Using the Enneagram to be Your Authentic Self

Career & Background

* Corporate Experience: She has over 15 years of program management experience across various domains. Notably, she served as a Senior Program Manager and Amazon Bar Raiser, where she conducted hundreds of candidate interviews for diverse corporate roles.

* Hire Possibilities: She is the founder of Hire Possibilities, a consultancy, publication, and coaching practice dedicated to helping job seekers, hiring managers, and small business owners navigate interviews and career transitions.

* Education: She holds a degree in Communications from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University.

Author & Publications

* She authored the book The Self-Aware Interview: Essentials for Every Enneagram Type, which combines behavioral interviewing frameworks (such as the STAR method) with Enneagram personality insights to help candidates show up authentically. Publish Date: May 3, 2026. Available in Kindle, hardcover, and paperback.

* She writes the Substack publication Hire Possibilities, focusing on interviewing, career transitions, self-awareness, and workplace dynamics.

Talking Points: Using Enneagram to be Your Authentic Self

The Enneagram can be useful as a framework for self-reflection, but the empirical research on its reliability and validity is mixed. A 2021 systematic review examined 104 independent samples and reached that conclusion. PubMed

· The Enneagram is about awareness, not labels. It can provide a framework for examining recurring personality patterns, motivations, strengths, and areas for development (Daniels & Price, 2009; Riso & Hudson, 1999). Des Moines Public Library Catalog

· Authenticity begins with self-awareness. Using the Enneagram as a reflective tool can encourage individuals to observe habitual patterns and consider how those patterns affect personal and interpersonal functioning (Chestnut, 2013; Riso & Hudson, 1999). Folsom Public Library

· Look beneath behavior to motivation. Enneagram approaches emphasize understanding the motivations and patterns associated with different personality types rather than focusing exclusively on observable behavior (Daniels & Price, 2009). Camden County Library Catalog

· Recognize strengths and blind spots. Self-observation can help individuals recognize both strengths and less productive patterns, creating opportunities for intentional personal development (Chestnut, 2013). Google Books

· Use the Enneagram as a developmental tool, not an excuse. Knowing your type should not become justification for behavior. The greater value comes from recognizing habitual patterns and developing greater flexibility in how you respond (Riso & Hudson, 1999).

· Apply it carefully in coaching and leadership development. Research provides some evidence supporting the Enneagram’s use for personal and spiritual growth, but the overall empirical evidence regarding its reliability and validity remains mixed (Hook et al., 2021). Wiley Online Library

References

Chestnut, B. (2013). The complete Enneagram: 27 paths to greater self-knowledge. She Writes Press. Folsom Public Library

Daniels, D. N., & Price, V. A. (2009). The essential Enneagram: The definitive personality test and self-discovery guide (Rev. ed.). HarperOne. Des Moines Public Library Catalog

Hook, J. N., Hall, T. W., Davis, D. E., Van Tongeren, D. R., & Conner, M. (2021). The Enneagram: A systematic review of the literature and directions for future research. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77(4), 865–883. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23097 PubMed

Riso, D. R., & Hudson, R. (1999). The wisdom of the Enneagram: The complete guide to psychological and spiritual growth for the nine personality types. Bantam Books. Sno-Isle Libraries Catalog

Thank you Natasha K., Carolyn Malone, Fatimah Ali, PhD-Lupus Health, Diane, julie elder, Florence Acosta and many others for tuning into my live video with Carolyn Illman! Join