The Book List Issue: Understanding People #010

🎙️Part 3 of the Personality Assessment Series

Melissa Moore, Gallup Certified Consultant (and Type 3) is our guide inside this week's podcast conversation about how to use your top 5 CliftonStrengths to better understand what your natural gifts are and how better to embrace and use them in your leadership role or inside your business.

My top 5 are...

• Developer
• Futuristic
• Activator
• Positivity
• Input

It's so interesting how each of these overlap or compliment the Type 7 energy I most identify with on the Enneagram.

Do you know your top 5 strengths? If so, what similarities (or differences!) do you see when paired with your Enneagram type?

Top Enneagram Books That Will Help You Better Understand People (Including Yourself) at Work

A common question I get from clients and workshop attendees is something along the lines of..."What's your favorite Enneagram book?"

As you probably already know, there are A LOT of them out there that apply the Enneagram to very different parts of life. So the answer is always...it depends.

Which I know people don't love, so below you'll find my top 5 Enneagram at work books.

1. If you're new to the Enneagram

What's Your Enneatype? is colorful and fun, while still being insightful and helpful for the Enneagram curious starting their journey. Some books read like a college textbook, this one keeps it simple and easy to understand. I like it for a team's bookshelf because you can quickly flip through the different types to learn more about your type and your coworkers.

2. When you're ready for more depth

Author and speaker, Suzanne Stabile is a favorite in the Enneagram community. She brings more depth and insights to your Enneagram journey. This book is one of my favorites when you're ready to move beyond the basics and into Arrows and Triads (aka groupings within the Enneagram that bring additional insight to your type).

3. For seeing the Enneagram thru a different lens

The Enneagram is such a powerful tool for helping to understand other people. This book, by ChiChi Agorom, adds another layer of perspective and understanding as she walks through the Enneagram from the lens of Black women, giving new context and depth about personalities and coping strategies at work that may not have been something you noticed until now.

4. To better understand how you lead (and what your team members need to follow you)

This book is jam-packed with descriptions and insights about all 9 leadership styles. Deep dive into all the things or just pick it up and skim as you want - either way you'll gain valuable insight about yourself at work and the people around you.

5. For the entire team 

The book above focused on the individual leadership styles for the most part. This book zooms out and looks at the team as a whole - all the moving pieces and different personalities. I think you'll also appreciate how she organizes the book into the different phases of a team from forming a new one, to navigating conflict, to growing into a thriving one.

There's so many more I could list that have been impactful, but I think this list is a good one to dive into for work related application.

Do you have a favorite Enneagram book yet? I'd love to hear about it! Hit "reply" and let me know!

If you're new here - Welcome to our "Ennsider" community! I hope you enjoyed your first Understanding People newsletter.

If you've been around for awhile, thanks for coming back - I'm glad you're here.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you back here next Saturday,

Sarah - Enneagram MBA

P.S. This morning, I'm getting back from the Excell 2022 Conference in Vegas where I got to speak for the, "Ways Women Lead" reception. It was so fun meeting the women leading the way inside the financial services industry and hearing about how they see their type showing up in their teams and career. I also got to sneak away to a beautiful National Park, Red Rock Canyon. :)