enneagram: a helpful tool that might make you a better SLP

Identifying problems is a major slice of our jobs as SLPs.  We administer tests and interpret results, then pinpoint delays or disorders in communication. Afterward, we set goals and write plans for targeting the problem areas.

It becomes second nature quickly. We maintain a sort of continual evaluation mindset.

But when was the last time you paused and applied the same techniques for yourself?

Speech pathologists are some of my favorite folks on the planet. You love people through connection. You are good communicators and generally an empathetic and serving tribe.

But, as most humans are, we can be blind to our own problem areas. Self-awareness gets ragged and threadbare as we focus on the outward work of helping others. And from this place of unbalanced neglect, we stop being our best selves.

Well, I want to be the voice helping the helpers. I’m always searching for tips and tools to encourage you, my fellow SLP, toward recovering your best you.  I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell you about a new to me discovery. I’m finally sharing it now because its summer and that usually means wider margins and more brain space for a deeper level of self-care.

It’s called the Enneagram.

The Enneagram has become my favorite personal evaluation tool.

Now you may or may not have heard of it, but it is something that’s changing the way I view my internal wiring, my motivations, and reactions. It’s even transforming my closest relationships for the better. It’s making me mindfully aware of some of the stuff rattling inside my mind and heart.

And anything that good makes me want to share it with all my favorite people.

The Enneagram is old wisdom, the beginning of which traces back centuries, and is regaining momentum and popularity.  It is basically a personality construct based on 9 types, divided by basic desires and fears.  I won’t go into all the specific types but you can check them out in a concise list here.

Most personality paradigms focus on strengths and characteristics. What I love about the Enneagram is the way it reveals the flip side of every feature. Strengths can be weaknesses.  Each type’s basic need and desire can reveal the best self or lead to certain pitfalls. It acknowledges that people are either in a state of growth or decline. Inertia is not an option.

Friends, we have all witnessed colleagues who’ve given out so much they’ve drained themselves dry. We are all in the people business. To love others well we must also love ourselves. Gaining a greater understanding of who you are and how you are wired only helps you serve your people better, at work and at home.

What if you developed a mindset that continually evaluates your personal growth?

Two ways the Enneagram has helped me grow

1. Personal Growth – It took some time but after taking this test and this test and reading this book, I finally determined my enneatype (Type 2 with a 1 wing). Knowing my type has helped me understand why I do certain things and why I react in particular ways. Because the Enneagram describes types in their most and least healthy states, it provides a unique catalyst for positive change in areas I’ve struggled with my entire life. By identifying my core motivation, fear and desire I’ve been able to grow emotionally, relationally and spiritually. It’s the kind of thing that makes light bulbs go off with one ‘aha’ moment after another.  At the risk of overstatement, it’s like finally having my life explained to me.
2. Relational Growth – A few years ago when the Enneagram came across my radar, I made everyone in my immediate family take the test. Through the process, we’ve learned so much about what makes each of us tick and how we view the world. As I’ve slowly become an ennea-junkie, I’ve studied not only my number but all the numbers and how they manifest themselves in my family and friends.The Enneagram provides a descriptive framework for interpersonal interaction. It has improved my marriage and how I communicate with my children. A deeper empathy and respect for people has emerged. Because all the types are interrelated, it’s fascinating to learn the ways we reflect all the numbers in our seasons of greatest growth.

Your Turn

If you are already familiar with the Enneagram, use some of your marginal time this summer to dive a little deeper into this interesting tool. Find out your subtype.  Read a few books or listen to podcasts on the subject.

If this is your first exposure, click on some of the links I’ve included. Take a test and learn a little bit more. Here is a fun video that explains more about the Enneagram. If you’re brave, just google it!

One of my favorite authors and speakers on the Enneagram is Ian Cron. He describes it this way: “The Enneagram is a powerful tool for developing self-awareness, cultivating compassion for ourselves and others, understanding our behaviors, and discovering the hidden motivations that powerfully shape the human personality. It provides a framework for how we can begin to live into our most authentic selves, and also reveals the wisdom and gifts that each personality type can offer to the world.”

This summer make sure you are taking care of you. I’d love to geek out with you in the comments. I’m a Type 2 with a 1 wing, which means I’m a classic helper with perfectionistic tendencies. Yikes! What is your type?

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