The Ennea-what?? 20 minutes with the Enneagram

For those of you familiar with the Enneagram Personality Framework, you’ve likely come across this blog post and joyfully proclaimed…..”Yes, I LOOOOOVE the Enneagram!”

If you’ve never heard of the Enneagram before, your response is probably, “The Ennea-what?”

I get these responses all the time when presenting on the Enneagram and I love both! On the one hand, people who are familiar with the Framework and have taken an assessment before gladly share their Enneagram Type with me. On the other hand, folks who have never heard of it before, give me a look of bewilderment and/or total confusion……but I love that look too! It lets me know that I most likely have an interested person standing in front of me whom I can “WOW” with the discoveries that come from an exploration into The Enneagram Personality Type Framework.

One of the most powerful things about the Enneagram is that even if you don’t know someone’s type, you come to understand that others (including people you work with, family members, those you may be in personal relationships with, etc) likely have different motivations than you. Understanding the Enneagram framework is a highly effective COMMUNICATION tool that can be used in the workplace and in our interpersonal relationships of any kind.

I’m an Enneagram Coach & Consultant.| “Wait…………aren’t you a Podiatrist?” Yes, I am! I’m a Full time Physician-Entrepreneur who uses my expertise in the Enneagram every. single. day! I use it to address the individual needs of each of my patients in my private medical practice. One of the reasons I’ve been so successful in medicine is because of an awareness of my own personality type and how to successfully interact with others having different (or even the same) personality types. I desire to help others, individuals and teams, to journey on this path of exploration as well! An understanding of the Enneagram improves COMMUNICATION, breaks down barriers, and helps us understand that people navigate this world based on MOTIVATIONS unique to them.

So, the point of this blog post is to introduce you to The Enneagram, if you haven’t heard of it before, and engage your curiosity even more if you have!

According to the Enneagram Model, there are 9 different Personality Types and everyone has a dominant personality type that they align with. No one type is better than another. The Enneagram examines individual’s core motivations, beliefs and fears and groups them into 9 different “Types” based on that information.

An exploration into your Enneagram type can feel like someone took the lid off your brain and took a look inside lol! It’s a psychology based model, so it’s amazing how accurate it can be.

You may have taken other personality tests in the past such as Myers-Briggs, the DISC Profile, the Predictive Index or the True Colors Personality Test. The Enneagram is another tool in the Personality Test Tool Box. I’ve taken all the tests mentioned above. However, The Enneagram is the framework that I’ve found people really, REALLY resonate with once they’ve taken an assessment and identify their number! They will proudly tell you, “I’m a 1!” or “I’m a 7!”, etc.

So, here’s a quick overview of each of the 9 Types:

Type 1 | The Reformer/Perfectionist : Prepared. Rational, Idealistic. Organized. Principled. Purposeful. Genuine. Self Controlled. Perfectionist. High Standards.

Type 2 | The Helper : Nurturing. Caring. Understanding. Demonstrative. Relatable. Generous. People Pleasing. Possessive. Hard working.

Type 3 | The Achiever : Efficient. Success-oriented. Pragmatic. Confident. Adaptive. Excelling. Driven. Image conscious. Desire to be recognized.

Type 4 | The Individualist : Deep thinkers. Sensitive. Can be Withdrawn. Desire to stand out – be different. Expressive. Dramatic. Temperamental.

Type 5 | The Investigator : Intense. Critical Thinker. Perceptive. Curious. Innovative. Independent- Thinker. Secretive. Isolated. Analytical.

Type 6 | The Loyalist : Committed. Values Consistency. Problem Solver. Security-oriented. Engaging. Seeks Affirmation. Responsible. Anxious. Suspicious. Prepared.

Type 7 | The Enthusiast : Busy. Fun loving. Always up for an Adventure. Spontaneous. Versatile. Social Butterfly. Distractible. Scattered. Positive Vibes Only mentality.

Type 8 | The Challenger : Assertive. Powerful. Dominating. Self-Confident. Decisive. Willful. Confrontational. Likes to be in control.

Type 9 | The Peacemaker : Trusting. Easygoing. Sees all sides of a situation. Receptive. Optimistic. Reassuring. Agreeable. Complacent. Good Listener.

Do you want to engage with The Enneagram via an in-person workshop or personal coaching session? Shoot me an email and let’s chat! All workshops come with an Enneagram Workbook (created by ME!) to guide you along your journey of self-discovery and improved communication & interaction with others!

Email: dr.carmenapril@gmail.com

Dr. Carmen April-Washington is an entrepreneur, community leader, and living enthusiast. For over 20 years, Dr. Carmen has been leading teams and empowering others to design their lives with intention. She’s been recognized as a 2021 Junior League of Nashville Outstanding Active of the Year Paragon Award recipient, 2020 Nashville Business Journal Women of Influence Award Recipient, Nashville Emerging Leader (NELA) Award Winner, a Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient, is a Graduate of the New Leaders Council Institute – Nashville Chapter, Young Leaders Council (YLC) Leadership Institute and is a Nashville Power Moves Award Winner. She’s a Podiatrist and Owner of The Foot And Ankle Healthcare Center in the Nashville, TN area. She’s also the creator/owner of “Design Your Story Coaching & Consulting” and is available for Enneagram Coaching & Consulting and speaking engagements on Small Business Entrepreneurship.