Harnessing The Enneagram For Personal And Professional Growth – Real-World Application
- Aug 30, 2024
- 6 min read
Heidi Albritton is a dynamic Coach & Trainer, with over 20 years of experience in operational excellence and transformative coaching. Notably, she pioneered Mindfulness coaching at a global non-profit, contributing to the creation and facilitation of an organization-wide Mindfulness & Resilience program.
The Enneagram has significantly evolved from its early days, transforming from a little-known tool into a widely recognized system that’s increasingly used in corporate settings, self-development workshops, and even social media discussions. However, with this growth comes a challenge: the risk of oversimplification and misrepresentation, which can dilute the Enneagram's potential for fostering meaningful personal and professional development. Having coached clients using the Enneagram since 2016, I’ve witnessed this transformation of the use of this powerful tool firsthand, and like others, have bemoaned the way such an impactful framework can so easily be reduced to ‘woo-woo’ and slick coffee table book tropes.
As a practitioner who has used this with hundreds of clients, I’ve been searching for like-minded coaches and teachers who can help foster a path forward with the Enneagram that is based on real-world evidence and practical application. I don’t believe in the Enneagram as a mythical magic, nor do I ascribe to the tendency to look at this tool as the end all/be all of personal development. However, I have indeed found it to be incredibly useful in terms of offering it as a fundamental framework through which we can learn more about ourselves, other people, and therefore about how we can improve our relationships with both.
I can’t tell you how many clients have come to me with mistaken and inaccurate stereotypes about their ‘type’ (usually based on a quick internet quiz that determined their Enneagram number), only for us to have to spend more time than the client should have to pay for debunking these myths and trying to get them onto a healthier and more accurate course in working with the Enneagram. There are several ways this bad information has percolated our pop culture, from Instagram gurus espousing conflated Enneagram theories, to free and paid apps promising to deliver quick results and confirmation of your personal Enneagram type (spoiler alert, most of these are junk). The Enneagram is an incredibly nuanced tool, much like its human subjects. It deserves to be handled lightly and with a delicate touch, as overly identifying with bad information can do more harm than good.
A few years ago, I discovered the work of Mario Sikora, a respected voice in the Enneagram community, who offers a fresh perspective with his Awareness to Action framework. Together with his colleague, Maria Jose Munita, they are cultivating a community of practitioners who are revitalizing the Enneagram by emphasizing its dynamic and evolving nature, while still ensuring that it remains a powerful tool for real-world transformation.
Moving beyond labels: Emphasizing adaptive strategies
One thing that has always bothered me as an Enneagram coach, is that once my client knows their ‘type’, it is very typical that they would then rigidly cling to the stereotype of the definition of that type, and it becomes either an excuse, or an enabler for their behaviors (positive and negative). I have found that to be extremely limiting, and so with the Awareness to Action framework, rather than confining individuals to static personality types, encourages us to see the Enneagram as a system of adaptive strategies. These strategies reflect how we approach life's challenges and opportunities. Unlike rigid labels, they allow for growth and change as we navigate different phases of our lives.
For professionals, this perspective is particularly valuable. The modern workplace demands adaptability, and viewing the Enneagram through the lens of strategies rather than fixed types supports continuous personal development. This approach fosters a mindset of growth, helping individuals adapt to new challenges and excel in their careers. Instead of getting hung up on our ‘type’, we can learn to recognize the ways that our preferred ‘strategy’ plays out in the way we navigate the world. This awareness becomes a veritable road map of potential dysfunctional patterns and choices, such that we find ourselves finally sitting with the gift of perspective and choice, rather than with a label and a ‘type’.
Understanding instinctual bias
A key concept in Sikora's framework is instinctual bias, which refers to the dominant instinct—(in this model called Preservation, Navigation, or Transmitting)—that influences our strategy and behavior. Recognizing your instinctual bias provides insight into your priorities and how you handle various situations, both personally and professionally. Think of the instinctual bias as the foundation upon which you build out your chosen ‘strategy’ (or type). The instinctual bias casts a definite tone and tenor to every choice you make, and with the additional context of knowing what your preferred strategy is, you have an incredible toolbox of wisdom about your chosen patterns and behaviors.
Understanding the interplay of the Strategy and Instinctual Bias can help us paint a clear and compelling picture about the way we show up in the world, and why we do what we do. For example, in a work environment, someone with a Self-Preservation bias may focus on efficiency and managing resources, while someone with a Navigating bias might prioritize teamwork and collaboration. These fundamental focuses impact everything else we do and underpin every decision we make. Assuming these individuals are also aware of their preferred ‘Strategy’, you can begin to see just how powerful this information can be. If our ‘Self-Preservation’ person also happens to prefer the strategy of the Enneagram 1 (striving to feel Perfect), then we have a powerful combination of someone who is concerned with resources and efficiency, while also wanting to do what they do ‘perfectly’. A double dose of attention to detail and drive for perfection.
Navigating the modern Enneagram landscape
As more people become familiar with the Enneagram as a tool to understand personality, the system is at risk of being oversimplified into a mere personality quiz or over-mystified as an ancient, unchangeable doctrine. Both trends can undermine its true value.
For those committed to personal and professional growth, it’s essential to approach the Enneagram with both rigor and flexibility. But most importantly is for practitioners and their clients to approach the use of the Enneagram with a light touch, rather than prescriptive labels. Sikora advocates for an understanding of the Enneagram that is both respectful of its origins and open to new applications and insights. This ensures that the Enneagram remains a valuable and evolving tool for meaningful change.
If you are curious for more about the Enneagram and the Awareness to Action framework, check out Mario and Maria’s podcast here.
Applying the Enneagram for practical growth
The true power of the Enneagram lies in its practical application. It’s not just about identifying your strategy or instinctual bias; the goal is to use this knowledge to improve your life. This might involve enhancing your communication skills, becoming a more effective leader, or finding greater fulfillment in your career.
For instance, if your strategy tends to avoid conflict (Enneagram 9), recognizing this can help you develop the courage to address issues directly, leading to healthier relationships and more effective teamwork. Similarly, understanding your instinctual bias can guide you in balancing work and personal life, reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being.
A path to continuous growth
As you continue on your personal and professional journey, consider deepening your understanding of the Enneagram through Sikora’s Awareness to Action framework. A professional Enneagram assessment combined with personalized coaching can provide the insights and strategies needed to unlock your full potential.
The Enneagram, when approached with the seriousness and rigor it deserves, is far more than a tool for self-categorization; it’s a pathway to continuous growth and improved skillfulness in life. By embracing its dynamic nature, you can harness its power to make meaningful, lasting changes in your life and career.
Heidi Albritton, Mindfulness & High Performance Coach
Heidi Albritton is a dynamic Coach & Trainer, with over 20 years of experience in operational excellence and transformative coaching. Notably, she pioneered Mindfulness coaching at a global non-profit, contributing to the creation and facilitation of an organization-wide Mindfulness & Resilience program. A certified expert in Corporate-based Mindfulness, Advanced Enneagram Dynamics and High Performance Coaching, she's dedicated to helping individuals uncover their potential, manage their emotions, and lead a life of impact. Heidi's personal journey, marked by resilience in the face of Lyme's disease and cancer, fuels her passion for mindfulness and authenticity. Her mantra, "Change your mind, change your life,"
