The Enneagram is a powerful and insightful personality system for helping us understand our self and others. It gives wonderful strategies for raising self awareness and inspiring communication between individuals, within families, as well as in professional and corporate environments. The Enneagram identifies the diversity of human behaviour, and crucially, explains the deep motivations underlying that behaviour. It points to nine different ways of looking at the world, nine distinct sets of values, nine different communication styles, nine ways of solving problems, and so forth, that are all equally valid and valuable. We refer to these nine personality types as the Ennea-types. The Enneagram shows what drives each type of person, how each type goes after different goals, how each type reacts to stress and conflict. The Enneagram does not put people into boxes. On the contrary it helps identify the patterns people have adopted with the view to helping them change. THREE CENTRES OF INTELLIGENCE The Enneagram distinguishes between three different centres of Intelligence: emotional intelligence, thinking intelligence, and instinctual intelligence. Emotional intelligence, or the Heart Centre, functions with feelings and relationships. Thinking intelligence, or the Head Centre, functions with thinking and analysis. Instinctual intelligence, or the Gut Centre, functions with instincts and habits. The Enneagram demonstrates how people prefer and operate primarily from one of the three Centres, using one of the two remaining Centres as a support, while avoiding or even rejecting the third Centre. An individual, or even an organisation, therefore can be dominated by gut instincts, for instance, or by feelings and emotions, or by theory and analysis. One of the aims of Enneagram work is to re-establish a balance between all three. THE ENNEAGRAM SUB TYPES Since the beginning of our history humans have been driven by three basic drives which the enneagram refers to as the sub types. Whether we are aware of them or not, these instinctual drives govern the lives of each of us. Their energy comes from the gut. For each of us, one of the drives is the most dominant, while dysfunction in any of them can have significant consequences in the way we live out our lives. The instinct towards self-survival can help people come out more or less unharmed from very dangerous situations. At the same time, however, that same instinct can lead us to test the boundaries and go to the very edge of safety. AWARENESS, CHOICE, CHANGE As always with our Enneagram work, the essential first step is the step towards awareness. The awareness of our dominant instinct, first centre of intelligence, and enneagram profile gives us the possibility to choose. No longer do they have to govern us and determine our behaviour. Now we can choose what for us is the most appropriate course of action. Even in situations which might seem impossibly restrictive, we can experience balance and a sense of freedom which fills our whole being. Through increasing our awareness of how we function, and why, the Enneagram offers us choice for change. Its practical approach is particularly valuable in - recognising our unique talents and allowing us to develop them - recognising the unique talents of each member of our team or organisation - recognising where and why conflict arises between people of different types - developing effective, dynamic communication and interpersonal relationships - retaining valuable employees through increased job satisfaction and productivity - developing leadership and management skills To find out more about this fascinating model contact Thomas Hillas on 01223 537521, mobile 07986 285242 or email thomas.hillas@btinternet.com