Teamwork encourages the maximum sharing of knowledge and ideas. This in turn helps individual team members learn new skills and gain a better experience.
We all know how important teamwork is. But did you know that a diverse and inclusive team can increase your team’s performance by up to 35%? A McKinsey study found that teams made up of members from different backgrounds (gender, age, ethnicity, etc.) and skills are more creative. When individual strengths are brought together, it creates a group of people who complement each other’s skills. While one team member may excel at creativity, another may excel at goal setting – this creates a powerful team that will greatly increase your team’s synergy and productivity.
What are Enneagram personality types?
It provides a personality map that shows the unique gifts that different people bring to their teams. When people’s strengths are harnessed and they’re given a role in the team that plays to their strengths, they thrive and contribute to the group. The Enneagram also identifies areas of difficulty for each of the nine types, areas where team members can provide support. All nine Enneagram types have the potential to work well in teams.
You might be wondering – What are these 9 types of Enneagram personality types?
The 9 Enneagram personality types are categorised into 3 main categories – Heart Types, Head Types, and Body Types.
The Heart Types of the Enneagram
Types Two, Three and Four are the heart, or feeling, centered Enneagram types. Heart types react with emotions first. They connect with other people on an empathetic level, and make sense of the world by understanding their feelings about it. These types are guided by the feelings connected to their emotional relationships with other people. They value things such as emotional support, recognition, and inclusion.
- Type Two: The Giver
Twos want to be liked and find ways that they can be helpful to others so that they belong. This type fears being unlovable. Read more about Twos.
- Type Three: The Achiever
Thirds want to be successful and admired by others and are very conscious of their public image. This type are afraid of failure and of not being seen as valuable by others.
- Type Four
Fours want to be unique and to experience deep, authentic emotions. This type fear they are flawed and are overly focused on how they are different from other people.
The Head Types of the Enneagram
Head types react with analysis first. They connect with other people on an intellectual level, and make sense of the world by understanding the systems and theories that underlie what they observe. These types are primarily focused on control, which they gain by maintaining stability, security, and competence. Types Five, Six, and Seven are the head-centered Enneagram types.
- Type Five
Fives seek understanding and knowledge, and are more comfortable with data than other people. The biggest fear of the Type Five is being overwhelmed by their own needs or the needs of other people.
- Type Six
Sixes are preoccupied with security, seek safety, and like to be prepared for problems. For the Type Six, the greatest fear is being unprepared and unable to defend themselves from danger
- Type Seven
Sevens want to have as much fun and adventure as possible and are easily bored. Type Sevens fear experiencing emotional pain, especially sadness, and actively seek to avoid it by staying busy.
The Body Types of the Enneagram
Body types react with an instinctive, gut feeling. They connect with other people based on their physical sense of comfort, and make sense of the world by sensing their body’s reaction to what is happening. The primary drive for this triad is to maintain their independence and limit control from outside influences. They respond by being either overly controlling, overly passive, or overly perfectionistic. Types Eight, Nine, and One are the body, or gut, centered Enneagram types.
- Type Eight: The Challenge
Eights see themselves as strong and powerful and seek to stand up for what they believe in. The greatest fear of the Type Eight is to be powerless, so they focus on controlling their environment.
- Type Nine: The Peacemaker
Nines like to go with the flow and let the people around them set the agenda. Type Nines fear pushing people away by prioritizing their own needs, and they tend to be passive.
- Type One: The Perfectionist
Ones place a lot of emphasis on following the rules and doing things correctly. Type Ones fear being imperfect and can be extremely strict with themselves and others.
So how can I use Enneagram personality types to develop high-performing teams?
Having identified the different Enneagram types in the workplace, we understand that teams are made up of very different individuals with very different personalities, working styles and communication preferences. If not managed well, this can lead to tension, conflict and reduced productivity.
Therefore, anyone, regardless of position or department, can use the Enneagram to understand how to work with their team. This is particularly useful for managers, who can use this tool to identify the unique characteristics, strengths and challenges of their team members and create a productive environment in which each team member can flourish and reach their full potential.
Here are some practical tips on how to develop high-performing teams with different Enneagram personality types:
- Assign Roles Based on Strengths
As clichéd as it sounds, no one is perfect and there are always two sides to a coin. Each Enneagram type has specific strengths and weaknesses. By understanding each team member’s type, you can delegate roles and responsibilities that play to their strengths and mitigate potential challenges.
- Foster Communication and Collaboration
The Enneagram also provides insight into the way each type prefers to communicate and work. Prior to understanding the Enneagram, you may not understand why a team member is acting the way they are; by fostering open communication and collaboration, you will understand that there may be a reason behind an individual’s action. As a result, you can improve your communication with your team and ensure that everyone feels heard and valued, which can improve overall team morale and performance.
- Encourage Personal Growth
The Enneagram can be used as a tool for personal growth and development. It can encourage team members to use their knowledge of their type to identify areas for improvement and to work on becoming the best version of themselves.
- Create a Positive Team Culture
A positive team culture can go a long way in ensuring high performance. An environment that values diversity, open communication, and mutual respect is encouraged. This can help team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas, opinions, and perspectives, leading to improved collaboration and better results.
- Provide Regular Feedbacks
Providing regular feedback can help team members understand how they are contributing to the team and how they can improve. Utilising Enneagram can help team members understand their blind spots and provide them with specific feedback that can help them grow and develop.
Conclusion
In conclusion, developing high-performing teams with different Enneagram personality types requires an understanding of each team member’s unique strengths and challenges, as well as a commitment to fostering open communication, collaboration, and personal growth. By using the Enneagram as a tool, you can create a team culture that enables everyone to flourish and reach their full potential.
The Enneagram is a very practical and interesting tool that you can use not only in the workplace, but also in your personal life. You will be able to get to know the people around you on a deeper level and improve your communication style. This can reduce conflict and strengthen relationships. If you would like a comprehensive guide on how to recognise different communication styles in your team, to get your point across successfully and to lead them better, join Aventis on our Leading For Results course: Developing High Performance Teams with Different Enneagram Personality Types, where we will guide you on how to recognise the key characteristics of the nine Enneagram personalities, identify your team’s communication blind spots and manage conflict by understanding the underlying concerns of different personality type.
