Page 50 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

What Type Are You? 29

as the interconnections of the arrow lines indicate two other
Enneagram styles that may augment the characteristics of a per-
son’s core Enneagram style.
In situations of stress, an individual’s behavior typically becomes
an accentuated version of the negative aspects of that person’s
Enneagram style. When a person is feeling secure or relaxed, the
strengths of his or her style often become more apparent.
The Enneagram symbol also shows a dynamic pattern of how
each Enneagram style might move across the Enneagram under
conditions of stress or security, called the person’s stress point and
security point, respectively. The stress point is the place on the
Enneagram to which you move when you are feeling under pres-
sure; the arrow points away from your core Enneagram style. The
security point is the place on the Enneagram to which you move
when you are feeling relaxed; the arrow points toward your core
Enneagram style. When they are feeling stressed or secure, indi-
viduals do not change their core style; they simply start showing
some traits of their stress or security point.
Stress may not be altogether negative for some people; they may
demonstrate the positive characteristics of their stress point when
they are under pressure. For other people, stress is undesirable,
bringing out their stress point’s negative qualities. Similarly, secu-
rity may not be altogether beneficial for some people, who may,
when relaxed, demonstrate the negative characteristics of their
security point. For other people, security and relaxation are desir-
able, accentuating their security point’s favorable qualities. The
most useful way to think about your stress and security points is
to view them as two additional places on the Enneagram that will
give you insight into your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Stress Points
If you look at the Enneagram, you will see a counterclockwise
movement of the arrows under conditions of stress. The Ennea-
gram style that your style’s arrow is pointed toward is your stress
point.