The Enneagram for Teams

About the Enneagram

The Enneagram is a personality modeling system that is a highly accurate predictor of behavior because it focuses not just on what you do but on why you do it. It’s an insightful tool to build self-awareness and self-mastery; these qualities in turn enhance the way you lead, communicate, and relate to others at work and at home.

The word “enneagram” comes from the Greek words ennea (“nine”) and gram (“something written or drawn”) and refers to the nine points on the Enneagram symbol. The symbol dates back many centuries, but the application of the Enneagram in modern psychology started in the 1960s and then in business only in the 1990s. The nine different Enneagram types reflect distinct habits of thinking, feeling and behavior. Rather than just showing you where you are, the Enneagram offers a unique path of development for each type, allowing you to break through to new levels of performance and fulfillment. Each of us has only one point or type, although all the types live inside us. We have easiest access to four other types; these are called wings and arrows.

Team Applications

The Enneagram is a powerful system that helps teams effectively problem-solve, innovate, and align. It helps leaders learn how to communicate and make decisions collaboratively because team members stop resisting different thinking styles and instead access the unique insights and contributions of each member of the team. A deeper understanding of each other’s motivations increases trust and connection among even the most diverse group of individuals. The system also facilitates productive conflict that leads to increased team member commitment and accountability.

As the CEO of a small but fast-growing company, I’m spending more and more of my time
focused on how people are feeling and how we’re interacting with one another. When strong feelings can’t be acknowledged, they fester and get acted out, often in passive and aggressive ways. Over time, they drain energy, individually and organizationally.

With all that in mind, we decided to focus a recent company off-site on giving our people an
opportunity simply to talk openly about themselves. The goal was to improve communication, decrease misunderstanding and free up positive energy.

To facilitate this discussion, we used a tool called the Enneagram-a personality typing system
akin to the Myers-Briggs, but for my money, much richer, more penetrating and more practically useful.

– Tony Schwartz, Author, Leadership Expert and CEO of the Energy Project

The Classic Enneagram test will help you determine your Enneagram type. Note: this test is accurate about 60-70% of the time. It is one step you can take to begin being more self-observant and self-reflective about your Enneagram type. Working with a trained Enneagram coach will help you determine your type.

To take this test, click the button below. Then, click the “Enneagram test” button under the “Classical Enneagram test” section at the top of the page.