The World Through Rose-Colored Glasses
Have you ever put on the wrong pair of glasses? Perhaps you tried on a friend’s glasses to see if you like the style, or if you are as myopic as I am, you maybe have grabbed the glasses of someone else in your home. What was the result? Blurry vision usually, but sometimes I have looked through lenses far too strong for me with a result of overcorrection and a sharpness that tires my eyes and can cause pain.
Obviously, neither of these are the result you want, so you go to a professional to test your vision and collaborate on the correct prescription to adjust what YOU need to have adjusted.
Similarly, “trying on” the enneagram by doing quick online tests can give you a blurry result with a tool that should be bringing great clarity to your personal development.
Online tests CAN be an interesting starting spot, but they are only taking into account how you feel TODAY. Generally, even the best online test (the RHETI) is only about 60% accurate, and the free ones far less. I myself started with the RHETI which was 50% accurate in my family of four. One son and I (both 7’s) were accurate, but my husband (an 8) mis-typed as a 2, and the other son took the test 3 times to finally land on the correct number, which I have since confirmed with a long 1:1 session.
How does this happen? Enneagram is rooted not just in the behaviors we exhibit, but in the WHY itself. It asks how you react in certain situations, but your answer is likely influenced by what you feel on that particular day. In the case of Himself, an enneagram 8 will take on many characteristics of the 2 when they are at their strongest. Both are generous and love to help and support others, but the CORE MOTIVATION behind WHY they do it differs. Because he took the test at his strongest, the algorithm could only pick that up. If it had been a very stressful day, he may have come in with a totally different number.
Being Mis-Typed
When you’re mis-typed on the Enneagram, it’s like walking through life with someone else’s prescription. Things might seem clear at first, but as you dig deeper, you’ll start to notice a few problems:
1.Focusing on the Wrong “Weaknesses”
•Each Enneagram type has its own unique set of challenges and growth points. When you’re mis-typed, you may find yourself focusing on “improving” traits that aren’t actually part of your core struggles. This can lead to wasted energy and frustration. You’re working hard to solve problems that aren’t yours to solve, while your real issues go unaddressed.
Example: Let’s say you’ve mistyped yourself as a Type 1 (the Perfectionist), but you’re actually a Type 7 (the Enthusiast). You might spend all your time trying to fix your so-called “perfectionism,” when in reality, your core struggle is about avoiding discomfort and overextending yourself in the pursuit of new experiences. It’s like trying to read a book through fuzzy glasses—you think you’re making progress, but it’s all a little off.
2.Missing Out on Your Real Strengths
•When you’re not correctly typed, you can easily overlook your natural strengths. You might feel out of sync with the typical strengths of the type you’ve been assigned, which can cause self-doubt. You could be missing the opportunity to build on what actually makes you powerful.
Example: If you’ve been told you’re a Type 4 (the Individualist), but you’re truly a Type 3 (the Achiever), you might undervalue your drive for success and impact. You may be told to focus on authenticity and creativity when what would actually help you thrive is embracing your natural goal-setting and leadership abilities. Mis-typing can cause you to push against your real gifts instead of letting them shine.
3.Feeling Stuck in Personal Growth
•When your Enneagram type is wrong, your personal development journey can feel like treading water. You’re putting in the effort but not seeing the results. That’s because the Enneagram isn’t a one-size-fits-all tool. The specific path to growth for each type is unique, and following someone else’s path just won’t get you where you want to go.
Example: A mis-typed Type 9 (the Peacemaker) might be working on becoming more decisive and assertive, thinking they’re a Type 6 (the Loyalist). But until they address their tendency to numb out and avoid conflict, they won’t get anywhere in their growth.
Why Working with an Enneagram Coach is More Effective
This is where working with an Enneagram coach can make all the difference. While a test gives you a surface-level answer, a coach guides you through a more nuanced process of self-discovery. A coach understands that the Enneagram is not just about what you do, but why you do it. They can ask deeper questions to uncover your core fears and desires that might not be immediately obvious from your day-to-day actions.
Here’s why working with an Enneagram coach is a game-changer:
•Personalized Guidance: Instead of a one-size-fits-all test result, a coach can help you explore the patterns in your life that align with different types. They’ll ask probing questions to get to the root of your core motivations.
•Clarifying Confusion: Many people feel connected to multiple types or have trouble figuring out which type resonates most. A coach can help you sort through this confusion and determine your true type by digging deeper than any test can.
•Long-Term Growth: A coach doesn’t just tell you your type and leave it there. They can help you understand the healthy and unhealthy patterns associated with your type and give you practical tools for growth. It’s about moving from insight to action
•Real-life application: Enneagram can be used to improve not only ourselves, but our relationships and communications with others. Working with a coach means you can learn how to support other enneagram types at work, on teams, or at home. Understanding how each type approaches conflict, projects, and more can improve relationships.
If you’ve taken a test and feel like something’s off, don’t be discouraged—it happens to so many people. But don’t settle for wearing the wrong prescription! When you work with an Enneagram coach, you’ll see yourself clearly, understand your motivations on a deep level, and find the personalized path to becoming your best self.
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