Mastering Leadership with the Enneagram: A New Approach to Solving Modern Workplace Challenges and Leadership Development
- Coach Jerry
- Nov 28, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 2, 2024
It's one thing to know what it takes to be a good leader, however, it's a whole different Universe to understand exactly why the strengths and weaknesses of you and your teams are what they are, while possessing a direct and proven approach to make both long and short term practical use of the information.
Whether we like it or not, not all desirable leadership traits are superpowers of all people. Trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, and asking people to be something they are not will not work long term.
When we find and expose a person's personal genius, their sweet spot of flow, their confidence and performance will skyrocket, and your mutual trust will galvanize through understanding and deep support.
Options?
You can hire an ex navy seal to beat your teams into submission, OR you can try something that will work for literally anyone who is willing, and will develop them both personally and professionally.
Would your team see any benefit to having teams whose life improved at the same rate both at home and at work?
If not, don't keep reading.
If so, you probably need to read this, but I'm not here to tell anyone what to do. : )
The Problem Facing Leadership Teams:
Imagine this: You're a leader in a fast-paced organization, juggling endless meetings, tight deadlines, and a team that feels increasingly disconnected.
Your attempts at motivating employees often hit a wall, and you work longer with reduced efficiency and bandwidth because your teams are delivering at 100%.
This is likely because of many negating factors like talent pool, retention, failed communication, unclear visions and expectations, these are just a few prime examples.
Team conflicts simmer just below the surface, productivity is inconsistent, and no matter how many leadership books or seminars you try, it feels like you're running in circles.
Should we book another seminar?
Do we bring in a motivational speaker for this year's convention?
Maybe we need to hire a consultant who's been on many military black ops missions to help our accounting firm reach it's pinnacle of success.
Sound familiar?
The truth is, leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about understanding people—what drives them, what frustrates them, and what inspires them to bring their best selves to work.
Before you shrug this off with "yeah, yeah, I know.", consider what you don't yet know. The key to cracking this code lies in the Enneagram, a powerful personality framework that’s transforming how today’s leaders build high-performing, cohesive teams.
The Real Problem Leaders Face Today
Leaders are up against unprecedented challenges:
Retention woes: Employees are leaving not just for better pay but for better workplaces.
Burnout and disengagement: Nearly 80% of employees report feeling disengaged, and many leaders feel the same way.
Conflict and miscommunication: Misunderstandings lead to breakdowns in collaboration, innovation, and trust.
Remote Work: While it can, and possibly should be an integral function to your business, it is also the supreme way to get taken advantage of if you don't manage it properly.
Toxic Leadership: Self serving leaders must be rooted out, developed, or cut loose. The sooner the better. Cancer does what cancer does, realize it, address it, move on.
Traditional leadership methods focus on strategy and systems. But in today’s emotionally complex workplaces, the missing link is empathy-driven leadership—and that’s where the Enneagram shines.
Empathy driven leadership is not about crying with your staff, and letting them have whatever they want. Rather, it's about connecting with their perspective, seeing how they truly see things, not a guess on your part, or asking them.
From this perspective, you empathize with them, and your communication and motivation style can be specific to the individual or team.
By the way, you, your organization, and your teams all have a personality, and the Enneagram will help you uncover and manage that as well.
What Is the Enneagram?
The Enneagram is a personality system that identifies nine distinct types, each with its own motivations, fears, and communication styles. Unlike other personality frameworks, the Enneagram digs deep, helping you understand not just what people do, but why they do it.
When leaders integrate the Enneagram into their leadership style, it unlocks three powerful outcomes:
Self-awareness: Understand your own leadership strengths and blind spots.
Enhanced communication: Tailor your approach to connect with team members in ways that resonate.
Conflict resolution: Address underlying dynamics that create tension before they escalate.
Effective Motivation: Knowing an individual's core motivations will enable you to motivate anyone in any work setting. If they cannot be motivated at the level of their core, they just don't care.
A Leadership Story: How the Enneagram Solves Real Problems
Meet Sarah, a mid-level manager at a growing tech company. Sarah prides herself on being fair and hardworking, but lately, her team has been struggling.
Deadlines are missed, meetings devolve into finger-pointing, and her star employee, Alex, seems disengaged.
Sarah turns to the Enneagram and knowing she’s a Type One: The Perfectionist—someone driven by high standards and a desire to “do things right.” She has learned that while her attention to detail is a strength, her tendency to micromanage can stifle creativity.
Alex, she realizes, is a Type Seven: The Enthusiast—someone who thrives on flexibility, innovation, and positive reinforcement. Alex has been feeling boxed in by Sarah’s strict processes and isn’t motivated by her focus on deadlines.
Instead of imposing tighter controls, Sarah adjusts her approach. She gives Alex more autonomy, introduces brainstorming sessions to leverage his creative energy, and acknowledges his contributions more frequently.
The result? Alex’s productivity skyrockets, and team morale improves. Sarah not only feels more confident in her leadership but also gains a deeper understanding of how to bring out the best in her team.
Sarah may have naturally gravitated towards a more effective approach with Alex, but her leadership development coaching moved her progress up by years.
Why?
She fully understands what motivates both her and Alex at the core. Not knowing that causes people to be defensive of those core motives, as that part of themselves remains in their shadows of awareness.
Knowing that causes people to see the power of letting go and leading with confidence, and never again leading with fear.
Instead of feeling like they are "prostituting" themselves to make someone happy, they empower themselves and their teams by seeing how these pattern adjustments are part of their personal growth as well as leadership development.
A paradigm shift that changes literally everything.
The Nine Leadership Types: What They Bring and How to Harness Them
Here’s how the nine Enneagram types show up in leadership and how they can help you address key challenges:
The Perfectionist (Type 1): High standards and integrity.Your challenge: Loosen the reins to allow team members creative freedom.
The Helper (Type 2): Empathetic and relationship-focused.Your challenge: Set boundaries to avoid burnout.
The Achiever (Type 3): Results-driven and inspiring.Your challenge: Balance ambition with authenticity to build trust.
The Individualist (Type 4): Creative and insightful.Your challenge: Avoid over-identifying with emotions to maintain objectivity.
The Investigator (Type 5): Analytical and strategic.Your challenge: Engage more with the team to foster collaboration.
The Loyalist (Type 6): Reliable and prepared.Your challenge: Trust your instincts and reduce overthinking.
The Enthusiast (Type 7): Optimistic and innovative.Your challenge: Stay focused and follow through on commitments.
The Challenger (Type 8): Bold and decisive.Your challenge: Practice vulnerability to connect with your team.
The Peacemaker (Type 9): Harmonious and unifying.Your challenge: Step into conflict when necessary to drive progress.
Why the Enneagram Is the Ultimate Leadership Tool
The Enneagram equips you with more than just personality insights. It’s a leadership playbook for navigating some of the biggest challenges in today’s workplace:
Retention and engagement: By understanding what motivates each type, you can create an environment where employees feel valued and inspired to stay.
Conflict resolution: Address team tensions with empathy and precision, defusing issues before they become major problems.
Team synergy: Align strengths and minimize friction by leveraging the unique talents of each team member.
Breakthrough limiting beliefs and step into leading with confidence and support
Your Leadership Breakthrough Awaits
Leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about bringing out the best in others. The Enneagram helps you do exactly that by giving you a blueprint to understand and connect with your team on a deeper level.
If you’re ready to transform your leadership, here’s your next step:
Identify your type: Take an Enneagram assessment to uncover your leadership profile.
Learn your team’s types: Share the Enneagram with your team to foster mutual understanding.
Apply the insights: Tailor your communication, delegate effectively, and address challenges with empathy.
If you don't have time: Hire an expert. You may know how to change your own oil, but is that the best use of your time and genius?
Who has used and benefited from the Enneagram?
Best Buy, Daimler-Mitsubishi, Toyota and Avon to name some of the larger organizations you may be familiar with.
"It is a language for figuring out what gets in the way of change and progress....you just have to try it. We live in a world that is hyper connected. We need to make sure we deal with the human software" Todd Pierce, former CIO of biotech company Genentech in a 2013 CNN article.
Final Thoughts
Great leaders aren’t born—they’re built. By incorporating the Enneagram into your leadership toolkit, you’ll not only solve the day-to-day struggles of managing a team but also create a culture of trust, respect, and excellence. And that’s a legacy worth leading for.
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