Building Effective Teams: How the Enneagram Can Help You Personally and Professionally

Sometimes, I feel like it would it be like to wear x-ray glasses in the workplace or in relationships. It would help us see beyond the surface level and understand our coworkers’ or partner’s motivations and personalities on a whole new level. That’s what the Enneagram does. There are many ways to build effective teams within any personal or professional setting (any situation that requires working with other humans). While there are a number of tools/approaches that can be used to enhance team communication, collaboration, and productivity…one of my preferred is the Enneagram. Using the Enneagram in the workplace is like having a secret cheat code to unlock the full potential of your team.

What is it, you ask? The Enneagram is a personality system that describes 9 distinct types- each with its own set of core motivations, fears, desires, and behaviors. It’s based on the idea that our personality’s shaped by both nature and nurture, and that our core motivations develop early in life as a result of our experiences and our environment. Each of the 9 types has a unique way of seeing and interacting with the world, and understanding your type can help you better understand your strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies (healthy and unhealthy).

I don’t believe for a second that any one of us fit into any single box, nor can we be defined by a number/label…and neither does the Enneagram. In addition to your core Enneagram type, there are also “wings,” which are the adjacent types that influence and shape our dominant type. For example, someone who’s a Type 4 with a 5 sing (4w5) will have some characteristics of both Type 4 and Type 5, although their dominant type will still be Type 4.

Each type also has healthy and unhealthy tendencies. In times of stress or growth, any one of us may exhibit behaviors and traits that are associated with other Enneagram types aka “going to a different number” or “borrowing” traits from other types. When we temporarily go to a different number, its level of health really depends on the context and motivation behind it.

Healthy Tendency-

Going to a different number can be a healthy way to cope with stress or difficult situations, seeking to learn from other types and incorporating other strengths into a person’s own behavior. For example, a Type 1 (Perfectionist) who goes to a Type 7 (Enthusiast) may learn to lighten up and enjoy life more, while still maintaining their focus on their goals and values.

Unhealthy Tendency-

When we go to a different number in an unhealthy way, we may be trying to avoid or deny our own emotions and needs, exhibiting behaviors not aligned with our own motivations/values. For example, a Type 2 (Helper) who goes to Type 8 (Challenger) may become controlling or manipulative in their interactions with others, which can damage relationships and undermine their own sense of self-worth.

When we become aware of our Enneagram type and our tendencies under stress or growth, we can learn to use this knowledge to make conscious choices and behaviors that align with our core values and goals.

The Enneagram can be beneficial in one’s personal and professional life in several ways. In your personal life, it can help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your motivations, which can lead to greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, and personal growth. You can become more aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and learn how to work with them to achieve your goals.

Professionally, the Enneagram can be useful for team building and communication. By understanding the Enneagram types of your team members/staff, you can learn how to collaborate and communicate more effectively, tailor your management or leadership style to individual needs, and build stronger relationships. It can also help teams identify areas of strength and weaknesses, and work together to identify opportunities for grown and achieve goals more efficiently and effectively.

The Enneagram can be a powerful tool for both personal and professional growth and development, helping individuals and teams understand themselves as well as each other on a deeper level for more effective collaboration.

If you’re curious about incorporating the Enneagram to your organization and create effective teams (big or small), let’s chat! Contact me HERE.

Source: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/