Enneagram types working in teams

Some teams are cruising while others are bruising. Have you ever worked in a team where everyone seemed to be on a different wavelength? It can be frustrating when people don’t communicate effectively or have different work styles. The Enneagram can clue us into why people act the way they do and why some teams thrive while others wallow in toxic fumes.

Here we’ll explore how different Enneagram types work together in teams and give you some tips on how to communicate effectively with each type.

Type 1: The Perfectionist

• Goals within a team environment: To ensure the team follows the rules and processes to achieve the best possible outcome.
• Thinking when they join a team: “What are the rules and processes in place? How can I help ensure they are followed to achieve the best outcome?”
• How they will act if they are your boss: They will be detail-oriented and expect a high standard of work. They will provide clear instructions and may be critical if the work is not up to their standard.
• How they will act if they are your colleague: They will be reliable and diligent, ensuring they complete their work to the best of their ability.
• How they will act if they are subordinate to you: They will follow the rules and processes to the best of their ability and expect clear direction from their superiors.
• How to give both positive and negative feedback: Provide clear, objective feedback on how their work met the standards and how it could be improved. Be specific about the areas they excelled in and where they could improve.

Type 2: The Helper

• Goals within a team environment: To support and help others to achieve success.
• Thinking when they join a team: “How can I support and help others to achieve their goals?”
• How they will act if they are your boss: They will be supportive and nurturing and will prioritize the needs of their team over their own.
• How they will act if they are your colleague: They will be friendly and supportive, always offering a helping hand to their colleagues.
• How they will act if they are subordinate to you: They will be eager to help and support their superiors and colleagues to achieve success.
• How to give both positive and negative feedback: Recognize their efforts to help and support others, and provide constructive feedback on how they can improve their own work.

Type 3: The Achiever

• Goals within a team environment: To achieve the best possible results and be recognized for their achievements.
• Thinking when they join a team: “How can I achieve the best possible results and be recognized for my achievements?”
• How they will act if they are your boss: They will set high expectations and push their team to achieve the best possible results.
• How they will act if they are your colleague: They will be competitive and driven to succeed but may prioritize their success over the success of the team.
• How they will act if they are subordinate to you: They will be focused on achieving the best possible results and may need direction on how to contribute to the team’s success.
• How to give both positive and negative feedback: Recognize their achievements and provide clear, constructive feedback on how they can improve their work.

Type 4: The Individualist

• Goals within a team environment: To express their creativity and individuality while contributing to the team’s success.
• Thinking when they join a team: “How can I express my creativity and individuality while contributing to the team’s success?”
• How they will act if they are your boss: They will be creative and innovative but may struggle with maintaining structure and focus in the team’s work.
• How they will act if they are your colleague: They will express their unique perspective and contribute creative ideas to the team’s work.
• How they will act if they are subordinate to you: They will need opportunities to express their creativity and may struggle with overly structured work.
• How to give both positive and negative feedback: Recognize their unique perspective and creative contributions, and learn how to channel their creativity in a focused and productive way.

Type 5: The Investigator

• Goals within a team environment: To share their expertise and knowledge while also learning from others.
• Thinking when they join a team: “How can I share my expertise and learn from others to contribute to the team’s success?”
• How they will act if they are your boss: They will provide valuable insights and expertise but may struggle with communicating effectively with the team.
• How they will act if they are your colleague: They will be analytical and thoughtful, offering valuable insights and solutions to problems.
• How they will act if they are subordinate to you: They will be knowledgeable and independent but may need guidance on how to effectively communicate and collaborate with others.
• How to give both positive and negative feedback: Recognize their expertise and provide clear, objective feedback on how they can improve their communication and collaboration skills.

Type 6: The Loyalist

• Goals within a team environment: To ensure the team is secure and prepared for any challenges that may arise.
• Thinking when they join a team: “How can I ensure the team is prepared and secure in the face of potential challenges?”
• How they will act if they are your boss: They will prioritize safety and security, providing clear guidelines and procedures to ensure the team is prepared for any situation.
• How they will act if they are your colleague: They will be loyal and supportive, always looking out for the team’s best interests and potential challenges.
• How they will act if they are subordinate to you: They will seek guidance and support from their superiors to ensure the team is prepared and secure.
• How to give both positive and negative feedback: Recognize their loyalty and dedication to the team, and provide constructive feedback on how they can balance their concerns for security with flexibility and adaptability.

Type 7: The Enthusiast

• Goals within a team environment: To keep the team energized and enthusiastic while exploring new opportunities and possibilities.
• Thinking when they join a team: “How can I keep the team energized and enthusiastic while exploring new opportunities and possibilities?”
• How they will act if they are your boss: They will be enthusiastic and inspiring, encouraging the team to explore new opportunities and possibilities.
• How they will act if they are your colleague: They will be energetic and creative, always suggesting new ideas and possibilities for the team’s work.
• How they will act if they are subordinate to you: They will need opportunities to explore new possibilities and may struggle with overly structured or repetitive work.
• How to give both positive and negative feedback: Recognize their enthusiasm and creativity, and provide constructive feedback on how they can maintain focus and balance their exploratory nature with productivity and results.

Type 8: The Challenger

• Goals within a team environment: To lead the team and ensure they achieve their goals with strength and effectiveness.
• Thinking when they join a team: “How can I lead the team to achieve our goals with strength and effectiveness?”
• How they will act if they are your boss: They will be decisive and strong, leading the team with confidence and authority.
• How they will act if they are your colleague: They will be powerful and assertive but may need to balance their leadership with collaboration and compromise.
• How they will act if they are subordinate to you: They will be strong and independent but may need direction and support from their superiors to effectively contribute to the team’s success.
• How to give both positive and negative feedback: Recognize their leadership and strength, and provide constructive feedback on how they can balance their assertiveness with collaboration and compromise.

Type 9: The Peacemaker

• Goals within a team environment: To create a harmonious and peaceful environment for the team to work effectively.
• Thinking when they join a team: “How can I create a harmonious and peaceful environment for the team to work effectively?”
• How they will act if they are your boss: They will prioritize harmony and peace, ensuring the team works together effectively and with minimal conflict.
• How they will act if they are your colleague: They will be supportive and agreeable, seeking to maintain harmony and avoid conflict within the team.
• How they will act if they are subordinate to you: They will be cooperative and adaptable, seeking to support the team and maintain a harmonious environment.
• How to give both positive and negative feedback: Recognize their ability to maintain harmony and cooperation within the team, and provide constructive feedback on how they can be more assertive and express their own needs and opinions while still maintaining a harmonious environment.

Recognizing each type’s goals, thinking, and behaviors in different roles within the team, allows us to learn how to effectively communicate, collaborate, and give feedback to each type to help contribute to the team’s success. By leveraging the strengths of each type and addressing their challenges, we can create a balanced and successful team.