To the Workbench:
Using the Enneagram in
the Communal
Environment
Session Two:
10:45am - Noon
Discovering One’s Style

Determining Core Style


Personality tests based
on self-reporting takes a
degree of selfknowledge.
The RHETI is 56 - 82%
accurate for determining
one’s basic type
(Riso/Hudson, 11).
Discovering One’s Style

The accuracy of the
RHETI is increased by
the understanding that
we have “four selves.”

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
Past Self
Present Self
Ideal Self
Self as Others See Us
The RHETI is
attempting to discern
one’s “past self.”
Discovering One’s Style

Lapid-Bogda’s
Exercises to Discover
One’s Enneagram Style


Warm-Up Exercise:
Identify Strengths and
Weaknesses
Warm-Up Exercise:
Charting the Emotional
Index
Three Centers


Emotional patterns are strongly
related to one’s Enneagram
style.
Each Enneagram style is rooted
in one of three Centers


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Head Center
Heart Center
Body Center
Our emotional repertoire often
reflects our main Center. Each
of us tends to favor one of the
three modalities.
Head Center

Head or Mental Center



Styles Five, Six, and
Seven
Checks in the Afraid
category, particularly
next to medium- and
high-intensity words
These mental styles tend
to engage first in
elaborate analysis as a
reaction to their common
emotion, fear.
Head Center

Fives



Sixes



Respond to fear by withdrawing, retreating into their minds in order
to understand
Emotional Index marks predominantly low-intensity in emotions
other than “Afraid”
React to worry or fear by anticipating negative scenarios and
planning alternatives
High number of checks in all three Afraid intensity levels
Sevens



Move from worrying into pleasurable possibilities
Do not appear fearful but are running from fear and pain--avoidance
reaction
Many checks in Afraid and in Glad
Heart Center

Emotional Center




Numerous Marks in all
Four Emotional Index
categories
Styles Two, Three, and
Four
Work hard to project a
particular image.
Use their emotions to
perceive how others are
responding to them.
Heart Center

Twos

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Threes

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Try to create an image of being likable
Look to others for affirmation of self-worth
Tend to be warm, optimistic, and enthusiastic
High number of checks in the Glad category
Project an image of success
Seek the respect and admiration of others for what they accomplish
Checks in all four categories, but fewer Sad marks
Fours



Quite familiar with feelings of sadness and melancholy
Highest number of marks in Sad
Try to project an image of being unique or special; use their emotional
sensitivity to defend against rejection
Body Center

Gut/ Instinctual Center
 Marks highest in the
Mad category
 One, Eight, and Nine
 Anger lies in the
emotional
substructure of this
Center’s types.
Body Center

Ones



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Eights

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Medium intensity Mad, range of Sad marks
Anger, while deep, manifests as frequent irritation followed by flares of
resentment
Tendency for self-criticism; can become discouraged and depressed
Large numbers of checks in Mad, particularly high intensity
Express anger frequently and directly
Anger stimulated by injustice, weakness in others, someone’s ineffective
control, or someone’s lying
Nines
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

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“Anger that went to sleep”--lies deep beneath the surface
Anger activated when feel ignored or forced to do something
Likely to have low- or medium-intensity marks in all four categories
Tend to avoid conflict and anger, preferring rapport and comfort with
others
Enneagram Styles


Which of the
descriptions most
accurately describes my
inner workings, not
what is necessarily
visible to others?
If you are over forty,
think about how you
were in your thirties,
twenties, and teenage
years.
Enneagram Styles

Exercise



Discovering the Styles
Organize ourselves by type
Finding our Distinct Type


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
Rank the Types from Most Like
You to Least Like You
Of the top four, do two seem
more accurate?
Review list of strengths and
weaknesses. Is there a match
between those and a type
description?
Does the Center feel right?
Delving Deeper

Two Additional
Features of the
Enneagram
 Wings
 Stress and
Security Points
Delving Deeper

Wings


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Wings are the Enneagram
styles on each side of your
actual Enneagram style.
Secondary styles to core
Display some of these
characteristics
Add additional qualities rather
than subtract
Person can have one, two, or
no wings
Common to have one wing
active when younger and
another as mature
Delving Deeper

Stress and Security Points



Stress--behavior moves
toward negative side of style
Security--strengths of style
more apparent
Importance of Arrows


Stress Point--arrow toward
where one moves when
feeling pressure
Security Point--arrow from
the place one moves when
relaxed
Using the Enneagram
in our Work


Enneagram style gives
reasonably predictable
behaviors in a variety of
situations.
Use of the Enneagram



Know Ourselves Better
Have Compassion for
Others
Work Effectively in a
Communal Environment
Moment for Reflection
Credits



Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Ph.D. Bringing Out the Best in
Yourself at Work: How to Use the Enneagram
System for Success. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. Discovering
Your Personality Type, Revised and Expanded.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.
“Lifted.” PIXAR Short Films Collection. Pixar
Animation Studios, 2007.
To the Workbench:
Using the Enneagram to
Awaken the Empathy
of Others
Session Three:
1:15pm - 2:45pm
To the Workbench!

Enneagram Exercise



Breathe, Relax, Reflect
Complete the Exercise sheet
Find a companion or two or three
(groups greater than four are not
recommended) to share the
insights gained, to listen as
others share, and deepen the
experience
Moment for Reflection
Credits



Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Ph.D. Bringing Out the Best in
Yourself at Work: How to Use the Enneagram
System for Success. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. Discovering
Your Personality Type, Revised and Expanded.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.
“Boundin’.” PIXAR Short Films Collection. Pixar
Animation Studios, 2004.