Burnout By Enneagram Type: What You Need to Know
Are you experiencing burnout? You can't open Instagram or scroll on LinkedIn without witnessing the global despair, distress and overwhelm that we are experiencing. Burnout has become an increasingly prevalent issue, affecting professionals and founders across all industries. As a leadership coach, I work closely with individuals and teams navigating the challenges of burnout.
Burnout is not merely a result of excessive workload; it is a complex interplay of factors that includes chronic stress, lack of autonomy, and a diminished sense of purpose. When we are experiencing a lack of control over our schedule, our environment and our work, we start to lose sight of ourselves and our purpose.
Ever since I discovered the Enneagram, I have been obsessed with using it to understand human behavior, specifically, when it comes to unlocking the secrets of burnout and overwhelm.
Working with individuals and teams, I have been able to witness how your Enneagram type can both hinder and support your experience with burnout. Below I have listed the triggers by type so you can identify your patterns.
Type 1 - The Perfectionist: Burnout Triggers: Constantly striving for perfection, rigid standards, and a critical inner voice.
Type 2 - The Helper: Burnout Triggers: Overextending to meet the needs of others, neglecting personal needs.
Type 3 - The Achiever: Burnout Triggers: Pursuit of success, overworking, fear of failure.
Type 4 - The Individualist: Burnout Triggers: Intense emotions, feeling misunderstood, comparing oneself to others.
Type 5 - The Quiet Specialist: Burnout Triggers: Overthinking, isolation, information overload.
Type 6 - The Loyal Skeptic: Burnout Triggers: Anxiety, overthinking worst-case scenarios, seeking constant reassurance, state of the world.
Type 7 - The Enthusiastic Visionary: Burnout Triggers: Avoiding negative emotions, constant pursuit of novelty, experiencing all the things, values misalignment
Type 8 - The Active Controller: Burnout Triggers: Control issues, fear of vulnerability, pushing too hard.
Type 9 - The Peacemaker: Burnout Triggers: Avoidance of conflict, neglecting personal needs.
So now that you know your triggers, how do you solve for them? How do you decrease burnout when even the smallest things seem difficult?
STEP 1: Slow down. Breathe. Tap into your body.
STEP 2: Look at your triggers. Usually, the quick fix is to find solace in the opposite. For example, if you are a Type 5, you need human connection to balance your need to be informed. A hug, a walk with a friend, or even a cuddle with your dog can help make strides with your burnout.
STEP 3: Seek help. We often try to solve our problems in a vacuum. It is extremely ineffective. Reach out to a trusted freind or advisor or seek therapy or coaching.
STEP 4: Get clear about your goals and values. Without a roadmap, you can’t see the forest through the trees and you will find yourself making the same choices over and over again and unable to break the cycle of burnout.
As a leadership coach, I've seen individuals transform their professional lives by addressing burnout head-on. If you or your team is experiencing burnout, you can book a call here to learn more about how coaching and the Enneagram can help.