The Enneagram:
A Pathway to Personal and
Professional Effectiveness
Gary Houchens
Tom Stewart
What is the Enneagram?
• Personality-typing system that offers
“profound insights into the nine very
different ways in which people feel, think,
and behave.”
• Its roots appear to lie in Asia and the
Middle East and date from several
thousand years ago.
Why the Enneagram?
• Level of accuracy exceeds those of other
personality-typing “tests.”
• Comprehensive in its descriptions of each
of its nine levels at healthy and at
unhealthy levels.
– Implies a certain level of self-study on the part
of its “followers.”
Why the Enneagram?
• Additionally, “Although the Enneagram is
not a religion, it has a spiritual as well as a
psychological foundation. It parallels
many aspects of Christian mysticism, the
Kabbalah, and Sufism and attracts people
of all religions. Most other personality
systems, by contrast, have only a
psychological basis.”
Greek Word Origin
• Ennea: nine
• Gram: line drawing
Familiar Icons
Familiar Icons
Familiar Icons
Discovery
• We are about to discover the 9 distinct
ways defined by the Enneagram system in
which all human beings communicate,
behave, and interact.
Implications…
• …for:
– School and District Leaders
– Teacher Leaders
– Team Members - both leadership and
teaching
– Mature, self-actualized human beings
Implications…
• Awareness
Communicating Effectively
• Turn to chapter 2 in Bringing Out the Best….
Review the information about how your
Enneagram number typically communicates.
• Then, partner work: work with someone,
preferably from your school or work location,
and share the main features of your numbers’
communication styles.
– Question for reflection/discussion: How can we
improve our communication with each other in light of
this information?
Giving Constructive Feedback
• Turn to chapter 3 in Bringing Out the Best….
Review the information about how your
Enneagram number typically gives and likes to
receive feedback. Note characteristics of your
number with which you identify, and also those
that challenge you.
• Partner work: with your school-level partner
share the main features of how your numbers
give and receive feedback.
– Question for reflection/discussion: How can we
improve our feedback to each other in light of this
information?
Managing Conflict
• Turn to chapter 4 in Bringing Out the Best….
Review the information about how your
Enneagram number typically manages conflict.
Note characteristics of your number with which
you identify, and also those that challenge you.
• Partner work: with your school-level partner
share the main features of how your numbers
manage conflict.
– Question for reflection/discussion: How can we more
effectively manage conflict within our working
relationship in light of this information?
Leveraging Your Leadership
• Turn to chapter 6 in Bringing Out the Best….
Review the information specifically related to
your Enneagram number. Note characteristics
of your number’s view of leadership with which
you identify, and also those that challenge you.
• Review the section “Three Ways to Improve
Your Leadership.”
– Question for reflection: What would I do differently
starting tomorrow if I pursued one or more of these
suggestions?
Transforming Your Leadership
• Turn to chapter 7 in Bringing Out the Best….
Review the “Daily Activities” section for your
Enneagram number.
– Pay particular attention to the ways your mind resists
these suggestions and activities.
• Using the purple chart, “Plan for Personal
Growth,” in the back of your folder, follow the
guidelines to make some simple notes on one or
more things you would like to do differently in
your personal or professional life in light of what
you have learned today.
– Be prepared to share with the group, if you desire to do so.
Next Steps
• Follow-up:
– Individually
– With your leadership team
• Connectedness to our work, now and in the near
future….