Lawyer Personalities: The Enneagram

The Enneagram is a transformational personality assessment tool.  It is based upon your underlying fears, unconscious patterns, habitual preoccupations, and misused strengths. It is a tool of self understanding.

The Enneagram is a nine-pointed figure. Each point represents a way of being.

1. The Perfectionist

2.  The Martyr/Giver

3.  The Achiever/Performer

4.  Dramatic/Artist/Romantic

5.  The Observer

6.  The Advocate/Doubter

7.  The Optimist/Epicure

8.  The Boss/Leader

9.  The Peacemaker/Mediator

The Enneagram model shows not only the current functioning but also the path and method of work toward achieving higher states of awareness.  The different approaches are nine "answers" to the problems of life--nine different points of view with different preoccupations and concerns which reinforce and perpetuate the self image.

There are tests for determining your type but many Enneagram experts believe that "typing" cannot be determined by a test; it must be observed either by self examination or by interviewing with an expert.

What Life is About for Enneagram Types
            (adapted from workshop materials by Dee Morris, CET)

1. The Perfectionist must do it correctly, be good, work hard. They often procrastinate for fear of making a mistake. Use "should" a lot. Evolved ones can be moral heroes.

2.  The Givers demand approval and affection. They seek approval by becoming indispensable to others. Evolved twos are generally caring and supportive.

3.  The Achiever seeks love through performance and achievement. They are obsessed with competition and appearing as winners. They confuse job and identity.  Evolved Threes can be effective leaders, team captains.

4.  The Artist or Tragic Romantic is attracted to the unattainable. They are tragic, sad, artistic, sensitive, always focused on what is missing.  Evolved Fours are creative and committed to the beauty and passion of life. They want to be unique and extraordinary.

5.  The Observer is emotionally distant, protects privacy, and doesn't get involved.  Doing without is a defense to being involved. Fives are detached from feelings and compartmentalize obligations. They seek knowledge while minimizing their needs. Evolved Fives are detached decision makers, ivory tower intellectuals and abstemious monks.

6.  The Advocate is fearful, dutiful, and plagued by doubt. They seek safety. They are afraid to take action because they fear being exposed to attack. They have issues with authority and identify with the underdog. They are self-sacrificing and loyal to the cause. Some Sixes over-react and confront authority in an aggressive way.  Evolved Sixes are loyal; good team players; and wonderful friends who can be heroic in crisis. They will work for a cause without personal profit.

7.  The Optimistic, fun-loving Seven is the eternal Peter Pan. They seek fun, without limits. They are superficial, adventurous and have trouble with commitment. They want to keep their options open, stay emotionally high and experience everything. They are generally happy and stimulating to be around. They have a habit of starting projects and not seeing them through when the projects are no longer exciting. Evolved Sevens are good theoreticians, synthesizers and multi-talented.

8.  The Boss is extremely protective and territorial. They stick up for themselves and their friends. They love a good fight and are combative.  They seek to be in control, in charge, and openly display anger and force.  They make contact through toe to toe confrontation and sexual encounters.  They live passionately and excessively--too much, too late, too loud.  Evolved Eights are excellent leaders, especially in the adversarial role. They can be powerful supporters of others, clearing the way for friends.

9.  The Peacemaker is obsessively ambivalent, sees all points of view, and readily puts aside their own goals for those of others.  They seek unity,  peace, and harmony. They tend to use food, drinks, television as narcotics. They know others' needs better than their own and are agreeable. Their anger comes in indirect ways.  Evolved Nines are excellent peacemakers, mediators, counselors, negotiators, and achievers when on track. They thrive in structured situations.

Transformational Type

One of the fun tools of the Enneagram is that you actually have a type that is your "home base" and you "visit" other types under stress and in good times.  For example, a 9 will also have times when she is more like a 3 or a 6.  A 5 will sometimes react as a 7 or 8; a 2 will sometimes react like a 4 or 8. The model is a transformational model so you can actually work on adapting to the characteristics of other types or you can develop the best qualities of your own type.  Once you identify your "home base," you can actually learn a lot about your underlying motivations.

How this is useful for lawyers

As a self knowledge tool, the Enneagram is valuable for exploring your own motivations and owning your internal process. In addition, it is useful in interpersonal relationships.  You probably also recognized some of your colleagues as you were reading this very over-simplified summary.  Imagine that you are involved in an adversarial case with an achieving #3.  Knowing that image is everything, you might look for ways to resolve your case while having the attorney look like a winner.  If your spouse sometimes acts strange, you may begin to recognize the stress reactions of that particular type and discover ways to alleviate the underlying emotions.

The Enneagram has been applied to many other professions but we haven't found anyone who has specifically studied its use in the legal profession....yet.

Most informative Enneagram site:  www.best.com/~asci4d/enneagram/intro.htm