Enneagram Triads: The Intelligence Centers
I was talking with someone about my book recently who asked, “What are the Enneagram Triads, actually?” Which inspired this 4-part series about them. Each article will describe what that group of Enneagram Triads are and how I use them as a map for clarity, compassion, and collaboration.
So, without further ado, here is part 1: The Intelligence Center Triads.
What are the Enneagram Intelligence Center Triads?
Said simply, they are groups of Enneagram Types that have in common ways we perceive and process the world.
Types 8, 9, and 1 are in the Gut Center Triad.
Types in this Triad ask, “What does my instinct tell me is true?” Their decisions are based on things like comfort, independence, and energy, which means they can get caught in the struggle of anger as they guard their autonomy. They strive for control by protecting themselves (Type 8), staying comfortable (Type 9), or being right (Type 1). Their communication style tends to be direct, plain, sometimes defensive, and full of nonverbal cues. At their best, these Types process with serenity and strength.
Types 2, 3, and 4 are in the Heart Center Triad.
Types in this Triad ask, “How does this affect my connection to self and others?" Their decisions are based on things like relationships, image, and emotion, which means they can get caught in the struggle of shame as they look for self-worth. They strive for identity by being liked (Type 2), feeling valuable (Type 3), or finding significance (Type 4). Their communication style tends to contain stories, metaphor, and implied or unspoken meaning. At their best, these Types process with authenticity and compassion.
Types 5, 6, and 7 are in the Head Center Triad.
Types in this Triad ask, "How can I prepare myself and those around me?” Their decisions are based on things like logic, security, and planning, which means they can get caught in the struggle of fear as they search for support. They strive for safety by being competent (Type 5), having support (Type 6), or not being restricted (Type 7). Their communication style tends to be analytical, thoughtful, and sometimes complicated. At their best, these Types process with clarity and guidance.
How can we use the Enneagram Intelligence Center Triads as a map for clarity, compassion, and collaboration?
In my work as an executive coach, I take the role of a guide. Enneagram is a fabulous map of human motivation and behavior. But in order for a map to be helpful, we have to know how to read it and use it. So how do we use Intelligence Center Triads as a map to break out of the box that has been holding us back?
Clarity
We all have all three intelligence centers. In fact, we can probably look back on our best decisions and see how we used a combination of intellect, emotion, and instinct to reach our conclusion. When we know our dominant Intelligence Center, we can have clarity about our default mode. That center becomes the primary way we filter, decide, prioritize, and communicate. Which means if we know our Intelligence Center Triad, we can find more clarity about where we get stuck and what we are missing. Explore my article “Work the Wheel” for a practical way to have that clarity and engage in all three centers in a discernment process. The map of the Intelligence Center Triads can help us pause and ask, “Am I over-focused in one area and missing another way to look at things?”
Compassion
In both personal and professional relationships, these triads can help us pause before getting into an argument with someone. When we know our dominant Intelligence Center, we can have compassion with those who are communicating through the filter of a different Triad. Because a Gut Center Type prioritizes autonomy and energy, their communication style tends to be direct and plain. Because a Heart Center Type prioritizes image and relationships, their communication style tends to contain more imagery and look for stories of shared experiences. Notice the tension between those styles! Since we both speak and hear from our default filter, the heart is going to tend to see the gut as rude or standoffish, and the gut is going to tend to see the heart as longwinded or soft. The map of the Intelligence Center Triads can help us pause and ask, “Is this person saying what I am hearing?”
Collaboration
Whatever we have been focused on the most in our lives helps us see things that other people might miss. When we know our dominant Intelligence Center, we can consciously bring it forward as a strength while simultaneously seeking perspective from those who operate differently. In my work with teams, I often divide them up into groups based on whether they are a Head Center, Heart Center, or Gut Center Type. I ask them them to imagine they were put on a committee to choose and by snacks for the break room. It’s amazing to see the difference in the approaches of the three groups! Inevitably, the heart center types are the ones who see the value of snacks the most clearly as a factor in workplace culture, the head center types are the ones who think about the budget and do surveys about dietary restrictions, and the gut center types are the only ones who actually get to the store to buy food before the end of the exercise. What becomes clear is how much we need each other! Any one of those groups is not as effective as the three groups together. The map of the Intelligence Center Triads can help us pause and ask, “What strength am I bringing and who has a different strength that would add value to this team?”
Where do we go from here?
Maybe you are reading this article and thinking, “This sounds great, but I don’t know my Enneagram Type or my Intelligence Center.” Or maybe you took a test for your Type once but haven’t known where to go from there. Or maybe you just need something more to get your Enneagram journey kickstarted. If this is you, sign up for my Break Out of the Box Enneagram Course. At just $59, this self-guided course with unlimited access to 19 videos, a robust course workbook, curated podcast playlists, and more, is a tremendous value.
If you are reading this article and thinking, “What are those images behind this symbols?” Or “Where can I get more information about Triads"?” then you should get my book, Out of the Box & Into the Wild: An Enneagram Journey through the Triads of Nature.
And of course, I will always have a bias towards coaching as a next step. Sign up for a consultation call and let’s talk about your right next step.
