Definition
The Enneagram is a nine-point model of habitual motivations, fears, and stress moves — used in coaching and teams as a lens, not a box.
Origin
Roots in esoteric and spiritual teaching traditions; contemporary business and coaching use draws on authors such as Riso-Hudson, Palmer, and others. No robust peer-reviewed typology validation — treat as heuristic vocabulary for dialogue, weak as hard prediction or hiring filter.
Mechanism
Each type describes a core tension (striving, avoiding, controlling) and paths of integration / disintegration under stress. Value is in shared vocabulary for patterns — always provisional until behaviour evidence confirms or falsifies the label.
Applications
Profile discussions, team contracts, and structured self-knowledge logs — always paired with observed behaviour, never type as excuse or immutable identity.
Sources
Cite
- Riso, D. R., & Hudson, R. (1999). The wisdom of the Enneagram. Bantam
- Palmer, H. (1988). The Enneagram. Harper & Row