The Busy Enneagram Coach's Toolkit: Homework & Tips

Being an Enneagram coach isn't easy.

You’ve got the knowledge. You can help people transform their lives. But there’s that initial hurdle—people either don’t know about the Enneagram or feel overwhelmed by its complexity when first introduced to it.

How do you bridge this gap?

Two critical skills separate great Enneagram coaches from the rest: crafting impactful homework and avoiding explanation pitfalls that leave newcomers confused or disinterested.

Crafting Transformative Homework

Homework isn’t just busywork between sessions—it’s where real transformation happens.

“The moment of insight in the session is just the beginning. It’s what clients do between sessions that creates lasting change.”

Tailor Assignments to Type

Generic exercises yield generic results. Type-specific homework creates breakthroughs.

For instance, a Type 2 (The Helper) might benefit enormously from tracking moments when they automatically say “yes” to requests. This simple awareness exercise often reveals patterns they’ve never noticed—how frequently they abandon their own needs, the specific people or situations that trigger their helping impulse, and the feelings that arise when they consider saying “no.”

A Type 8 (The Challenger), on the other hand, might need completely different homework. Ask them to notice when they dominate conversations or make decisions without input from others. The awareness alone often creates space for new behaviors.

Three Powerful Homework Frameworks

1. The Awareness Journal

   Have clients track specific type-related behaviors for a week. The simple act of observation creates distance from automatic patterns and opens doors to change.

2. The Pattern Interrupt

   Once awareness is established, assign small behavior changes that interrupt their type’s fixation. For a Type 6 who constantly seeks reassurance, the homework might be to wait 30 minutes before texting their partner for comfort.

3. The Resource Cultivation

   Assign practices that develop their type’s growth resources. For a Type 9 who struggles with assertiveness, daily practice in stating a preference—even about something small like where to eat lunch—builds essential skills.

Practical Tips for Maximum Impact

✨ Tip 1: Start with the client’s stated goals. Ask, “What would make the biggest difference in your life right now?” Then design homework that connects their Enneagram insights to that specific desire.

Example: An Enneagram 7 wants to improve follow-through on projects. Their homework? Identify one important project and commit to 15 minutes of focused work on it daily—then track how their mind tries to escape to more exciting possibilities.

✨ Tip 2: Make homework concrete and measurable. Vague assignments get vague results.

Instead of “notice your type patterns,” try “count how many times you withdraw from conversation when feeling criticized” (for a Type 4) or “track situations where you prioritize efficiency over people’s feelings” (for a Type 3).

Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Overwhelming clients with too much homework. One focused exercise yields more transformation than five scattered ones.

❌ Assigning homework disconnected from session insights. Effective assignments build directly on what emerged during your time together.

❌ Creating homework that’s too complicated to complete. If it requires elaborate setups or extensive time commitments, compliance will be low.

Explaining the Enneagram to Newcomers

First impressions matter. Many potential clients tune out before they ever get to experience the Enneagram’s transformative power.

Start With Relevance, Not Complexity

Begin with how the Enneagram solves problems they already know they have—not with symbols, history, or technical jargon.

“The Enneagram helps explain why you keep hitting the same relationship roadblocks” connects more deeply than “The Enneagram is a personality system with nine interconnected types.”

Use Metaphors That Clarify

Complex ideas become accessible through the right metaphor.

The nine types can be described as different “lenses” through which people view the world. Each lens brings certain things into sharp focus while blurring others. This single metaphor helps newcomers understand why different types have such different priorities and reactions.

Share Transformative Potential

People engage with the Enneagram when they glimpse its potential to change their lives.

Brief, powerful stories of transformation—like how a Type 1 finally freed themselves from crippling self-criticism or how a Type 5 learned to connect emotionally instead of living entirely in their head—create motivation to learn more.

Final Thoughts

Effective Enneagram coaching extends far beyond session time through strategic homework and clear, compelling explanations.

Want to dive deeper? Discover the 5 common pitfalls in explaining the Enneagram that drive potential clients away. If you’re ready to refine your approach and attract more committed clients, click the link ⬆️.