Monday, March 16

How to Get Along with Me

A coworker sent me this link to an Enneagram personality test that I thought was pretty interesting.  It's made up of 36 questions that poses a choice between two statements and you choose if you feel strongly for a, moderately for a, no preference, moderately for b, or strongly for b.  At the end it rates you on the 9 personality types:


Depending on your which personality types you scored the highest in, reveals your personality. I've taken personality tests before, but I don't think I've ever gotten results that fit so perfectly to me.

I am a 5 the Thinker/Observer:

How to Get Along with Me
Be independent, not clingy.
Speak in a straightforward and brief manner.
I need time alone to process my feelings and thoughts.
Remember that If I seem aloof, distant, or arrogant, it may be that I am feeling uncomfortable.
Make me feel welcome, but not too intensely, or I might doubt your sincerity.
If I become irritated when I have to repeat things, it may be because it was such an effort to get my thoughts out in the first place.
Don't come on like a bulldozer.
Help me to avoid my pet peeves: big parties, other people's loud music, overdone emotions, and intrusions on my privacy.

What I Like About Being a Five
Standing back and viewing life objectively.
Coming to a thorough understanding; perceiving causes and effects.
My sense of integrity: doing what I think is right and not being influenced by social pressure.
Not being caught up in material possessions and status.
Being calm in a crisis.

What's Hard About Being a Five
Being slow to put my knowledge and insights out in the world.
Feeling bad when I act defensive or like a know-it-all.
Being pressured to be with people when I don't want to be.
Watching others with better social skills, but less intelligence or technical skill, do better professionally.

Fives as Children Often
Spend a lot of time alone reading, making collections, and so on.
Have a few special friends rather than many.
Are very bright and curious and do well in school.
Have independent minds and often question their parents and teachers.
Watch events from a detached point of view, gathering information.
Assume a poker face in order not to look afraid.
Are sensitive; avoid interpersonal conflict.
Feel intruded upon and controlled and/or ignored and neglected.

Fives as Parents
Are often kind, perceptive, and devoted.
Are sometimes authoritarian and demanding.
May expect more intellectual achievement than is developmentally appropriate.
May be intolerant of their children expressing strong emotions.

If you have a few minutes take the test here: The New Enneagram Test
And after the test is scored check out the descriptions here. (Click on what it says under "Type of Descriptions" to get the definition.)

Leave your results in the comments.  I'm curious what type you are!  Do you feel its accurate?  Turns out my coworker and I are both 5's.
  

4 comments:

  1. Another 5 here ... but then I figured that by reading the description. The test just confirmed.

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  2. I think I figured out why we don't get along, lol. I'm a 6:

    How to Get Along with Me

    Be direct and clear.
    Listen to me carefully.
    Don't judge me for my anxiety.
    Work things through with me.
    Reassure me that everything is OK between us.
    Laugh and make jokes with me.
    Gently push me toward new experiences.
    Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

    What's Hard About Being a Six

    the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
    procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
    fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
    exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
    wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
    being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

    All the things I do, are the exact things that annoy you (type 5)! Sorry :)

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  3. I'm a 9 - The Peacemaker, but isn't that my role as the middle child anyway? Funny enough my score for 9 was 7, the rest were pretty much negative numbers except for number 2 - The Helper. Damn nurses.

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  4. I was off the charts a #9 - Peacemaker. Just like Erin, most of my other numbers were negative or extremely low.

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