What Is The Enneagram?

Enneagram – (Greek: Ennea – nine, grama – figure) is a synthesis of Sufi teachings and classical psychoanalysis. The Enneagram presents 9 personality types and their interrelationships and behavior patterns.

The Enneagram model was first presented by Gregorius Gurdžijavas (1872), the connection between the symbol and the 9 types was presented by Oskars Ičazo (1931), and scientific research was based on prof. Claudio Naranjo (1970).

This model is very widely applied throughout the world and is a very effective tool for people who work with human resources and for anyone who seeks to improve their professional activities and improve communication with others.

Greorius Gudzhiev said that most people are in a state of “sleep” and we live as if on autopilot, day after day we repeat usual actions and stereotypes of behavior, although this does not always give us what we want, the Enneagram describes 9 main strategies that we use incorrectly and unconsciously. This model helps us to open our eyes and see what unconscious behavioral stereotypes we use and why.

The Enneagram model is a personality motivation tool that provides 9 life strategies and different behaviors according to different types that are based on intrinsic motivation. This model reveals how motivation manifests differently in all areas of life: relationships, career, finances, work, family and especially communication with other people.

The Enneagram model shows what reasons and fears make us act in one way or another and what we need to change in our lives in order to understand what motivates us to work or achieve life goals. Some people want to be leaders, while others are good executors.

What will you learn about yourself by studying the Enneagram? A lot. I am attaching a non-exhaustive list:

• You will learn 9 life strategies, your personality type and the motivation why you unconsciously apply specific behavior patterns.
• You will learn the Emotional Competence model, you will assess your competencies (self-knowledge, self-confidence, initiative, goal orientation, cooperation, etc.). You will increase efficiency both at work and in your personal life.
• You will discover your talents and be able to motivate yourself and others. The right use of talents opens up opportunities and satisfaction.
• You will learn how to effectively form a team and distribute tasks according to talents/strengths. You all work for yourself or as part of a team, so feedback and empathy are key here. Different personality types have their own talents and if you use them properly you will have very good achievements in the team.
• You will learn the verbal and non-verbal signs of Enneagram types and how to recognize them. We all broadcast and communicate through body language, and we don’t always do it consciously. Do you really know what verbal and non-verbal cues you are broadcasting to others?
• You will realize what specific events in your childhood influenced your personality and why you chose specific life strategies. According to the Enneagram theory and the conducted scientific research, it became clear that personality behavior is shaped by the behavior of our parents and when we grow up, we apply our chosen strategies. Thus, parents knowing the Enneagram model can greatly contribute to the implementation of children’s life strategy and internal motivation.
• You will have the opportunity to realize how specific instincts and human centers influence your decisions. You will learn that different representatives of the Triad react differently to our communication: representatives of the body center tend to act (they just act, engage in activities), representatives of the heart feel (they need to convey what you feel), and representatives of the head center tend to analyze (they need to be talked to and convey what you think). It works well both in teamwork and in personal relationships.
• You will learn how to balance instincts (self-preservation, social, tet-a-tet) and wake up the sleeping one, because very often we don’t even think about why different instincts influence us and how to achieve our goals or just learn to enjoy our life.
• You will know how to concretely change your life priorities and discover new opportunities. When a person knows his talents and goals, it is easier and faster to achieve the desired results.
• You will learn that all life strategies are useful and applicable to needs at specific times. When you know the different life strategies, you can apply them all according to your needs.
• You will learn how to strengthen your self-esteem and take initiative if you need it Here and now. After assessing your competencies, you will clearly know if you want to grow and you will have recommendations on how to do it.
• You create your life when you are clear about your inner motivations and motivate yourself to achieve your goals, and most importantly know that you are on your way!