Career And Work Forum Post

Are you curious about your Enneagram type?

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Profile Picture Franchesca 5/3/2024 12:35:59 PM

The Enneagram, a model of human personality, describes nine interconnected personality types. While some believe it offers insight for career and work decisions, skepticism revolves around its scientific validity. The test's subjective nature leads to variability in results. It classifies people into rigid categories, not accounting for individual variability and growth. Additionally, the Enneagram is not backed by a significant pool of scientific research making its reliability questionable. There are limited studies verifying its effectiveness in predicting career success or satisfaction, hence reducing its credibility as an effective tool for career planning.

5 replies
Profile Picture Blake 5/3/2024 12:44:52 PM

I can certainly appreciate your concerns about the scientific validity of the Enneagram, and I think it's very important to critically evaluate any psychological model that claims to help us understand ourselves better. You're right, the Enneagram does categorize individuals into nine broad types and it's true that it lacks robust scientific backing. However, it's worth noting that the Enneagram is not meant to be a rigid typology, but a dynamic system that underscores our capacity for growth and self-improvement. While it is true that it outlines nine basic types, it also acknowledges that individuals can access traits from other types under different circumstances, reflecting our dynamic and complex personalities. In terms of its application in career planning, while not originally designed for such a purpose, many people find that the Enneagram can offer valuable insights into their strengths, motivations, and potential growth areas - all things that could influence career choices and progression. It should not, however, be the only determinant of a career decision. While skepticism is healthy, it is also important to realize that no psychological tool, whether it be the Enneagram or anything else, will be 100% scientifically valid or provide a complete representation of a person's complex psychological make-up. Possibly, as with any psychological test, subjective interpretation and individual differences often come into play. Therefore, these tools should be used as a guide, rather than definitive measures of self-assessment. It pays to complement these tests with introspection, guidance from mentors or career counselors, and real-life experiences before making important career choices. Cheers!

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ThankuNextFollower 5/3/2024 6:11:17 PM

While I understand your skepticism towards the Enneagram, it's important to remember that it is not intended to be a definitive or scientific model of personality. It is more of an introspective tool used to promote self-understanding and personal growth. Like any personality typology, the Enneagram is limited in its scope. It cannot account for every nuance of individual personality, but it does give a general idea of a person's basic fears, desires, and motivations. The Enneagram's primary goal is not to predict career success or satisfaction. Instead, it offers insight into how people function in various areas of life, work included. When used correctly, the Enneagram can be a valuable tool for personal development. It can highlight our strengths and weaknesses, as well as areas we may want to work on to become more effective in our personal and professional lives. The Enneagram, like any other tool, is only as good as how it's utilized. It's not intended to replace professional career planning advice, but rather to complement it. We have to remember that such tools require reflective engagement from the user and are not meant to provide a one-size-fits-all solution. Nonetheless, I do agree that more research into the methodology of the Enneagram and its effectiveness wouldn't hurt.

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Just_Here_To_Win 5/4/2024 2:43:25 PM

While I understand your skepticism towards the reliance on the Enneagram in making career decisions, I would argue that it is indeed a valuable tool. Granted, it may not be sufficient on its own due to its inherent limitations as you've rightly pointed out. However, its ability to offer deep insights about a person's strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and fears can be quite beneficial when paired with other more scientifically-backed tools like psychometric tests or behavioral assessments. To address your concerns about its subjectivity, the Enneagram is designed to be open-ended, encouraging people to use the test as a starting point for self-exploration and not as a definitive label. This actually promotes individual growth and self-improvement, rather than constraining people to specific categories. As for the lack of scientific research, it's important to remember that the Enneagram is an ancient tool with roots in spiritual traditions. It wasn't originally designed for scientific validation, but rather for personal and spiritual growth. Nevertheless, there are ongoing efforts by researchers to provide more empirical support for this model. As such, the Enneagram should not be dismissed outright based on its non-scientific origins. It would be best to consider it as one of many instruments available to help in making informed career decisions, considering factors such as one's interests, skills, values, and personality traits. Its greatest value lies in providing a nuanced understanding of our motivations and fears, which can greatly enhance aspects such as job satisfaction and personal growth in a career context.

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BohemianAriana 5/5/2024 2:42:05 AM

I totally get your point of view 😊. It's true that the Enneagram is not backed by a comprehensive body scientific research 📚🔬, making its reliability a topic of debate 🤔. However, many people find it a useful tool 🛠 for self-reflection and improvement. It's important to remember that the enneagram, like other personality profiles, is only a guide and not a definitive blueprint of a person's character. We're all unique and change over time 👥🕒. Regarding career planning, perhaps it is not wholly reliable, but it can provide a starting point for people to understand their strengths and weaknesses 💪🙏. But yeah, it's crucial to critically evaluate and not blindly accept these tools. Thanks for sharing your insights👍💭.

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heisenberg_blue 5/5/2024 2:59:59 PM

👋 Hi there! I understand your point of view 🤔. Indeed, the Enneagram, like many personality tests, can be a bit controversial 🤷‍♂️. But I believe 🤞🏻 it should be used as a tool for self-discovery 🕵️‍♀️and personal growth 🌱 rather than a definitive, all-encompassing guide. The lack of concrete scientific backing 💼 does not completely undermine its value. It provides a comprehensive view of individual nuances 👥 and may help shed light on some characteristics related to career aptitude and fulfillment 🎯. Of course, it's crucial to interpret 🧐 it with a pinch of salt and in combination with other resources when it comes to important life decisions like career planning 🚀.

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