I was googling some Shakespeare quotes when I noticed the word: “Enneagram.” Immediately, from the cobwebby corners of my mind, I remembered sitting in a regional staff meeting 20 years ago. We were being forced to happily taking a tediously long marvelously in-depth psychological test to decide which one of The Nine Enneagram Archetypes we might be.
We had a new boss and this was her way of getting to know us.
Curious as ever (and as a tribute to one of the more unique bosses I ever worked with), I clicked on the link where I found this simple little test: The Quick Enneagram Sorting Test. So I took it. I mean, who wouldn’t? Especially after I figured out that there were only two questions (three-parts each) to answer.
The results of my test told me that there was an 80% chance that I was one of the following three archetypes.
I agree with the results in theory. I would add that I think that I behave differently in different contexts. Everyone does. Which means that I’m probably a mix of all three archetypes– in different proportions– at all times– depending on where I am standing on the earth.
| Type Three: The Achiever The Success-Oriented, Efficient Type: Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious |
| Type Five: The Investigator The Intense, Cerebral Type: Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated |
| Type Seven: The Enthusiast The Busy, Variety-Seeking Type: Spontaneous, Versatile, Distractible, and Scattered |
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I invite you to take the test and get sorted, too. See what it says about you. And if you feel like it, you can share your results below in comments or on your blog. We’d love to know who you really are.
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THE SPECTACLED BEAN 
wow – that was interesting. i didn’t labor over answering – just a quick read and answer and boy did i get nailed with reality. see what you think: The Helper, The Individualist, and The Loyalist.
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Lori, I did the same thing as you did: just answered, no contemplation. I agree that the test results described you accurately. Freaky, isn’t it?
[The three minutes that it takes to do this test is so much better than the 45 minute test I took years ago!]
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The Individualist, The Loyalist, and The Peacemaker. I’ve made an art out of deceiving myself so I have no idea if this is accurate or not, but I suspect that it is.
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I should add that I took the full test years ago at an weekend retreat for community leaders in communities where progress has been derailed by issues in which race and ethnicity are factors. It said I was a peacemaker.
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Mike, interesting how your three archetypes make sense to you. I wonder if anyone ever takes this short test and says: “no way!” I’m impressed that you remember your archetype from before.
I haven’t a clue who I was back then. And yes, you can quote me on that. 😉
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Type Two: The Helper
The Caring, Interpersonal Type: Demonstrative, Generous, People-Pleasing, and Possessive
Type Six: The Loyalist
The Committed, Security-Oriented Type: Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious
Type Eight: The Challenger
The Powerful, Dominating Type: Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational
I see myself more as 2 and 6, but get me in a group and I turn into Type 8!!
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Margaret, it’s great that you know when you turn into Type 8– and when you’re just grooving along as Type 2 & 6. I have no idea what situation I’m in when I switch btwn my types, but I know that I do.
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I’m The Helper (2), The Enthusiast (7), and The Challenger (8). I think that’s pretty close to what I am, although less on The Helper, and strong on The Enthusiast, with a dash of The Achiever (3) thrown in.
That’s amazing that a two/four question test can figure a person out like that!
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Stephanie, I agree that it’s amazing. So far everyone who’s taken the test and left me a message has agreed with his or her results. Very interesting.
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Zen-Den here. Count me in as a Reformer, Loyalist and Challenger. Sounds about right. Now if you will excuse me, I see a windmill I must charge.
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Best of luck, dear. Don’t forget to wear your armor– and let Sancho Panza know that you need to be home early tonight. 😉
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The Individualist, The Loyalist, and The Peacemaker. Mix all three together and it just might be me.
(Psst….I go away for a bit and you go on a blogging streak. That’s OK because it gives me lots of good stuff to read tonight. )
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