We recently had the pleasure of presenting on the Enneagram to the Emerging Leader Development Program with the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. We are always thrilled to share the Enneagram with other leaders. It fits right into our desire to create positive ripple effects to individuals, teams, and workplaces.
The Enneagram is an age old personality system that represents 9 fundamental personality types of human nature. Each personality is represented by a number. Learning your number and understanding your personality can unlock personal insights, sharpen awareness, and nurture mental, emotional and spiritual growth.
Because leaders have the power to positively influence structures, systems and the people who work within them, a leader’s knowledge and awareness of the Enneagram can have a powerfully positive trickle down effect in an organization.
Studying the Enneagram is a very courageous thing to do. As you learn about your personality, you come to realize that one of your greatest strengths is also your tragic flaw. Hearing the truths about your personality and how you are regarded by others often causes us to wince a little bit. But that’s ok. When that new awareness is coupled with a non-judgmental attitude, the capacity for change is tremendous.
Regardless of your Enneagram number, there are several ways that studying the Enneagram can help you be a more effective leader.
The Enneagram shows us that people have various perspectives and motivations. We tend to think that everyone sees things (or should see things) the way we do. But with the Enneagram we learn that there are nine different ways of seeing the world. Each perspective is accurate and also incomplete.
It helps you gain valuable and nuanced insights into your own motivations, choices and behaviors. With these insights you can fine tune your strengths and correct your blind spots. By understanding why you do what you do, you become more open to new ways of doing things.
You gain valuable and nuanced insights into the behaviors, strengths and possible motivations of your co-workers. This helps you tailor your approach and communication style to each person in a way that helps them better receive what you are saying and use it to achieve their full potential.
With Enneagram knowledge in your pocket, you develop a greater appreciation for the diversity among your staff. You can then use this information to leverage each person’s strengths, allowing everyone to shine and enable the company to prosper.
Enhanced understanding of ourselves and others leads to greater empathy for each other. This helps build stronger relationships, fosters collaborations, and inspires team members.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
As leaders, the most important tool you can bring to your leadership style is yourself.
As psychotherapists, we say that the client can’t be healthier than the therapist and the same is true with leadership. The functionality of the team will not exceed the health and functionality of its leader. The Enneagram is a great tool for helping us grow into a better version of ourselves.
If you would like to learn more about how the Enneagram can benefit your workplace, reach out to us.
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