, the Heart Center struck a much deeper chord with me than the Head Center.

Like anything else in life, you get out of it what you put into it. Why explore the Enneagram? We all have our reasons. My primary motivation was self-improvement. Someone very close to me (my wife) saw me struggling and turned me onto it. I am very grateful that she did. As a result, we now speak a common language that has improved our communication and strengthened our relationship. If I could take that and practice it with my children, immediate family, friends, and co-workers, wouldn’t that be something? I certainly think so.