The 5 Best Enneagram Resources To Get You Started
The Enneagram is maybe becoming a bit of a cultural hot-word — rising to it’s highest in web search popularity since mid-2004. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? Possibly you’ve been introduced to it at a party or within a business coaching session — and maybe you were skeptical of being pigeon-holed, labeled, or misunderstood, too? Well, you’re in good company — but bear with me.
Wait, what is it?
In case you have absolutely no idea what it is — a wildly basic overview: the Enneagram is a system of nine personality profiles visualized as a functional, circular map that is meant to help us know ourselves and others (Palmer). There’s not a lot of great articles here on Medium, but I do recommend Sarah A. Downey’s piece for sure.
I was first introduced to the Enneagram nearly twenty years ago in my undergraduate work for Psychology, no surprise there. But I glossed over it and wouldn’t encounter it again until 2012 — and then only briefly while walking with a church staff through James Bryan Smith’s Good & Beautiful series. It wasn’t until 2017 when my coaching/consultation work intersected with some staff training that I began studying in earnest.
Annnnd it was transformational: leading me to months of intense study, graduate coursework, and certification in the narrative tradition.
Considering my journey toward any sort of graduate work has been, well, a chaotic endeavor…that this kept my fullest attention and continues to teach me so many lessons is a testament to it’s deep meaning and gravitas.
Enneagram resources and internet stuffs.
My hope over the upcoming weeks is to answer some common questions, respond to reader’s questions, debunk some myths, and describe some of the most helpful applications of the Enneagram. But first, I thought I’d share some of my favorite books, websites, and resources for getting started!
- Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile, The Road Back To You
This might be the best first resource I could recommend. It’s accessible, light-hearted enough, and gives a meaningful overview of all nine types. - www.typologypodcast.com
Typology is the aforementioned Ian Morgan Cron’s podcast — and it is a fantastic show, well produced, well researched, and a lot of fun. - Beatrice Chestnut, The 9 Types Of Leadership
Admittedly, this is both specific and a bit more in-depth, but Beatrice Chestnut is doing some incredible work in and with the Enneagram; hers was the third book I read, and still stands as one of my very favorite. - Suzanne Stabile’s The Enneagram Journey, Podcast
Like Chestnut’s above, Suzanne’s podcast might could be a bit more in-depth, but only just so. Every episode is engaging, thoughtful, and she’s currently at more than 80 episodes. As suggested by the title, Stabile often incorporates a more narrative and journeyed approach to the Enneagram that you will likely find very helpful. - www.enneagraminstitute.com
Possibly the leading resource hub on the Enneagram, you’ll find history, tests, and a wide variety of additional stuffs here.
Oh — and if you’re interested in having me lead you or your team through a coaching session or would like to chat about the Enneagram over coffee or whiskey, message me and let’s make it happen.
So yes, there is a ton more beyond all this, but that’s five of the best resources to get you started. If you have a question you’d like me to respond to, please let me know!
>>> Looking to dive deeper? Check out the next article in this series, “5 More Enneagram Resources To Dive Deeper.”
