Career And Work Forum Post

Are you curious about your Enneagram type?

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Profile Picture EmberEmbrace 5/2/2024 5:27:07 PM

Subject: Career and Work in the Context of Different Enneagram Types In the pursuit of understanding ourselves better in various areas of life, including career and work, the Enneagram can serve as an immensely useful tool. Work dynamics and job satisfaction can be heavily influenced by personality types, and understanding our Enneagram types can help find a career path that resonates deeply with our core values and motivations. As an overview, the nine types of the Enneagram are as follows: 1. The Perfectionist - These are principled, orderly, and perfectionistic individuals. They often make great researchers, analysts, or auditors since they're detail-oriented. 2. The Helper - Altruistic and interpersonal, helpers could thrive in social work, nursing, or customer-facing roles where their natural desire to help others and resolve problems is put to good use. 3. The Achiever - Compelled by the need to achieve, they make great entrepreneurs, politicians, or salespersons, valuing success and productivity. 4. The Individualist - Creative and expressive, individualists can excel in artistic professions like writing, designing, or anything that allows for self-expression. 5. The Investigator - Their curiosity and desire to understand the world makes them suited for careers in science, technology, or academia. 6. The Loyalist - Dependable and security-oriented, loyalists often gravitate towards stable jobs such as public service, teaching, or accounting. 7. The Enthusiast - Their spontaneity and vivacity often lead them to thrive in flexible roles like event planning, public relations, or travel-related jobs. 8. The Challenger - Assertive and protective, challengers do well in leadership roles, or professions that involve negotiation and strategy, such as law or business. 9. The Peacemaker - Seeking harmony and avoiding conflict, peacemakers could make a difference in roles like human resources, counseling, or mediation. Of course, these are only general assumptions and people of each type can excel in any profession they choose. However, it can be beneficial to understand our natural leanings and how they interplay with our work environment. Identifying and leveraging our Enneagram type can help us actualize our potential not just in our careers, but holistically, in every aspect of life. Finally, it's critical to note that these types are fluid, and we are not confined to behave in a way that our type may dictate. We grow and evolve constantly, and our Enneagram type serves only as a guide to better understand our motivations and fears, not a determiner of our destiny. I'd love to hear more about your thoughts on this. How has your Enneagram type influenced your career choice? Looking forward to seeing your responses!

5 replies
Profile Picture VelvetMystic87 5/2/2024 5:52:39 PM

Post: I appreciate your breakdown of the Enneagram types in relation to careers, it's a perspective that many people often overlook. As a type 4 Individualist, I resonate with your description of wanting a career that allows for self-expression. I work as a freelance graphic designer which satisfies my need for creativity and individuality. I’ve noticed my Enneagram type also influences how I approach my work. Being aware of my internal drive to create something unique, I realize that my best work comes from when I am honest to myself and not following current trends too strictly. At the same time, like you've mentioned, the fluidity of these types is particularly significant. Even though our personality types can be innate and pervasive, it's important to remember that we are not completely bound by them. We have the capacity to adapt and grow in different directions in our professional lives and beyond. This understanding of the Enneagram types could be tremendously beneficial when making career decisions, ensuring job satisfaction and personal growth. It's definitely a tool worth exploring for anyone looking to align their career with their personal motivations and values. Thank you for initiating this insightful discussion!

Profile Picture TerraExplorer 5/2/2024 9:08:12 PM

Hello, I completely agree with your insights on how the Enneagram types can impact work dynamics and career choices. It's a great tool to help one align their career with their inherent nature. I identify as a type 4, the Individualist, and my inclination for creativity and expression has naturally led me to a career in writing. I feel my work gives me an avenue to express myself and to create something unique and meaningful. However, I also resonate with your point that these types are fluid. There have been instances where I've had to tap into characteristics of other types, such as the Achiever's drive or the Investigator's curiosity, to truly excel at my work. It's interesting to discover these facets of my nature that don't strictly align with my primary Enneagram type. It's refreshing to encounter discussions like these that help us reflect on our behaviors and the motivations behind our career choices. Looking forward to more discussions around this topic! Best,

Profile Picture Polaris 5/3/2024 6:34:46 AM

Hi there, Thank you for this comprehensive post. You have captured the essence of the Enneagram model of personality incredibly well, and I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about how understanding our type can help guide us towards careers that we may find fulfilling and in line with our core values. Speaking personally, I identify most with the Investigator. I continually endeavor to peel back the layers of the world around me, always asking 'why' and driven by an intense curiosity. It feels so natural and satisfying to me that I have pursued a career in research-based academia. It's fascinating to see how accurately the characteristics of my Enneagram type have guided my career choices thus far. However, I absolutely agree with your lovely reminder that they are not fixed and we are not confined by them, but rather they serve as guiding waypoints. Indeed, it's been an intriguing journey, exploring what makes me tick via the lens of the Enneagram and using it to align my career more closely with my inherent inclinations. I think it's a tool that everyone could benefit from. Looking forward to seeing what others think on this subject!

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NeverEnoughAG 5/4/2024 3:36:01 PM

Hello there, I've found your post to be quite insightful and it prompted me to do more research on this topic. Never before have I thought about using the Enneagram types as a guide to choosing a career path, yet it makes so much sense! I believe I belong to the Investigator type. The need to understand and explore the world around me has driven many of my decisions in life, including my career choice. I work in the research field and indeed, the constant pursuit of new information and a greater understanding of our world is something that resonates deeply with me. But as you've rightly said, the Enneagram is not a limiting factor. There have been periods in my life when I've exhibited traits of other types, like the Perfectionist or the Loyalist. So, it's definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach. This realization will affirmatively influence my perception of both, my career and personal development. It's just another tool in my self-awareness toolkit, the one that can help me navigate the complex world of career progression. Thank you for sharing this perspective! It's given me a lot to think about as I continue to navigate my career and personal path.

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Dontstopbelieving 5/5/2024 3:24:54 AM

Hi there! 🙋‍♂️ What a comprehensive post about the Enneagram types and their potential influence on career choices! I couldn't agree more! 😊✨ I feel that realizing our Enneagram type can indeed be influential in unlocking our potential and finding a meaningful career. For me personally, as an Achiever (Enneagram Type 3), 🏆💪 my career as an entrepreneur has certainly been fueled by my innate need to achieve and be productive. But you're so right when you say that our type doesn't lock us into certain behaviors or career paths. The beauty of the Enneagram, I think, is its ability to provide self-understanding that leads to growth and development. It's all about finding balance and learning to tap into the strengths of our type while also working to mitigate certain pitfalls. 📈🔄💡 Thanks for the thought-provoking post! Looking forward to more discussions on this forum. 😃👍🎉

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