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The Back to Basics Issue: Understanding People Vol #015

Oct 22, 2022
9 Ways to Use the Enneagram at Work, Understanding People Newsletter #015 of Enneagram MBA

πŸŽ™οΈ How Leaders and Managers Can (and Are!) Using the Enneagram πŸŽ™οΈ

 

Would you be curious to know how other people are using the Enneagram at work? And what benefits they're experiencing from it?

 

Recently, the 2022 Enneagram in Organizations Global Survey shared 25 workplace applications and 72 benefits.

 

You can find all of that inside the report here. It might give you new ideas for using and benefiting from the Enneagram in your own company or role at work.

 

 

Inside Episode 83, we get even more specific and practical when it comes to using the Enneagram at work. You'll learn 9 ways that have been inspired by my own experiences, workshop feedback, and learnings from other teachers and mentors, so that you can turn your Enneagram information into a meaningful transformation for your team and organization.


πŸ”‘ The One Piece That Will Help You Make the Enneagram Useful

 

Wings. Arrows. Stances. Subtypes.Tritypes. Centers of Intelligences. Passions. Vices. Childhood Messages. Levels of Development.

 

There can be A LOT to take in with the Enneagram.

 

But you don't have to know how it all applies to yourself, or the people you work with, to start seeing some of those 72 benefits.

 

You can get away with knowing only one simple piece of the Enneagram and you'll still be able to reap the benefits of greater self-awareness and all of the items on the list above.

 

That one thing: core driver

 

Understanding what your core driver is and understanding what it is for someone else can shine light on why you might be frustrated with one another working on a team or what your client or teammate needs at work to feel seen and cared about.

 

 


πŸ‘€ Your Viewpoint Cheat Sheet

 

While everyone on your team might be talking about the same thing, how each person is thinking about it will most likely differ.

 

Below is a cheat sheet for what that lens is for each of the 9 types to better understand what's most important to you and what your co-workers initial priorities are.

 

Type 1️⃣ is striving to feel perfect. To support that strategy, their go-to mode for taking on a new project, working with a client, or finding fulfillment in a career is to focus on right and wrong.

What that might look like: What's the right thing to do here? Are we doing this right? Nothing less than excellent. Let's keep working until we get it right.

 

Type 2️⃣ is striving to feel connected.To support that strategy, their go-to mode for taking on a new project, working with a client, or finding fulfillment in a career is to focus on others' needs.

What that might look like: What do you need? How can I help? Who is this serving? Let's work until they have what they need.

 

Type 3️⃣ is striving to feel outstanding. To support that strategy, their go-to mode for taking on a new project, working with a client, or finding fulfillment in a career is to focus on image.

What that might look like: How will this look to others? What will they think? Am I getting credit for my contributions? How does this impact our position? Let's make sure we present well to the client.

 

Type 4️⃣ is striving to feel significant. To support that strategy their go-to mode for taking on a new project, working with a client, or finding fulfillment in a career is to focus on meaning.

What that might look like: Is this work/role/project meaningful? How does this connect with my greater purpose? Who is this helping? What are the point of these tasks? Where is this taking us?

 

Type 5️⃣ is striving to feel capable and competent. To support that strategy their go-to mode for taking on a new project, working with a client, or finding fulfillment in a career is to focus on information.

What that might look like: Is that a fact or a feeling? How do we know it's true? What data do we have to validate this decision to move forward? What were the results last time? Let's do some more research before jumping in.

 

Type 6️⃣ is striving to feel safe and secure. To support that strategy, their go-to for taking on a new project, working with a client, or finding fulfillment in a career is to focus on danger.

What that might look like: Have you thought about...? What happens if it doesn't work out? How will this work? Have we considered other alternatives? Is this a risk worth taking? How are we preparing?

 

🍁NEW FALL OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER πŸ‚

πŸ”¨ Bring the Enneagram to a team retreat or company holiday party with a Dream Team or Selling with Personality workshop here.

πŸ“– Dedicate time to study yourself and learn how to leverage your personality to make a change in your life or at work inside Next Chapter sessions here.

🎀 Host an Enneagram topic at your fall conference or 2023 event with topics like The Ways We Lead here.

🎁 Give a gift with personality. Share an "Enn Focus" Enneagram session gift card with a co-worker, friend, or family member here.

 

 

Type 7️⃣ is striving to feel excited. To support that strategy their go-to mode for taking on a new project, working with a client, or finding fulfillment in a career is to focus on possibilities.

What that might look like: Anything is possible. Which option is most exciting? We could do both. It's time to shake things up. What's the worst that can happen? Let's give it a try and see how it goes. We can always do something new.

 

Type 8️⃣ is striving to feel powerful. To support that strategy, their go-to mode for taking on a new project, working with a client, or finding fulfillment in a career is to focus on control.

What that might look like: Who's in charge here? Who has the power? Are they capable of leading? Do I trust this person to lead me/the team/this project? I'll take the lead. How can I get control of this situation?

 

Type 9️⃣ is striving to feel peaceful. To support that strategy their go-to mode for taking on a new project, working with a client, or finding fulfillment in a career is to focus on everyone else.

What that might look like: How is everyone doing? What is everyone else thinking? Are we on the same page? Let's take a vote. How can we work together better? We need everyone's buy-in first.

 

NOTE: The list above shows what comes most naturally for each type. It doesn't mean they don't care about any of the others. As needed and with intention, any type can prioritize and focus on any of the others.

 


If you're new to Understanding People - Welcome! I'm glad to have you and be connected over here. You can catch up on past issues here.

 

If you're a returning Ennsider - I'm glad you're back! Thanks for being here.

 

If you know of anyone else that would be helped by this week's issue, please share this one with them.

 

Have an awesome weekend,

Sarah - Enneagram MBA


P.S. How do you prefer to learn about the Enneagram?

According to this 2022 Global Enneagram survey, 70% of people said they prefer in-person trainings with books coming in second at 60%.

If you happen to be an in-person training person, check out the current Enneagram MBA Workshop Experience menu here. πŸ’»

If you happen to be a book person, I have a few recommendations here. πŸ“š

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