Leadership development points for each enneagram type

As leaders we want to leverage our drives, strengths and weakness to have maximum impact on our teams and organizations. Sometimes our (unconscious) habits limit our effectiveness. We leak energy, we act incongruent, are insensitive to others or lack self discipline to act with courage.

The Enneagram can be used for many different levels of leadership development. One of the basis is to increase effective self leadership. This article gives you concrete insights per enneagram type.

Development Points for Each Enneagram Type

Type 1 – The Perfectionist

1. Embrace Flexibility: Recognize that not everything can be perfect, and embrace the value of adaptability and compromise in both personal and professional life.
2. Delegation and Trust: Develop trust in your team’s capabilities and delegate tasks effectively. Avoid the trap of micromanagement and encourage independent problem-solving.
3. Mindfulness Practice: Incorporate mindfulness practices to stay present and manage stress. This will help you let go of the compulsion for perfection.
4. Self-Compassion: Cultivate self-compassion by treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you extend to others. Acknowledge that you, too, are human and prone to mistakes.

Type 2 – The Helper

1. Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries to prevent overextending yourself. Recognize that it’s healthy to prioritize your needs alongside those of others.
2. Self-Care: Prioritize self-care without guilt. Remember that taking care of yourself enables you to be more effective in helping others.
3. Independence: Encourage independence in others by letting them handle their responsibilities and challenges. Avoid being overly intrusive or controlling.
4. Authenticity: Focus on understanding your own needs and desires rather than defining yourself solely through your role as a helper. Embrace your authentic self.

Type 3 – The Achiever

1. Authenticity: Practice self-reflection to understand your true goals and values. Strive for authenticity by aligning your actions with your authentic self, not just what appears impressive to others.
2. Work-Life Balance: Find equilibrium between your drive for achievement and personal life. Prioritize self-care and relaxation to avoid burnout and maintain sustained success.
3. Embrace Failure: Recognize that setbacks and failures are valuable learning experiences. Instead of avoiding them, embrace these moments as opportunities for growth and resilience.
4. Delegating Effectively: Develop the art of effective delegation by assigning tasks to team members based on their strengths and skills. This allows you to focus on strategic planning and higher-level responsibilities.

Type 4 – The Individualist

1. Accept Emotions: Acknowledge and embrace your emotions, understanding that they are a fundamental part of your unique identity.
2. Balance Perfectionism: Resist the temptation to pursue unattainable ideals or compare yourself to others. Celebrate your distinctiveness and creativity.
3. Take Action: Instead of dwelling in introspection, channel your emotions and creativity into productive endeavors. Implement your ideas in practical ways to achieve your goals.
4. Stay Present: Practice mindfulness and grounding techniques to remain present in the moment and avoid getting lost in the world of introspection.

Type 5 – The Investigator

1. Share Knowledge: Challenge your tendency to hoard information. Actively share your insights and expertise with others, fostering a culture of learning and growth.
2. Build Relationships: Make an effort to build deeper connections with colleagues and team members. Engage in social interactions to better understand others and their perspectives.
3. Manage Fear: Confront your fear of inadequacy or incompetence. Recognize that seeking help or collaborating with others is a strength, not a weakness.
4. Set Boundaries: Learn to set boundaries to prevent overextending yourself mentally and emotionally. Understand that it’s okay to say no when necessary.

Type 6 – The Loyalist

1. Trust Yourself: Develop self-trust and confidence in your abilities. Challenge the habit of seeking reassurance from others and rely more on your own judgment.
2. Courage in Decision-Making: Confront your tendency to overthink decisions. Cultivate the courage to make choices independently and trust that you can handle the outcomes.
3. Embrace Uncertainty: Acknowledge that uncertainty is a natural part of life. Instead of dwelling on worst-case scenarios, focus on your adaptability and problem-solving skills.
4. Balance Loyalty: Balance your loyalty to others with loyalty to yourself. Prioritize your values and well-being alongside your commitment to others and organizations.

Type 7 – The Enthusiast

1. Stay Grounded: Challenge your tendency to avoid discomfort by constantly seeking new experiences. Practice staying present in the here and now, even during less exciting moments.
2. Embrace Commitment: Recognize that commitment can lead to deep fulfillment and meaningful achievements. Avoid jumping from one project to another without seeing them through.
3. Manage Impulsivity: Be mindful of impulsive decision-making. Consider the consequences of your choices before acting and ensure they align with your long-term goals.
4. Experience Uncomfortable Emotions: Instead of escaping or deflecting difficult emotions, allow yourself to experience them. Embracing discomfort can lead to personal growth and resilience.

Type 8 – The Challenger

1. Empathy and Vulnerability: Cultivate empathy and vulnerability in your leadership style. Recognize that strength includes understanding and valuing the emotions of others.
2. Delegation and Collaboration: Trust your team by delegating tasks and collaborating effectively. Avoid an overly domineering approach, which can hinder team dynamics.
3. Practice Patience: Develop patience in your decision-making process. Take the time to consider different perspectives and potential consequences before acting.
4. Balance Control: Challenge the need for control in every situation. Allow space for others to lead and make decisions, fostering a more inclusive and cooperative work environment.

Type 9 – The Peacemaker

1. Voice Your Needs: Practice voicing your needs and opinions openly and assertively. Avoid minimizing your concerns to keep the peace, as this can lead to unaddressed issues.
2. Set Goals: Establish clear personal and professional goals. Find motivation and energy in pursuing your aspirations rather than passively going with the flow.
3. Conflict Resolution: Develop skills for handling conflict directly and constructively. Understand that addressing issues can lead to stronger relationships and a more harmonious environment.
4. Prioritize Self-Care: Prioritize self-care and personal growth alongside your inclination to accommodate others’ needs. Remember that taking care of yourself allows you to be a more effective leader.

To know, to be, to understand

Knowing your enneagram behavioural patterns is the first step in leadership development. If you want to channel the power, I recommend make a list of your behaviour and reflect upon these insights and start seeing your habits. Afterwards make a decision for a period to unlearn a certain habit. That means, to stop the behaviour and to learn a new behaviour: do something else in stead.

Remember, the masses, are a bit stuck in the work-netflix-sleep cycle. So if you have come fis far keep going and focus for a period of time and transformation will be visible within a period of weeks and months.