IEA EnneaGroups
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated: August 15, 2019
What are IEA EnneaGroups?
IEA EnneaGroups are self-organizing communities of IEA members formed around an Enneagram area of interest.
Each IEA EnneaGroup creates their own subject matter (including name and one-sentence description), membership numbers and requirements (including “open” to members coming and going or “closed” to a particular group), meeting parameters (including location – online or offline – and scheduling), duration, purpose, and the like.
The IEA EnneaGroups membership benefit is in an early development stage as the IEA creates structures and guidelines to make these groups optimally workable for everyone. These FAQs represent our current approach. Further guidance will be added.
What does the IEA require for an IEA EnneaGroup to form?
Currently, there are only two requirements: facilitator and basic reporting. Each group will one designate one facilitator. And each group will provide this basic reporting information to the group’s point of contact on the leadership team:
- Topic: Each IEA EnneaGroup should state the name of the group, and the topic of the group in one sentence. “The Research IEA EnneaGroup is about . . . .” Further description is welcome.
- Membership: Open or Closed? Each group sets its own structure.
- Resources: Will need the group need IEA’s Zoom account? If so, we will work to schedule your group on a master calendar for IEA’s Zoom account.
- Meetings: How often does the group meet, and in what forums are meeting conducted (in-person, Zoom, etc)?
Eventually, we foresee these functions will be done online.
What does a facilitator do?
The facilitator will serve as a point of contact with the IEA. Currently, each facilitator will work with one member of the IEA EnneaGroup leadership team.
Each facilitator will also attend a one-hour light facilitator training program offering basic guidelines. Trainings will be scheduled periodically to meet growing interest.
The first facilitator training is September 6, 2019, time TBD.
Depending on the particular group’s self-determination, the facilitator may also be the person who arranges communication among the group’s members, schedules the meetings, arranges for the medium etc.; or the group can make other arrangements.
How do IEA EnneaGroups meet?
IEA EnneaGroups choose how they will meet. Many groups will meet virtually; some groups will meet in person. Each group can decide what online meeting platforms it will use (e.g., Zoom, Skype, FaceBook group, etc).
The IEA can provide a Zoom space for groups that need it. Using the IEA Zoom account will require coordination and scheduling through the leadership team point of contact. Zoom also has a free download option that may be workable.
We also hope to provide in-person IEA EnneaGroup meeting opportunities during IEA global conferences.
Who can join an IEA EnneaGroup?
IEA EnneaGroups are open to all classes of IEA members.
You may join the IEA by following this link.
How do I join an IEA EnneaGroup?
We welcome your enthusiasm! If you are interested, you should email your topic interests to enneagroups@internationalenneagram.org. You might also indicate whether you are willing to act as facilitator of a group.
Currently, IEA EnneaGroups are launching with a few initial groups forming around specific topics. We hope to launch more robustly soon thereafter. Not everyone who expresses early interest will find themselves in a group immediately. We appreciate your patience as we roll-out this new membership benefit.
IEA EnneaGroups are self-organizing. Members come together to form a group, which the IEA supports. The IEA does not generate topics or solicit members; rather, the IEA provides resources to help members connect with groups and self-facilitate. Self-organizing empowers groups to harness their own energy and direction.
In this initial phase, the leadership team is working hard to respond to members who have emailed the above address and connect those members with each other so that group formation can occur. We anticipate creating online spaces and options for members to communicate with each other to form groups.
Which initial groups are forming?
The following IEA EnneaGroups are currently in the process of forming. If you are interested, you can mention these groups in your email expressing interest.
- Bay Area: In-person group. Members in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- BIPOC: Online group. Black/Indigenous People of Color Enneagram experience.
- Research: Frederik Coene to Facilitate. Focus TBD
- Therapists: Online group. Focus TBD.
- Spirituality: Online group. Focus TBD.
