Boost Your Career! Newsletter

Back Issues

Know Thyself - Know Thy Career Direction

i-TOTALSEARCH NEWSLETTER issue 2, November 2004 You are subscribing as [EMAIL] Unsubscribe instruction is given at the end of this message If you like this newsletter, please forward to those who might be interested to become our subscriber. Ask them to subscribe at http://www.itotalsearch.com/newsletter.html SUMMARY: - Know Thyself - Know Thy Career Direction - Insight of the Day ********************************************************** Hi, I have been using Enneagram - a character classification system to aid my coaching activities with my candidates and sometimes my clients and customers for quite a while (more on coaching techniques later). I've found it very useful and effective in enhancing the effectiveness of the coaching. Enneagram came from the Greek word "Ennea" that means nine. The roots of the Enneagram are disputed. There are documents revealing the usage of it dated as far as 4000 years ago. In the early 1970's Robert Ochs, S.J. and Helen Palmer studied the Enneagram system of personality with Naranjo. Since then, it has been refined through application and study over time. Enneagram recognizes the complexity of the human personality, dividing a person's character into nine types. Each one of us has varying degrees of each of the 9 distinct types, but our personality generally reflects a combination of two or three types. I believe that by understanding how our personality works in each of us, we are able to distinguish between and understand the motivation forces that affect our inner self and our subsequent behavior in response to these forces. That is to say, if you truly understand the personality of a person, it is easier for you to motivate him/her to act/ perform the way you think that is beneficial to him/her, which is the essential aim of coaching. Granted, there are no guarantees that the motivation may produce the results desired, since the implementation and ultimate response are always out of your control. Plus the individual's environment and other unpredictable factors acting upon a person can affect the consequences. Nevertheless, understanding the different natures of personality that exist can help you have a better understanding of your co-workers, your spouse, your children, your parents, etc. and most importantly, yourself as well. There are many ways that understanding your own personality is invaluable; however, one of the most important is that with understanding, you will more easily discover where your passions lie and therefore your career direction. I have adopted the use of Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (RHETI) because it is simple and straight forward. And according to Time magazine, it is one of the top online personality tests and the full test's version is the only one that has been independently scientifically studied/verified. As with many tools, there are studies which argue that it may not be the most accurate one; however, I believe based on my extensive use that it is one of the best by far in career coaching. The test uses a series of questions to assess the subject's character orientation - in which I interpret it as the core system of values of the subject. Here is the quick excerpt of the nine types: Type One The Reformer. Also called The Perfectionist and The Judge The Rational, Idealistic Type; Principled, Orderly, can be Perfectionistic and Self Righteous. Type Two The Helper. Also called The Giver and The Caretaker The Caring, Nurturing Type; Concerned, Generous, can be Possessive and Manipulative Type Three The Motivator. Also called The Performer and The Achiever The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type; Adaptable, Ambitious, can be Image-Conscious and Hostile. Type Four The Individualist. Also called The Artist and The Romantic The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type; Intuitive, Individualistic, can be Self-Absorbed and Depressive. Type Five The Investigator. Also called The Thinker and The Observer The Intense, Cerebral Type; Perceptive, Original, can be Provocative and Eccentric Type Six The Loyalist. Also called The Defender and The Guardian The Committed, Security-Oriented Type; Engaging, Responsible, can be Defensive and Paranoid Type Seven The Enthusiast. Also called The Adventurer and The Generalist The Spontaneous, Busy Type; Enthusiastic, Accomplished, can be Excessive and Manic Type Eight The Leader. Also called The Asserter and The Confronter The Powerful, Dominating Type; Self-Confident, Decisive, can be Confrontational and Ruthless Type Nine The Peacemaker. Also called The Preservationist and The Mediator The Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type; Accepting, Reassuring, can be Passive and Repressed Try our free sample test licensed from Enneagram Institute here: http://www.itotalsearch.com/rheti.html I'll talk more about the usage of Enneagram in the subsequent newsletter issues. Reference books: Discovering Your Personality Type: The New Enneagram Questionnaire by Don Richard Riso The Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and the Others In Your Life by Helen Palmer Visit our online bookstore here to check them out http://www.itotalsearch.com/bookstore ********************************************************** "Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was." Dag Hammarskjold 1905-1961, Swedish Statesman, Secretary-General of the U.N. Get the insight of the day subscription at http://www.itotalsearch.com/gift.html ********************************************************* Yours Damen LC Choy Editor i-TotalSearch Consulting Limited mailto:editor@itotalsearch.com http://www.itotalsearch.com COPYRIGHT (C) 2004 i-TotalSearch Consulting Limited If you like this newsletter, please forward to those who might be interested to become our subscriber. Ask them to subscribe at http://www.itotalsearch.com/newsletter.html Visit our homepage to know more about our newsletter

01 Jun 2005 by damen 0 comments

NEW!!! Get this free report by subscribing our "Boost Your Career" Newsletter now. This report tells you the reasons why you are not chosen for an opening even though you have done the best. Just Released....