Strengths and Challenges for Each Type

Have you ever been asked, “Do you know your Enneagram number?” Since the Enneagram has exploded in popularity in recent years, it’s likely. What is the Enneagram and how can the Enneagram be used by teachers? 

The Enneagram system helps people better understand who they are and what motivates them. According to research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, “the Enneagram is a personality theory describing nine strategies by which the psyche develops a worldview and relates to self and others.” Each point on the Enneagram symbol represents one of the nine basic personality types.

The Enneagram is used to gain a better understanding of yourself and others by mental health professionals, corporations, religious communities, and individuals. A quick internet search will reveal numerous books, podcasts, social media accounts, and online tests available to help you discover your number and study the Enneagram. 

Since teaching is a deeply reflective and relational profession, the Enneagram holds great potential for educators. One Enneagram type does not make a better teacher than another; each Enneagram type has unique qualities and traits that can make them excellent teachers. In addition to helping you have a better understanding of your own strengths and challenges in relation to your patterns of behavior and the motivations that drive them, knowing how others view the world and their motivations can help you build stronger relationships with students, their families, and colleagues. Here are the basic Enneagram personality types.  

Type 1: The Perfectionist 

Strengths 

• Conscientious, organized, responsible, and reliable 
• Committed to maintaining high standards of excellence for yourself and others 
• Strives to create a better world through teaching
• Cares for students by offering wise, honest, loving feedback
• Work ethic and strong moral compass help you accomplish a lot for your students and school

Challenges  

• May overlook student needs by focusing too much on rules and discipline
• Emphasizes perfection and what is right and wrong, making students feel that mistakes are a negative
• Highly bothered by messes and disorganization
• Comes across as being rigid, inflexible, and needing to be right all of the time
• Difficulty adapting to unexpected changes 

Reminders

Students and colleagues appreciate your commitment to doing what’s right. Be gentle and accepting of yourself, observing when self-criticism is creeping up and wreaking havoc internally and externally. Making mistakes is OK; accept when you’re wrong, and remember that no one is perfect. Recognize when others are putting in their best effort and celebrate growth instead of just correctness. Embrace grace and joy. And don’t forget to laugh! 

Type 2: The Helper

Strengths 

• Intuitive, positive, generous, and supportive
• Effortlessly brings joy to the classroom 
• Provides nurturing that ensures students feel appreciated and seen
• Deeply relational and able to connect emotionally with students 
• Places high value on creating a safe and inclusive environment 

Challenges 

• Loses sight of yourself and your feelings by being overly invested in students’ lives and successes 
• Feels hurt and unappreciated if gratitude is not shown exactly how you expect 
• Difficulty setting boundaries 
• Overcommitting to people and causes can lead to burnout
• Students may become overly dependent on you because they know you like to help 

Reminders

Students and colleagues appreciate your thoughtfulness and genuine care. Openly and honestly express your needs. If someone doesn’t need your help, don’t feel rejected. Encourage student independence. Do not be concerned about what others think of you; know that you are loved and wanted just for who you are. Be sure to prioritize your self-care and set boundaries around how much time and attention you will give others.

Type 3: The Achiever 

Strengths 

• Charismatic, driven, optimistic, and confident
• Inspires and uplifts students by being action-oriented and highly motivated 
• Helps students reach their full potential and celebrate their successes
• Excels at setting and accomplishing goals for yourself and helping students do the same
• Bounces back from setbacks or difficulties 

Challenges 

• External recognition and success may be self-serving and more important than relationships with students and colleagues
• Shape-shifting into an image that will be admired and accepted hides the real you from students and colleagues 
• Overly competitive 
• Comparing your class with other teachers inadvertently encourages students to follow suit
• Difficulty with a work-life balance

Reminders

Students and colleagues appreciate your optimism, determination, and ability to see potential in others. Instead of focusing on achievements, place a high priority on relationships and meaningful connections; you don’t have to be the best. Be careful of focusing too much on the future or you may lose sight of what’s happening right now. It is OK to be yourself; the real you is worth knowing and is who students and colleagues want to know!

Type 4: The Individualist 

Strengths 

• Creative, intuitive, authentic, and inspiring
• Fosters an environment of self-awareness and acceptance
• Encourages students to harness their own creativity and think outside the box
• Helps others see beauty in the small things
• Connects students with their emotions because you do not shy away from life’s difficulties

Challenges 

• Feels misunderstood by others
• Frustrated teaching a mandated curriculum when you cannot incorporate your own unique ideas 
• Highly sensitive to feedback and criticism
• Focus on what is missing instead of what is positive and present
• Becoming self-absorbed when feeling intense emotions by withdrawing into yourself

Reminders

Students and colleagues value your originality and capacity for feeling deeply. There is nothing wrong with being ordinary sometimes. Recognize your tendency to perceive others as better off than you. Enjoy the present moment despite its imperfections. Instead of procrastinating or complaining, make the most out of humdrum tasks, completing what needs to be done before moving on to more interesting ones.

Type 5: The Investigator 

Strengths 

• Insightful, innovative, curious, and knowledgeable 
• Encourages students to discover and explore
• Provides a wealth of knowledge and expertise to students 
• Creates a safe environment for student communication by being neutral
• Finds new and innovative solutions to problems and help students develop the same abilities

Challenges 

• Aloof and unaware of the emotional needs of students and colleagues because you are in your head most of the time
• Withdraw when you feel depleted after social interactions 
• Development of strong relationships within the school community is hindered by your strong need for privacy and solitude
• Frustrated in situations where there are no clear answers
• Emotionally disconnected from your own feelings 

Reminders

You are respected by students and coworkers for your ability to conceptualize new things and analyze the world. By trusting your instincts instead of waiting to know all of the facts, you will become more bold and more willing to act. Rather than immediately analyzing others’ feelings as problems to solve, take the time to listen and connect on a heart level. Don’t be afraid to give up some privacy in order to form closer relationships. Embrace the fact that not everything will make sense. 

Type 6: The Loyalist 

Strengths 

• Loyal, dependable, witty, and reliable 
• Calm and stable in tough times by being prepared for any situation
• Helps students see all the possibilities and options available
• Develops students’ sense of teamwork
• Creates a safe, secure, and predictable classroom environment 

Challenges 

• Excessive planning and preparation for worst-case situations and unexpected changes
• Requires reassurance from others
• Difficulty making decisions because you’re bogged down with self-doubt and indecision
• Over-question self and others 
• Reminisce about past disappointments and hurts while forgetting past accomplishments 

Reminders

Your concern for others makes students and colleagues feel secure and prepared. Don’t second-guess all of your choices or decisions after you have made them: You can trust yourself and your discernment. Be bold and take risks. Slow your mind down by moving your body and enjoying the present moment. Keep your suspicions in check; everyone does not have ulterior motives.  

Type 7: The Enthusiast 

Strengths 

• Joyful, enthusiastic, highly energetic, and positive 
• Easily motivates students to learn, take on challenges, and explore new possibilities
• Excellent ability to foster an environment of exploration and discovery
• Turns negatives into positives
• Does not let worry or anxiety get in the way

Challenges 

• Bored by mundane or repetitive tasks
• Difficulty establishing a stable learning environment by jumping from one idea to another
• Students may not know how to react when you are being serious since you are a usually positive and fun 
• Does not like to stay in painful or hard emotions, hurrying students to happy thoughts before they are ready 
• Focus and attention to detail 

Reminders

Students and colleagues appreciate your spontaneity and joy. By focusing on your inner world, you will learn how to slow down and calm your mind and body. You can find joy in stillness as well as movement. Finish a project before starting the next one. Avoid making light of serious situations and reframing perceived negatives into positives. Decide that you will accept all of life, not just the parts that you find happy. 

Type 8: The Challenger 

Strengths 

• Assertive, energetic, honest, and take-charge
• Deeply committed to justice
• Provides sound and practical advice directly and honest communicator
• Motivates students to be independent and take responsibility for their learning 
• Champion for students and fights for the underdog

Challenges

• Overly assertive when interacting with colleagues, students, or families without realizing it
• Strong personality can create an intimidating environment that hinders relationships with others
• Unwilling to be vulnerable 
• Difficulty following rules and guidelines and accepting feedback from authority
• Takes charge when it’s not your place and ignores other people’s opinions

Reminders

You are respected by students and colleagues for your ability to be yourself and to pave a path for all. Being vulnerable is OK. Showing more of your feelings and sensitivity would be appreciated by students! Choose your words and tone carefully; even though you think you’re being honest, you might sound harsh or intimidating to others. Notice when to step back and let others lead. Remember to rest your body and reflect.

Type 9: The Peacemaker 

Strengths 

• Thoughtful, adaptable, diplomatic, and patient
• Helps students find common ground through encouraging collaboration and cooperation
• Excellent listener and mediator 
• Brings harmony to unlikely situations 
• Goes with the flow when plans change 

Challenges 

• Passive-aggressive because of a desire to avoid conflict and maintain peace 
• Hard to set boundaries and declare your needs 
• Adapting and going with the flow can lead to inconsistency for students
• Difficulty managing disruptive behavior and maintaining authority 
• Ignoring or minimizing serious problems

Reminders

Students and colleagues alike appreciate your ability to listen and include everyone. Make a daily list of the most important things you need to do, and actually complete them. There is nothing wrong with experiencing conflict and discomfort sometimes. Saying no is OK. Be sure to speak up more, sharing your knowledge and insight; you have a valuable and important voice to share!

How To Learn More

No matter your Enneagram number, you can use it to gain a deeper understanding of yourself as a teacher. Whether you are looking to discover your number or would like to learn more, here is a list of resources by leading Enneagram experts and influencers:

Enneagram Self-Assessments

Books

Podcasts

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