There are three main ways to find your Enneagram type:
1. Take an online test
It’s important to buy a quality Enneagram test; otherwise, you are likely to be mistyped and be pointed to the wrong growth areas. Free tests are unlikely to be reliable as it takes a significant investment in time and money to create an online assessment with a high accuracy rate. Most free tests also don’t capture the important subtleties subtypes and countertypes.
2. Attend a manual typing interview
Work with an experienced Enneagram coach who is trained to take clients through a manual typing interview. He or she will ask you a series of introspective questions to help you identify your Enneagram type. The advantage of this method is that you can ask for clarification if you are unclear about the meaning of an interview question. This is useful because the questions in online tests cover aspects of yourself that you have never thought about and people are not always sure how to answer them. The practitioner can then analyse your answers with you and help you decide on your dominant type if you resonate with several.
3. Self-study by reading Enneagram resources
This is a perfectly valid and beautiful way to find your Enneagram type at leisure. I recommend the books by Beatrice Chestnut in particular. It can be a long journey, though, and people often mistype themselves based on stereotypical and superficial descriptions of the types. An Enneagram practitioner can help you understand the nine types and 27 subtypes and identify yours more quickly. The structured process will also help you trust the result.
What’s the best way to find your Enneagram type?
I am obviously biased, but recommend going for a mixture of all three methods. Once you have found your type, you will have access to so much powerful information that it justifies going deep and taking time to find your Enneagram type.
Whichever way you choose, I recommend that you work with an Enneagram coach who can help you confirm your type, explain what it means and assist you in developing a strategy that allows you to apply the information to your life. Finding your type is just the start of an exciting journey.
Book a strategy call here to discuss how you can find your Enneagram type and what benefits you could gain from an Enneagram growth journey.
