Enneagram at work: A novel scale for measuring occupational personality characterictics

BackgroundMeasuring occupational personality traits plays a critical role in enhancing individuals' professional awareness, identifying strengths and stress factors, promoting workplace harmony, ensuring safety, and supporting career satisfaction and success. The Enneagram approach offers a comprehensive framework for evaluating personality dimensions relevant to professional settings.ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a valid and reliable scale to assess individuals' occupational personality traits based on the Enneagram typology.MethodA methodological research design was employed between July and September 2023. The sample consisted of 300 participants from various occupational groups in Gaziantep.Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 and AMOS 22. Content validity and construct validity (via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses) were used to evaluate scale validity, while internal consistency and reliability analyses were performed for reliability assessment.ResultsThe content validity index was found to be 0.93. Exploratory factor analysis indicated strong sampling adequacy (KMO: 0.817-0.908), significant Bartlett's test (p < 0.001), eigenvalues between 3.029-4.183, and total variance explained ranging from 42.31% to 50.71%. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that most fit indices fell within acceptable to excellent ranges. Reliability analyses revealed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.786-0.844), satisfactory split-half reliability (r: 0.690-0.783), and consistent scoring.ConclusionThe developed Enneagram-based occupational personality scales were found to be both valid and reliable, providing a useful tool for understanding professional personality characteristics and supporting personal and organizational development.