Introduction to the Enneagram

Resources, Training Courses

This is the starting point for all applications. It will include some pre-work for all participants. Aims & Objectives: The course will provide an introduction to the Enneagram model, a human development system that illuminates nine different architectures of the human personality. Participants will be invited to engage in a process of self-discovery that will heighten their level of awareness of themselves and others. Topics will include: Knowing Yourself:  what makes you think, feel and behave the way you do? Managing Yourself: what makes you reactive and how do you manage this. Knowing and Understanding others accurately:  how and why do people think and feel differently from you? Ways to developing rapport with others who don’t see the things the way you do. Taking on a path of development : discovering what challenges you and transforming it into a path of personal freedom. Duration: 1 day Express your interest in an introduction to the Enneagram either for your team or individually. Name(required) Email(required) Course(required)...

The Enneagram – the first step in personal mastery

Articles, Resources

by Barry Ahern (from “First Train” October 2006, Vol. 1 Issue 2) Imagine you suddenly received a road map that gave you profound psychological insights into how you thought and felt and related to other people. How do you think you would react if you were willing to be open to the experience? Such is the accuracy of the Enneagram in describing nine personality styles, each of which illustrates a distinctive pattern of thinking, feeling and behaving that a common response is to describe the experience as being ‘so real that it’s eerie’. You can be taken aback, overawed or pleasantly surprised by the reality of discovering a description that is so much part of your way of being. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is fast becoming the greatest indicator of success in every occupation and every industry worldwide, surpassing IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and on the job experience. This is especially true in leadership. The Enneagram, a psychological system with ancient roots, is fast becoming the most powerful and insightful tool available to help you develop your EQ. The Enneagram describes the starting point each of us take when dealing with information, our colleagues and our work environment. Much attention nowadays is given to the importance of giving and receiving feedback, which, together with lack of performance expectations and lack of skills, lack of feedback has been recognized as one of the top three barriers to effective work performance. Probably our first objective encounter with ourselves is when we hear our voices on an audio and/or visual recording for the first time. Most of us react negatively to the experience. However,...

Communicating Effectively

Resources, Training Courses

  The success of every leader, manager, support staff etc. in every industry and profession can be made or broken on the effectiveness of their communication skills. Communicating effectively is an essential training for all as it is the single most vital skill for all employees regardless of what level of the organisation you belong. When we communicate, we want to be understood by others. However, even the best communicators can be misinterpreted at times. We can all learn how to communicate more effectively and understand others better by using the Enneagram style-based communication cues as our guide. Participants will be given the opportunity to:  consider how your speaking style and body language affect your communication style  look at your blind spots that are highly visible to others but not to you  understand the distorting filters your use that alter how you hear what others say For Whom: Communicating effectively is an essential training for all as it is the single most vital skill for all employees regardless of what level of the organisation you belong. Aim: Become an effective communicator – the most vital skill that every manager and employee needs to master and demonstrate continually if the organization is to thrive. This module will look at how distortions can occur when sending or receiving communications. Method • Meet with the team leader and assistant to set objectives • Discuss team dynamics • Facilitate training day/s • Hold follow-up session/s with group or team leaders Duration: As...

Coaching and Mentoring

Resources, Training Courses

The huge advantage of the the Enneagram model is that it can pinpoint the core personality dynamic which serves as the starting point for the development of your personal, interpersonal and organisational effectiveness. The Enneagram offers an approach that can make an enormous difference as a learning tool as it enables the client to make greater strides at a fast pace because of the focussed insights and development paths it provides. 360 Degree Feedback also can also provide the kind of feedback that has a depth to it which no other model can provide as the client can instantly recognise the patterns illustrated and can be less defensive in accepting a path of development which ultimately provides greater insight and...

Your E-mails Communicate More Than You Think

Articles, Resources

By Ginger Lapid-Bogda. Ph.D. Most of us write multiple e-mails every day, yet how often do we think about the many messages they convey beyond our actual content and intended impact? Our e-mails actually communicate information that can cause unintended negative and positive reactions in the e-mail recipient. Moreover, our e-mail writing styles actually reflect our Enneagram styles. The Enneagram is a psychological-spiritual system that maps and explains the nine different architectures of the personality. 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 nine different Enneagram styles, identified as numbers One through Nine, reflect distinct habits of thinking, feeling, and behaving, with each style connected to a unique path of development. The Enneagram Symbol When we use the Enneagram as a way of understanding our e-mail communication styles, we not only improve the way in which we communicate with others, we also learn more about ourselves and dramatically increase our personal and professional development. “It can’t be that easy,” Janice exclaimed. “You mean I can actually change my habits while I’m writing my e-mails?” Janice, a Four, had learned that Fours unconsciously engage in self-referencing behavior — actions that pull the conversation and attention away from the other person and toward the Four. One way Fours do this is by frequently using the words I, me, my, and mine. In the two short sentences above, Janice used these words four times. “In answer to your question, yes, you can,” said the Enneagram consultant. “In the two sentences you just said,...

Understanding Politics through the Enneagram

Articles, Resources

By Barry Ahern The drive from Dublin in the Republic of Ireland, to Belfast, which is part of the United Kingdom, is a journey of 104 miles. After driving about 70 miles you arrive at the border.  As you approached the border during the nineteen eighties and nineties, you encountered as series of obstacles of various kinds due to the security situation at the time. Crossing the border at that time you’d see signs ordering vehicles to turn off all audio equipment. The British army had listening devices that enabled them to overhear conversations in cars. Those who knew this usually ignored the request. Large ramps were erected to ensure you drove slowly. Driving at over 20 miles per hour would cause damage to the suspension. A military lookout post was poised on the top of the highest hill in the area just over the border on the road to the nearest town called Newry. The whole area could be surveyed silently from here. No one knew when anyone was inside watching as the windows in the viewing area were tinted. Occasionally the sound of a helicopter scanning the border area could be heard hovering overhead. The border post itself was manned with soldiers, guns at the ready, standing around in the compound into which all cars drove in single file. No one was allowed through until they were inspected. This no man’s land was framed by tall corrugated iron sheeting. Huts with tiny lookout holes for the video cameras and listening devices watched the cars silently. Young paratroopers with British accents, guns at the ready, would ask for...