On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Marta Gillilan. Marta has taught in public and private schools both in the US and in Europe. Marta has a Master’s degree in Global Leadership from Fuller Seminary. She has over 25 years of experience in teaching, leadership teams, small group dynamics as well as individual coaching. Marta has extensive practical experience interweaving the complexities of the Enneagram into everyday life coaching for all types of people. Marta teaches Enneagram in classes, small groups and retreats but her passion is coaching and mentoring, relationship building, and leadership development. She's traveled extensively but calls Kansas City, Missouri her home.

On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Kristi Rowles, a mental health therapist turned Enneagram Coach. She runs Full + Free Enneagram Co and launched Enneagram University in 2020 where she trains people-and-Enneagram-loving humans to be the most competent and confident coaches on the market. Kristi is known for teaching the Enneagram in a way that is accessible, practical, fun, and compassion-driven. She and her partner, Nick, call central Florida home but they love traveling and just wrapped up a 3-month trip to Central America. She’s got a thing for chocolate, bright colors, and fun earrings.

When I think about communication, I think about more than just talking: it’s how we express ourselves (even silence is a form of self-expression), it’s how we connect (or don’t), it’s how we build relationships and cultivate our lives. It’s everything! And this is one of THE most important ways I think we can use the Enneagram. How do you communicate with yourself? (Yes, it’s a thing!) And how do you communicate with others?

If you’ve been curious about using the Enneagram for growth, improving your relationships, and deepening self-awareness, I have good news for you!

Sixes are really hard to capture in a post like this because different types of Sixes can be so incredibly different. I’ve done my best based on the Sixes I’ve worked with and everything I’ve learned and read about Sixes!

While Sixes are known to be natural troubleshooters, often their questions can be viewed as a product of being afraid or anxious. However, this may not always be the case. Their vigilant nature can really help to serve themselves and others in the most helpful ways. And it’s important that we don’t underestimate what Sixes can handle!

In relationships, Sixes value consistency and commitment. Sixes prioritize relationships with people who are trustworthy, kind, and steady. While Sixes crave connected relationships, they also hold that desire in tension with uncertainty around whether their partner is in it as much as they are. Sixes tend to be fairly transparent because they want to know early on if they can trust others, if others truly like them for who they are, and if they are well-matched. It can be deeply hurtful for Sixes to learn later that the relationship was not what they thought it was. When less aware, a Six’s suspicious nature may cause them to be insecure, and their fear that the relationship will end may actually lead to the demise of the relationship. In general, Sixes are trustworthy and in it for the long haul.