Enneagram First Impression Cheat Sheet: Instant Connection Guide
5/20/2025
Meeting someone new? This cheat sheet gives you the essential approaches for making an authentic connection with each Enneagram type. Review it right before your meeting to make a great first impression that resonates with their specific worldview.
- Be prepared, orderly, on time
- Notice and appreciate their attention to detail
- Show your own commitment to quality
- AVOID: Sloppiness, excuses, cutting corners
Ask about standards:
"Between perfect but late or good enough but on time - which do you prefer?"
More details →- Be warm and genuinely interested
- Show appreciation for their support
- Remember personal details they share
- AVOID: Coldness, self-centeredness
Ask about support:
"What's the most interesting thing you've helped someone with recently?"
More details →- Be efficient and on-point
- Recognize their accomplishments
- Show that you value results
- AVOID: Wasting time, undermining image
Ask about accomplishments:
"What's your hidden win that most people don't know about?"
More details →- Be authentic, not generic
- Notice their unique qualities
- Share something genuinely meaningful
- AVOID: Generic approaches, forced positivity
- Respect their space and boundaries
- Show intellectual substance
- Be patient with their thoughtful pauses
- AVOID: Crowding, emotional demands
Ask about expertise:
"What's your niche knowledge area that most people don't know about?"
More details →- Be transparent and consistent
- Address concerns proactively
- Provide concrete details and clear expectations
- AVOID: Vague assurances, glossing over risks
- Match their energy and enthusiasm
- Be open to spontaneity
- Create a sense of exciting possibilities
- AVOID: Negativity, rigid structures
Ask about adventures:
"If you had to leave for a surprise trip in two hours, where would you go?"
More details →- Be direct and confident
- Stand your ground respectfully
- Address conflicts head-on
- AVOID: Timidity, manipulation, sugarcoating
Ask about directness:
"What's something everyone is thinking but nobody's saying out loud?"
More details →- Create a calm, pressure-free environment
- Listen patiently without interrupting
- Value their balanced perspective
- AVOID: Rushing, creating tension or conflict
Ask about harmony:
"What's something you think more people should slow down and appreciate?"
More details →Remember
- These are starting points - authentic presence matters most
- Balance type-specific approaches with genuine interest in the individual
- Adjust your approach as you learn more about them
- The goal is mutual understanding, not manipulation