Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Feb/Mar 2019 Aspire Magazine Full Issue | Page 73

not who we are, it is who we are not.” This
speaks to the transformational potential of
the Enneagram―which, if used correctly,
can guide us into a deeper understanding
of our true nature. We can also use the
Enneagram as a tool in our relationships to
understand those with whom we live and
work, and deepen our mutual connections
to our shared values and goals.
We must understand ourselves fully so we
can be in greater control of our actions,
reactions, decisions, and attitudes. We need
to know what triggers us, what unconscious
fears are at play, and which habits and
repetitive patterns get in our way. Then, we
need to learn to stop judging these things in
ourselves, so we can optimize our strengths
while showing up in a more compassionate
way for others. Understanding our Enneagram personality
type can help us unlock our potential as
leaders, and also see what holds us back
from being effective and impactful. When we
understand our inherent strengths as well
as our potential limitations, we enliven the
leader within us. Approached with integrity
and curiosity, the Enneagram can bring a
level of self-knowledge that is unparalleled.
One of the most important tools I’ve come
across on my own inner journey and in the
work I do today in the leadership development
field is the Enneagram. The Enneagram is
a powerful tool for understanding ourselves
and those with whom we interact. The
modern Enneagram is a synthesis of ancient
wisdom and modern psychology. It is a
very rich system and a powerful vehicle for
transformation which goes far beyond its
popularity as a personality typing tool.
The term Enneagram is derived from the
Greek words ennea, which means nine, and
gram, which means something written. The
nine personality types are arranged around a
symbol, which shows the interactions among
the types. Understanding our Enneagram
personality type can help us to unlock a
greater understanding of who we really are
underneath our patterns of behavior.
As my teachers, Don Riso and Russ
Hudson, often said, “Our Enneagram type is
The Nine
Types Are:
Type One – Perfectionist
Type Two – Helper
Type Three – Achiever
Type Four – Enthusiast
Type Five – Investigator
Type Six – Loyalists
Type Seven – Enthusiast
Type Eight – Challenger
Type Nine – Peacemaker
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Often when people think of leaders they
think of their boss, a CEO, manager,
owner, president etc. What I know to be
true is that we all have leadership potential
and developing our leadership capacity
is important to our relationships and our
inner peace. An essential component of
leadership development is self-awareness
and self-management.