A man holding a briefcase walks down an empty road.

The Enneagram, a funky, 9-pointed geometric structure, has been all the talk in personality testing and career coaching over the past decade. The nine distinct points are conjoined with the deeper facets of the psyche (i.e., the unconscious) to pinpoint core motivations, fixations, virtues, fears, desires, and temptations. If that sounds a bit woolly, then we’re here to add some clarity to the process for you.  

Breaking Down the Enneagram for Beginners

We’re excited to announce our take on the Enneagram! It takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and gives a pie-chart breakdown of your preference for each of the nine Enneatypes. Take our free Enneagram test now!

Your results are in. What do they mean?

A visual example of the results:

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The largest chunk of your results should indicate the Enneatype that best describes you, ranging from numbers 1 – 9. In the above example, our test taker is Enneagram type 6.

The nine types are divided into three triads that split the system into three areas:

Each member of the triad has a main, hyper-focused feeling when under stress:

  • Gut (Types 8, 9, 1): Rage

  • Heart (Types 2, 3, 4): Shame

  • Head (Types 5, 6, 7): Fear

Wings: When Types are Merged

Each point on the Enneagram is neighbored by wings, or two adjacent Enneatypes (numerical values: one up and one down), which can influence the characteristics of the original Enneatype. It’s also possible to type without a particular wing, which means you’re very characteristic of your Enneatype.

The resulting subtype is then vocally referred to as “(Type) ‘Wing’ (Type)”. So, a 2 has either a 1 wing or a 3 wing. Do the math: this translates into 18 total variations in addition to the 9 original Enneatypes.

The main type will ‘borrow’ traits from the neighboring wing and result in a blend of the two. For example, a 2W1 (“Two Wing One”) is a Helper (Type 2) with Reformist (Type 1) tendencies. This particular individual is likely passionate for a cause, and extremely organized.

(If you’re extra curious, there are 6 sets of instinctual variants to consider on top of the 27 subtypes, which results in 162 combinations, but that’s beyond the scope of this article.)

It may help to take the test a few more times afterwards to check for consistency. Remember: Choose the answer that comes to mind at first glance—your answers should be intuitive to give the most accurate results.  

The official Enneagram principles state:

  1. One’s personality does not change from one type to another.

  2. The description of each type is universal, and can be applied to all genders.

  3. The description of each type cannot be applied to a person forever, as human nature fluctuates between healthy and unhealthy levels.

  4. Numbers are used to represent each type; they are considered neutral.

  5. The order (1–9) does not represent the goodness or badness of types.

  6. No single type is better or worse than another; each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Nine Roles: A Brief Summary

Here are the 9 Enneatype roles, with a quick overview of each.

Type 1 (The Perfectionist)

Serious and practical, the Perfectionist has a rigid set of morals which translates into their lifestyle and decisions. They’re on a quiet mission to improve the world by using their knowledge and intrinsic drive.

  • Focus Areas: Organizing, Adhering, Systemizing
  • Basic Goal: To be a good and just citizen of society; to contribute back with high standards.
  • Basic Fear: To be morally incorrect or corrupt; to break principles and promises.

Type 2 (The Helper)

With a natural affinity for emotional intelligence, the Helper builds and strengthens connections. As natural givers, they’re generous with their time and energy with a glowing hope to bring out the best in others.

  • Focus Areas: Giving, Connecting, Sharing
  • Basic Goal: To care and give freely to others; to have love be reciprocated.
  • Basic Fear: To be unwanted or unneeded and have no one to care for.

Type 3 (The Achiever)

Accomplished and driven, the Achiever takes on new challenges to add to their ever-expanding wall of personal achievements. They’re adaptable, charismatic and willing to go the extra mile to transform their dreams into reality.

  • Focus Areas: Status, Appearing, Performing
  • Basic Goal: To be increasingly successful, accomplished and valuable.
  • Basic Fear: To lose a reputation and become insignificant in the eyes of others.

Type 4 (The Individualist)

Creating unique works of personal expression, the Individualist focuses on presenting their unfiltered, authentic self to the world, ultimately trying to unleash their true identity within. Their overarching goal is to aim for a deep sense of purpose through all aspects of their lives.

  • Focus Areas: Self-identifying, Creating, Conceptualizing
  • Basic Goal: To curate a distinct image and stand out as a truly unique individual.
  • Basic Fear: To be unoriginal and unappreciated, lacking a definitive self-identity.

Type 5 (The Investigator)

As life’s philosophers, the Investigator seeks out patterns and connections between the grand mysteries of the essence of life itself. They’re sponges for knowledge and trek intellectually through new, untouched roads with an open mind.

  • Focus Areas: Reclusing, Analyzing, Processing
  • Basic Goal: To become increasingly knowledgeable, wise and informed about the complexities of life.
  • Basic Fear: To be incompetent and useless; to be helpless to take on new challenges.

Type 6 (The Loyalist)

Skeptical and detail-oriented, the Loyalist seeks security and devotion through all walks of their life. They’re sticklers for maintaining trust and make excellent troubleshooters who can sweat the details.

  • Focus Areas: Preparing, Committing, Saving
  • Basic Goal: To feel safe, accepted, and supported.
  • Basic Fear: To be in a state of panic; to feel unstable and the lack of guidance.

Type 7 (The Enthusiast)

Wide-eyed and full of energy, every step of life’s journey is an adventure to the Enthusiast. Optimistic and boundlessly curious, they enjoy seeking out new experiences and living life to the fullest through each moment.

  • Focus Areas: Exploring, Experiencing, Energizing
  • Basic Goal: To live an exciting and fulfilling life filled with joy and opportunity.
  • Basic Fear: To become trapped in menial drudgery and succumb to boredom.

Type 8 (The Challenger)

Goals, strategies, and continuous improvement are the Challenger’s core three pillars. Headstrong and brave, they make strides in whatever they anchor their mind to. Their desire for autonomy and power pushes them to become thought leaders in their areas of expertise.

  • Focus Areas: Leading, Trailblazing, Strategizing
  • Basic Goal: To control life as a strong, driven, and intrinsically motivated individual.
  • Basic Fear: To be controlled and become weak from a lack of freedom and power.

Type 9 (The Peacemaker)

Accepting and tolerant of others, the Peacemaker goes to great lengths to ensure harmony among a group. They’re masters of language and gently encourage others to express their views openly, with patience and empathy.

  • Focus Areas: Harmonizing, Calming, Encouraging
  • Basic Goal: To feel wholeness and peace with the external and internal environment.
  • Basic Fear: To be struck by a perpetual sense of conflict and disconnect with others.

One of the major characteristics of the Enneagram is the breakdown of healthy, normal, and unhealthy levels. Under stress, a specific type may resemble another—so it’s important to look into integration (growth) ↔ disintegration (stress) arrows. More on that below.

The Lowdown on Growth-Stress Arrows

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Each Enneagram type points to another type in growth (integration) and in stress (disintegration). We call these points Enneagram arrows. When an Enneatype is working at optimal levels (good work-life balance, a strong sense of purpose, support system, physical health), the growth arrow activates. You’ll experience traits of a different type, which boosts your self-development.

For example, when a Type 2 (Helper) thrives, they’ll borrow some traits from the creative Type 4 (Individualist). This allows them to become comfortable with themselves, understanding how to attend to others’ needs while maintaining their identity.

However, when stress hits, then anxiety, depression and even psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., aches, pains, or disturbed sleep patterns) can emerge out of the cold. This process is known as disintegration, which triggers the stress arrow.

When a Type 2 disintegrates, they’d seem more like a controlling Type 8 (Challenger), trying to force control upon their relationships to no avail, being excessively rigid and uptight about getting exactly what they want—the stark opposite of how they’d function normally.

Enneagram Applications

Aside from exploring career fit and resources, the applications of the Enneagram stretch far and wide. From improving communication in teams to inspiring leadership, it’s a comprehensive and fantastic tool for guidance through each stage of the growth process.

With the promise of further in-depth research and development, the Enneagram has great potential in making large strides in the career sphere. It’s also gaining support in areas such as psychotherapy, business and healthcare.

What are your results? How do you find the Enneagram useful, and did you learn something new? We’d love to hear it in the comments below!