Typology

How can leaders understand themselves and the world in which they live so they can be optimal in their various roles?  One of the first steps is to strengthen self-leadership because you can't successfully lead others unless you can first lead yourself.   In this two-part episode, former lawyer and founding pastor of Connexus Church, Carey Nieuwhof reveals the seven core challenges to leadership a...

Enneagram Nines, or The Peacemakers, are adaptable, caring, supportive, and easygoing. Their "go with the flow" attitude acts as the manifestation of their need for internal and external peace at all times. To keep this peace, Nines often over-accommodate others in a unconscious effort to avoid conflict, and end up "falling asleep" to their own needs. But today, Lysa Terkeurst, #1 New York Times b...

Chris Carneal, founder and CEO of Boosterthon (Enneagram 7) plans for adventure while his CFO, Stan Holcombe (Enneagram 6) plans for dis-adventure.  So how have these two leveraged their differences to balance each other and grow their company 800% over the past eight years?  They invest in the culture of their company. Today, Chris and Stan join Ian to talk about how helping their team understand...

How do you measure success?  What does it look like and feel like?  Often, we measure success by how we appear to others or by the things we accomplish. But for Enneagram Three, Michael Hyatt, success is defined as freedom – the freedom to focus, the freedom to be fully present, and the freedom to be spontaneous. Sounds great, right? But, how do we get there?  The first step is to develop self-awa...

Have you ever stopped to think about your travel personality? Or how the ideal vacation for your Enneagram type may be different than others?  We all look for different things when choosing our next vacation…and even the planning process can greatly vary.  With summer approaching and travel on our minds, we asked ourselves 'what would be the best vacation for each Enneagram type?' So, Typology pro...

One of the elements about the Enneagram that makes it different than other typologies is the principles behind working with Centers of Intelligence. The three centers of intelligence are the head, heart, and body. Each Enneagram type uses all three centers but approaches the world from one center more than the other two.  Where people often get in trouble is when they over-privilege or overuse one...

Drew and Ellie Holcomb return this week for part two of our two-part series. Today, Drew shares how he has learned to let go of his need to be in charge and is learning to lead from the heart, and Ellie gives us insight into what makes her feel really alive. Drew and Ellie Holcomb are a husband and wife Americana duo from Nashville, TN.  Shortly after their marriage in 2006, the couple began touri...

Enneagram Eights and Enneagram Sevens make a high-energy couple. Both types are strong-willed, independent, love adventure, and find happiness in the moment.  But Eights and Sevens manage their feelings in different ways.  Eights embrace a challenge and express anger easily which can clash with a Seven's tendency to avoid difficult or painful feelings by reframing things into a positive light. As...

In today's episode, we share a big announcement then replay Ian's interview with renowned Enneagram teacher, author, consultant, and Enneagram Two, Dr. Beatrice Chestnut Ph. D.  A student of the Enneagram system of personality since 1990, she is the author of Ian's all-time favorite Enneagram book, The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge. Enneagram Twos are far more complicated...

What do you need in a relationship? When it comes to relationships, how do you interact with and love other people? It's often in our most intimate relationships that our most true self shows up and we realize that our view of the world is not necessarily the same as others. That's where the Enneagram comes in.  The Enneagram helps us understand ourselves better, provides a platform for understand...

How does the Enneagram affect how you communicate with your spouse?  Each Enneagram type has a different communication style which impacts the power dynamic in every relationship – whether that's a relationship with a coworker, a friend, or a spouse.  The Enneagram helps us understand where others are coming from and creates space for appreciating and negotiating our differences.    In today's epi...

Enneagram Fives, or the Observers, operate from a withdrawing stance and value their privacy. Their unconscious strategy consists of collecting knowledge and information to defend against what feels like an overwhelming, unpredictable, chaotic world.  They build walls around themselves and retreat into their mental realm for a lot of internal processing.  And though they may appear detached there...

Often when we approach the Enneagram we tend to think that everybody can fit neatly into one category. But the Enneagram is more like a color wheel than it is a set of boxes around a circle. There are shades as you go around the spectrum.  Each of us is different than the people around us.  So, the more we come to know ourselves, to accept our own uniqueness and brokenness, the more we can begin t...

How does your Enneagram type affect your decision making?  Each Enneagram type has different motivations and makes decisions in different ways.  So, when faced with making a decision, sometimes we need to go against the grain of how we normally do things in order to figure out what is the next right thing. In today's episode, author Emily P. Freeman joins Ian to offer recommendations on decision m...

What are you addicted to? I don't believe there is one person on this planet who isn't addicted to something.  And when I say addiction, I don't necessarily mean addiction to substances.  Addiction is a compulsion to continue doing something despite harmful consequences.  And if we look at addiction through the lens of the Enneagram, we can view the passion of each Enneagram type as an addiction. ...

The Enneagram is a transformational tool for self-awareness and self-knowledge.  It helps uncover the most unconscious parts of who we are.  But how? Once you identify your Enneagram type, what's the next step?  On today's episode of Typology, Ian shares his top 25 Enneagram resources for discovering the why behind what you do and taking the next steps toward becoming your authentic self.

How do we use the Enneagram to honor our differences? First, we have to be willing to look at our own story and bravely explore our own dark side.  One of the beauties of the Enneagram is that it helps us become more self-aware, to own our dark side, and to begin to live with more compassion and appreciation for difference.  When we truly understand the Enneagram we see that one type is not better...

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, "What if the story I tell myself and others about who I am and who I'm becoming isn't true?"  As children, we all construct stories, or narratives, to help make sense of our environment. These childhood interpretations set in motion the patterns of behavior that shape our personality…or how we show up for life.  But, when you can understand the false story ar...

Last week, Scott and Ian talked about how the Enneagram can help you in the workplace. This week, they continue the conversation highlighting the way the Enneagram feeds emotional intelligence, fosters empathy and compassion, increases productivity, and ultimately leads to better bottom line results and a happier place to work. About Scott Allender: Scott is a seasoned executive with expertise in...

How can the Enneagram help you in the workplace?  How does knowing a person's personality style help you in leadership development? In today's episode, Scott Allender, Senior Vice President of Talent Strategy & Development at Warner Music Group, shares how he has used the Enneagram in team building and leadership development. He explains how the Enneagram helps provide insight into how the differe...

In Part 2 of our conversation with singer/songwriter Amy Grant, we continue to explore stances to hone in on whether or not she's actually an Enneagram Nine. Discussing the differences between types in the gut triad and how they each relate to anger and focusing on a few key instinctual responses helps Amy find her type. Listen through to the end as Amy shares a special song with us before her int...

The Enneagram is by far the most effective tool for deepening self-knowledge, sharpening self-awareness, and improving relationships. It helps to identify your unique personality and guides you toward living as your authentic self.  But what if you're stuck and haven't yet figured out your type? Today's guest, singer/songwriter Amy Grant struggled to find her type too.  So, we tackled the struggle...

In order to make sense or find meaning in our lives in early childhood, we develop narratives that sort of explain our life experiences. We often choose specific incidents that we string together into the plot we now live.  But, have you ever stopped to ask yourself if the story you are living is true? In today's episode with singer/songwriter Ryan Stevenson, we really tackle the concept of owning...

In order to truly use the Enneagram to better understand our own personality, it is important to have an understanding of, not just the unconscious motivations, but also the impact that subtypes and wings have on each type. In part two of our conversation with CNN Political Analyst, Kirsten Powers, we dive into the role subtypes and wings play in determining your type. In this episode, you'll disc...

Let's face it…there's a deep complexity to the Enneagram.  Yes, for some, it is extremely easy to nail down their type.  But for others…well, it's more complicated.  Why?  First, everyone exhibits behaviors that look like a particular type.  And to make it even more difficult, there are an infinite number of expressions of each type, some of which will look nothing like you on the exterior, but ar...