How to Find Your Enneagram Type
The number one question I hear from friends, “Lisa....How do I find my Enneagram type??”
So friends, here are my top 5 things you’ll need to do to find your main type. Before you begin, you’ll need to ask yourself why do you want to know your type? Is it because you have FOMO like me and just want to be able to share your type and join in casual conversations with friends over coffee? OR are you looking to know and learn about your type in order to help you grow, understand what it looks like to be on your healthiest path and to be able to live in alignment with God and others?
1. Take a test, If it’s just for fun or the give yourself a starting place:
If you just want to know your type for fun, there are tests you can take, but each of them are only about 50-75% accurate. TIP: think about how you’ve been MOST of your life, rather than just NOW. If you’re living in stress or have had major changes recently, this will for sure effect your results. ALSO, be honest with yourself! Don’t answer for the person you WANT to be, but how you really have felt over the majority of your life. This is one of the reasons why it’s not recommended that you try typing your children…they usually don’t know themselves very well, can’t express what they’re feeling and definitely haven’t lived life, yet. One of my favorites is this free test: Tritypes test
This test will give you the top 3 types you scored on the test and then you’ll want to study the 9 types (check out my 9 types overview freebie in the resources and listen to one of my favorite podcasts) to see which type you resonate most with. OR take my Enneagram 101 course ($29: four recorded sessions, 45 minutes total), which will walk you through all 9 types, and the centers of intelligence to help you narrow down your core type: Enneagram 101 Course
There are a few paid tests, but the one that I like the most is $10 and can be purchased here: https://www.wepss.com/ This test seems to be the most accurate for helping to narrow down your main type and wing. This test will give you a good starting point to narrow down how you really feel and what makes you tick.
2. Go to my post, “All About the 9 Types” for an overview summary of each type and/or click at the top of my website on “resources” for a great freebie which is the “9 types overview”.
3. Listen to podcasts to learn more! Here are some of my favorites:
The Basics: an overview by Beth McCord:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-enneagram-coach-the-podcast/id1504530276?i=1000471411773
2. What is the Enneagram?: Jen hatmaker with Suzanne Stabile: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-the-love-with-jen-hatmaker-podcast/id1258388821?i=1000474331619
3. Enneea summer with Sarajane Case (Enneagram & Coffee):
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-sounds-fun-with-annie-f-downs/id944925529?i=1000480105778
4. Liturgist episode 37: The Liturgist: (1 hour, 40 min)
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liturgists-podcast/id903433534?i=1000374472207
4. To find your type, you can also read great books, starting with some of my favorites:
The Honest Enneagram by SaraJane Case : This is my favorite overview book-I love how this book breaks down each type with the paths, wings, subtypes, levels of health and how to honor your strengths. It’s written like she’s talking to a friend, but comprehensive. Bonus, it’s pretty and colorful!
The Road Back to You by Cron & Stabile : An iconic Enneagram book that breaks down the basics for each type and gives a great overview “checklist” to help determine if that type resonates with you.
The Enneagram Guide to Waking up by Beatrice Chestnut A really in-depth look at all 9 types, the paths, your shadow, and helping to discover your true self (for researchers or if you’ve already studied and want more knowledge).
Self to Lose, Self to Find: Using the Enneagram to Uncover Your True, God-Gifted... A faith based approach to looking at each type, prayers for each type and encouragement.
The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation by AJ Sherrill A faith based overview of why the Enneagram is helpful for spiritual growth, a breakdown of each type and healthy practices and habits for growing in your strengths.
5. Finally, hire a coach like me!
If you want to save time and go deeper to learn all of the inner workings of your personality, how God created you, learn strategies for getting to your healthiest path and communication with others, then let’s chat about coaching! I watch people spend months and years tossing around between types, "trying them on" and still often questioning if they got it right. How can you begin to do growth work if you aren't sure what your type truly is? Did you know certain parts of the types are more important than others when it comes to typing? Did you know each type has a talking style? (Sometimes this is a HUGE clue to me on which type a client is!) As a coach I’m trained to pick up on these things and target you in on the major differentiators between types. Go to the “Enneagram Coaching” section at the top of my website and click on the coaching package you want or recorded coaching sessions. Or if you prefer, let’s jump on the phone for 20 minutes and discuss what you need! Enneagram coaching could be the missing piece you’ve been longing for to understand and love yourself and live your best life!