The Enneagram and Emotional Intelligence (EQ) are complementary frameworks that together offer profound insights into personality and Emotional and Social Intelligence. The latter is the ability to understand, use and process emotions to connect and harness relationships. The Enneagram is a profiling system of understanding character, patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. The fusion of Emotional Intelligence and Enneagram offers a rich avenue for observing and transforming multiple patterns that can get in the way of our success. I was intrigued to find out that, amongst leaders, higher EQ scores consistently placed them higher up on the success ladder. This is measured in terms of their ability in hard skills, soft skills and positions held in organisations. Just this statistic alone should be sufficient reason to awaken leaders to the realities around success and leadership.
In 2000, I dug deeper into studying Emotional Intelligence, which was way before I discovered the Enneagram. The construct covered areas which had hardly been discussed, for example, one of the competencies is called Emotional Literacy, i.e. the ability to read emotions in others and in themselves, process and use them to connect with others. This is the fundamental piece that locks in the other competencies that makes EQ come alive.
Each Enneagram type has strengths and challenges that directly relate to key EQ components like self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills. For example, Enneagram Type 1s (The Perfectionist) are often principled and disciplined, exhibiting strong self-regulation but may struggle with self-compassion and empathy, leading to internal criticism and frustration with others. In contrast, Type 9s (The Peacemaker) tend to avoid conflict, excelling at empathy and conflict resolution but may need to develop greater self-awareness to prevent emotional suppression. These are just some of the correlations between the constructs.
Since many aspects of the Enneagram and EQ are correlated, it is useful to see the consistency or inconsistency between the tests. That way, you may discover specifically which competencies need addressing. For example, if you score high or low on Empathy, it helps when you know your Enneagram type to give meaning to Empathy. In the Enneagram, Type 2s (The Giver) have a tendency to want to please and be helpful to those who matter to them – this motivation stems from wanting to feel connected and liked. Conversely, if someone lacks empathy or can’t seem to improve it easily, just knowing that they lack the T2 or T9 in the Enneagram allows them to recognise that they do not innately possess the gifts of those numbers. Your Enneagram type and secondary type allow you to understand why struggles occur, and the EQ scores can confirm it and offer depth. An EQ Test may indicate that you are high or low on a competency, and offer exercises and practices to help you improve on this measure.
Clash between essence and circumstances
Similarly, in the Enneagram, Type 7s (The Enthusiast) are the natural optimists. This is the lenses from which they view the world: they find the good in most circumstances, reframe negative situations and see the possibilities in people. What happens if they struggle with this competency in an EQ Test? The disparity would clearly be a red flag – a coach would have to get to the root of the issue and explore how events or circumstances are not in line with their essence, as this can cause deep anxiety stress and depression if appropriate action is not taken. Importantly, there is deeper literature about such qualities in the Enneagram which EQ studies do not explain. Hence the cross-fertilization of ideas can offer a richer resource.
Clear Road map
The Type 9 (The Peacemaker) in the Enneagram tends to avoid conflict, excelling in empathy and conflict resolution but may need to develop greater self-awareness to prevent emotional suppression.
Understanding one’s Enneagram type can enhance EQ by providing a clearer roadmap for personal development. For instance, Type 8 (The Challenger), known for assertiveness and leadership, may need to cultivate empathy and emotional expression to improve their interpersonal relationships. Meanwhile, Type 4s (The Individualist), who are deeply in touch with their emotions, may need to focus on self-regulation and objective thinking in challenging situations.
Where can you start?
Begin by guiding the client to discover their Enneagram type, which reveals their dominant motivations, strengths, and emotional triggers. For example, a Type 3 (The Achiever) might focus heavily on success, but could overlook their emotional needs or those of others in pursuit of goals. This provides a foundation for understanding how their emotions influence behaviour.
Next, build on this awareness by focusing on key EQ skills specific to their Enneagram type. For example, a Type 2 (The Giver) may excel in empathy but struggle with self-care, so coaching would emphasise emotional boundaries and self-regulation. A Type 5 (The Investigator), who may naturally exhibit self-regulation but lack emotional connection, can work on developing empathy and improving interpersonal skills.
By correlating the Enneagram with EQ, individuals can leverage a more holistic understanding of their emotional landscape. This allows for targeted growth in areas like empathy, optimism, resilience, emotional management and social interaction, ultimately fostering healthier relationships and a more balanced emotional life.