Not all teams are high-performing and cohesive. In fact, most aren't. What lies beneath the surface of a thriving team is usually connection, communication, and empowered leadership.
We don't always get to choose the people we work with. And tensions often bubble away below the surface long before we realize what's really going on.
When I work with leaders and teams using the Enneagram, my role is to open up the conversation about what drives you, and what drives the people around you.
It's not about labels. Sure, part of it is a fun discovery and a lively conversation, but underneath that is a question that begs to be answered: Why do you do the things you do? What is your motivation?
Motivation, Not Behavior
The Enneagram measures motivation. It isn't about what you do; it's about the why behind why you do it. It's the lens through which you see the world. There are nine types, and they all have different motivations.
I break the work down into three levels of awareness: self-awareness, relational awareness, and team awareness.
Step One: Self-Awareness
The first step is discovering your own type through a detailed assessment. What drives me? What motivates me? What are my strengths, my challenges, and my blind spots?
You may already have some self-awareness, but the juicy part is being able to name it and getting curious about what you're resisting. This is the introspective part of the conversation, where people begin to understand why they do the things they do.
Step Two: Relational Awareness
Next, we look at how you relate to others. How do I show up in the world? What lens do I see things through? And what lens do other people see me through?
When you understand other people's Enneagram types, you start to see that they're driven by their own motivations, which often have nothing to do with you. That's why I love the Enneagram as a tool for depersonalizing conflict.
A classic example: two colleagues, one a Type 8 (the Controller) and one a Type 2 (the Helper).
The Two wants connection. They speak with that intention, often using warmer, more complimentary, more expansive language before getting to the point. The Eight, on the other hand, is a one-sentence wonder. They can't see eye to eye. Trust fizzles.
So the Two doesn't feel heard by the Eight, and the Eight feels the Two isn't delivering what they need. Tension builds. But once each understands where the other is coming from, that tension melts away. It was never personal. It's just how they show up.
Step Three: Team Awareness
The third level is the team dynamic itself. Here, I look at the mix of types across the team to identify its collective strengths, as well as its areas for development.
If a team leans heavily towards one type, that type's perspective will dominate the trajectory of the organization, and there are often missing pieces. Other types on the team may feel disengaged, frustrated, and unseen. Where are the gaps? Where are the blind spots?
The Enneagram helps name that tension and uncover those blind spots, so your team can perform at its best and truly maximize the talent in the room.
Let's Talk
Think about the last time a colleague frustrated you. What if it had nothing to do with you at all? Try rewriting the script to see it from their point of view.
Curious about bringing the Enneagram to your team? Book a discovery call and let's explore what's possible.