Enneagram at Work

Featuring Special Guest: Andy Bales | Enneagram Type 6 What does it actually look like when people use the Enneagram at work, not just during a workshop, but in everyday decisions, conversations, and leadership challenges? In this episode of Enneagram at Work , I'm joined by Andy Bales, a retired engineer, manager, and global supply chain leader who spent 35 years working for a Fortune 500 company. Along the way, Andy became an internal champion for the Enneagram, introducing it to coworkers, leaders, and teams across the organization. Andy shares several real-world stories of how understanding personality and motivation helped people navigate difficult relationships, influence leadership, build stronger partnerships, and recognize their own patterns before those patterns led to burnout. In this episode, you'll hear: How a mechanical engineer became an internal Enneagram champion at a Fortune 500 company. Why understanding someone's motivation can be more useful than simply observing their behavior. What it means to "speak to someone's listening" and how Andy adjusted his communication with Type 8 and Type 3 leaders. How understanding a command-and-control leader helped Andy build trust and become more influential. How a Type 3 executive used his Enneagram insights to develop his leadership approach and help build a strong organizational culture. How a Type 1 project manager turned a frustrating working relationship into a successful partnership. How a newly promoted Type 2 manager recognized her overgiving tendencies, established boundaries, and began asking for help. Why Andy encourages leaders to practice the Platinum Rule: Treat others the way they want to be treated. Why an Enneagram assessment is a starting point - not necessarily the final answer- when identifying your type. A few key takeaways... Understanding motivation changes the conversation. Two employees may behave similarly for entirely different reasons. The Enneagram helps us explore what might be driving those behaviors. You don't have to change someone's personality to improve a working relationship. Sometimes the better approach is to understand their perspective and adjust how you communicate and collaborate. Self-awareness should lead to action. Whether that means delegating more, setting boundaries, building trust, or approaching a challenging colleague differently, the value comes from what you do with the insight. About Andy Bales Andy Bales spent 35 years working in engineering, management, and global supply chain leadership at a Fortune 500 company. An Enneagram Type 6 with a Preserving Instinctual Bias, Andy has studied and applied the Enneagram since 2000, introducing the framework to colleagues and helping individuals better understand their types. His experience includes facilitating Enneagram training, mentoring employees, and helping leaders apply personality insights to real workplace situations. Connect with Andy: andybales019@gmail.com About Enneagram MBA Enneagram MBA helps teams and leaders build stronger working relationships through practical, engaging Enneagram-based training. Explore our workplace workshops, leadership development experiences, and team resources at enneagrammba.com . To get a typing session with Andy, learn more here: https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-coaching Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Why do some coworkers question everything? And why can their questions sometimes feel like criticism, resistance, or a lack of trust? Inspired by a recent conversation between Adam Grant and Brené Brown about the Enneagram, we're exploring skepticism through a different lens. What if three people questioned the exact same idea, but for three completely different reasons? In this episode of Enneagram at Work , we're looking at how Enneagram Types 1, 5, and 6 might approach skepticism, what's potentially motivating their questions, and how understanding those differences can help us communicate and collaborate more effectively. We'll use a common workplace scenario (introducing a new process) to explore how questioning can be driven by a desire for improvement, a need for information, or a concern for trust and security. And while any Enneagram type can be skeptical, these three examples give us a useful starting point for getting curious about what's underneath someone's pushback. In this episode, we explore: Type 1: Questioning to improve: Why a coworker's attention to errors, inconsistencies, or standards can sound like criticism when their intention may be to make something better. Type 5: Questioning to understand: Why asking for more information, evidence, or processing time doesn't necessarily mean someone disagrees. Type 6: Questioning to establish trust: How anticipating risks, questioning assumptions, and wanting contingency plans can strengthen a team's decisions. Why we often mistake skepticism for negativity, resistance, or someone questioning our authority. What each of these coworkers might need before feeling ready to move forward. Three simple questions that can help you respond to skepticism with curiosity instead of defensiveness. Three questions to try with your team: What about this doesn't feel right yet? What additional information would be helpful? What concerns do you have that we haven't addressed? You don't have to know someone's Enneagram type to start asking better questions. The takeaway: Skepticism isn't always resistance. Sometimes it's someone noticing something important that the rest of the team has overlooked. The next time someone challenges an idea, try asking one question to better understand their concern before jumping in to defend your position. Mentioned in this episode Previous episode: Adam Grant Doesn't Believe in the Enneagram. Does He Have a Point? A closer look at Adam Grant's skepticism, the research behind the Enneagram, and its application in the workplace. Adam Grant and Brené Brown on The Curiosity Shop Explore Enneagram team workshops and retreats Get help planning your own Enneagram workshop Share your thoughts or workplace experiences Bring the conversation to your team At Enneagram MBA, we help teams turn personality insights into practical conversations about communication, collaboration, and workplace relationships through facilitated workshops, leadership retreats, and team development programs. Learn more at Enneagram MBA . Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Adam Grant, organizational psychologist, bestselling author, and longtime skeptic of the Enneagram, has agreed to take an Enneagram assessment. During a recent episode of The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown, the two discussed revisiting the Enneagram on Adam's ReThinking podcast. And as someone who uses the Enneagram professionally, I couldn't resist digging into the conversation. Does Adam Grant have a point about the Enneagram? I think he does. But I also think there's more to the conversation. In this episode, we're looking at what the research actually says about the Enneagram, where some of the criticism is warranted, and why the way we teach and apply the framework matters. I'll also share a personal experience that changed how I teach the Enneagram, why I've moved away from certain traditional theories, and how I think we can approach personality frameworks with more curiosity and less certainty. In this episode, we explore: Why Adam Grant is skeptical of the Enneagram and other personality assessments. What a systematic review of 104 research samples found about the Enneagram's reliability and validity. How Dr. Daniel Siegel's more recent work explores nine personality patterns through interpersonal neurobiology. Why I question traditional Enneagram teachings like Centers of Intelligence, wings, and childhood origin stories. The experience that made me realize I was spending more time defending the model than understanding the person. What we're actually trying to accomplish when we bring the Enneagram into workplace relationships. Why scientific scrutiny and practical experience both deserve a place in the conversation. One of my biggest takeaways: The model should serve the person. The person shouldn't have to serve the model. Whether you're an Enneagram enthusiast, a skeptic, or someone considering bringing personality development into your workplace, I hope this episode encourages you to stay curious, question what you've been taught, and remain open to learning something new. And stay tuned for the next episode, where I'll revisit Adam Grant and explore why Enneagram Types 1, 5, and 6 might question the exact same thing for three very different reasons. The original conversation Adam Grant and Brené Brown on The Curiosity Shop Research and books The Enneagram: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Directions for Future Research - Hook et al., Journal of Clinical Psychology (2021) Personality and Wholeness in Therapy: Integrating 9 Patterns of Developmental Pathways in Clinical Practice - Daniel J. Siegel and the PDP Group (2024) Awareness to Action - The Enneagram approach used at Enneagram MBA Bring the Enneagram to your workplace Explore facilitated team workshops, leadership retreats, and development programs at Enneagram MBA . Or explore our free Workshop Planning Kit , with sample agendas, room setup ideas, discussion questions, and resources to help you plan your own team experience. Have a different perspective? I'd love to hear it. Whether you agree with Adam's skepticism, have research to share, or have experienced the Enneagram differently, join the conversation at enneagrammba.com/contact . Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

If you'd like to take what you hear today further, Enneagram MBA offers standalone workshops, retreat experiences, and team-development programs that can be customized around communication, collaboration, and working styles. If you’d rather lead the experience internally, the DIY Enneagram Workshop Kit includes a slide deck, facilitator guide, sample agendas, icebreakers, and tools to help you bring the conversation to your own team. ***** Better communication doesn’t always mean more communication. Teams already have more ways to stay connected than ever: email, messaging platforms, video calls, project-management tools, AI-generated summaries. But... none of those automatically mean people understand one another better. Sometimes the most useful shift is becoming more aware of the person on the other side of the conversation. In this episode, we look at five common reasons communication can break down even on good teams: Different priorities shape what people hear and pay attention to Communication style can easily be confused with intention Teams often have unspoken expectations they assume everyone shares People respond to stress, tension, and disagreement differently We make assumptions about what is driving someone else’s behavior before we actually know Using examples from real workshop feedback, we explore how the Enneagram can help teams move from assumption to curiosity and better understand what may be underneath a coworker’s communication style, questions, pace, or reactions. You’ll also hear three questions you can bring into your next team meeting: What helps you receive information clearly? What is one communication habit you have that others might misunderstand? What is one thing we could do differently to make communication easier across our team? The goal isn’t to get everyone communicating the same way. It’s to build enough awareness and shared language that people can better understand one another and work through differences with less friction. **** NEW RESOURCE: Download the free Enneagram Workshop Planning Kit for ideas, sample agendas, planning questions, and practical resources to help you design the right experience for your team. Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Planning an end-of-year or beginning-of-year team experience? If your team is looking for a meaningful way to reflect, reconnect, or start the new year with a stronger shared language, learn more about Enneagram MBA team workshops and kickoff experiences. You can also download the free Enneagram Workshop Planning Kit for ideas, sample agendas, planning questions, and practical resources to help you design the right experience for your team. ***** Not everyone processes ideas by talking them through. For Enneagram Type 5s, thinking often happens internally first - observing, gathering information, making connections, and deciding what is worth contributing. In a workplace that often rewards fast responses and visible participation, that can sometimes be mistaken for aloofness or disengagement. In this episode, we explore the strengths Type 5s bring to teams and what managers can do to make better use of those strengths. We cover: Why Type 5s often want time to understand before they respond How silence can be mistaken for disengagement Why many meetings naturally favor external processors Simple ways managers can get better input from quieter team members The Type 5 tendency to protect time, energy, and attention When gathering more information becomes a reason to delay participation How Type 5s can contribute before every thought feels completely finished The bigger takeaway: participation doesn’t always look like immediate verbal participation. The person who hasn’t said much yet may still be doing some of the most important thinking in the room. Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Planning an Enneagram workshop for your team? Before you decide on the agenda, activities, or even how much Enneagram content to include, there are a few bigger questions worth answering first. In this episode of the Enneagram at Work Podcast, you'll learn five questions that can help you plan a workshop that is not only interesting in the room, but useful once everyone gets back to work. Whether you’re bringing in a facilitator, planning an internal team experience, or facilitating Enneagram workshops yourself, these questions can help you think more intentionally about what you want the experience to accomplish. In this episode: What do you want people to understand differently after the workshop? What do you want people to do differently afterward? Who is actually going to be in the room - a leadership team, intact team, cross-functional group, new team, or multiple departments? How much Enneagram content do people really need? What will happen after the workshop so the Enneagram becomes more than a one-time experience? You'll also hear about one of the biggest mistakes she made early on as a facilitator: trying to teach too much Enneagram content instead of creating enough space for reflection, discussion, and application. The goal isn’t to turn everyone into Enneagram experts. It’s to help people become better experts on themselves, and on the relationships they navigate at work. Free Workshop Planning Kits If you’re currently planning an Enneagram workshop, retreat, team development session, or kickoff meeting, Enneagram MBA has two free Workshop Planning Kits designed to help. Path One: For HR, L&D, people leaders, and internal Enneagram champions: Get sample agendas, planning questions, room setup ideas, guidance for getting leadership buy-in, and more. Path Two: For Enneagram coaches and facilitators: Get sample agendas, workshop preparation questions, pricing considerations, facilitation guidance, and ideas for what happens before, during, and after the workshop. Explore both free resources at: EnneagramMBA.com/resources Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

What does leadership look like when you don’t fit the stereotypical image of the bold, outspoken, highly assertive leader? In this episode, we get to hear from Suha Patel, an Enneagram Type 2, and Gallia Levy, an Enneagram Type 4 , about the leadership strengths that can be easy to overlook - from relationship building and coaching to authenticity, intuition, depth, and the courage to say what others may be feeling but aren’t willing to say. Suha and Gallia also share what they’ve learned from working together, including how their different strengths created trust, helped each of them grow, and allowed them to lead without trying to become someone they weren’t. When you tune in, you'll hear more about: The underrated leadership strengths of Enneagram Types 2 and 4 Why leadership doesn’t always have to look loud, fast, or highly assertive How Type 2s can use relationships, intuition, and individualized coaching as a source of influence The Type 4 ability to bring honesty, emotional depth, and courage into a team How their Type 2–Type 4 working relationship helped both of them grow Boundaries, feedback, intensity, authenticity, and other growth areas for both types Why you don’t have to abandon your natural leadership style in order to advance One of my favorite ideas from the conversation is Gallia’s closing advice to fellow Type 4s: don’t abandon your depth in order to belong as a leader. And for Type 2s, Suha offers an equally important reminder: you matter too. Please don't be shy and connect with Suha and Gallia below to let them know what you're taking away from this one! Meet Suha: Type 2 Suha Patel is a global business leader, mentor, and lifelong student of human behavior whose journey has spanned four continents, executive leadership, and deep personal transformation. As an executive in biotech, she spent decades leading in high-performance environments while quietly carrying the belief that staying small and silent was the safest way to move through the world. Her path into self-awareness, enneagrams, nervous system healing, and inner child work radically changed the way she understands leadership, relationships, identity, and emotional well-being. Today, Suha is passionate about exploring the invisible patterns that shape our lives – the survival strategies we mistake for personality, and the ways unresolved emotional experiences quietly influence how we love, lead, speak and connect. Through honest storytelling and deep reflections, she brings a grounded and compassionate perspective to conversations about healing, self-awareness, emotional regulation, and what it truly means to feel safe enough to become ourselves fully. Connect with Suha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suhapatel/ Meet Gallia: Type 4 Dr. Gallia Levy is currently the Global Head of Development at Kite Pharma, a Gilead Company. In this capacity she oversees the Development of the Kite portfolio of cell therapies from early phase trials to approved products, across therapeutic areas such as oncology and autoimmune disease. Prior to Kite, Gallia was the Chief Medical and Product Strategy Officer at Spark Therapeutics, where she led strategic and operational teams throughout the product development lifecycle with responsibility for setting the global development and product strategy. Before joining Spark, Gallia was Vice President and Global Head of the Rare Blood Disorders Franchise in Product Development at Genentech and Roche, where she was responsible for the clinical development of treatments for hemophilia A and other rare blood disorders such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Gallia first joined Genentech in 2009, where she worked in both early- and late-stage clinical development. She later moved to Portola Pharmaceuticals, where she led the clinical development program for hematology and oncology indications spanning Phases 1 to registrational trials. She eventually returned to Genentech, taking responsibility for the global clinical development program for HEMLIBRA®, during which time she led the transition from Phase 1 through to global registration for adults and children with hemophilia A. Gallia is board-certified in hematology and earned an M.D. and Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Michigan, during which time she discovered ADAMTS13, responsible for Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP). She completed her residency in internal medicine at Stanford University and a fellowship in hematology at the University of California, San Francisco. She also spent time at the Pasteur Institute, during which she received an M.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Paris VI, and she holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. Connect with Gallia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gallia-levy-b4700775/ Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Type 1s bring something incredibly valuable to the workplace: high standards, reliability, precision, follow-through, and a natural ability to see what could be improved. But those same strengths can become heavy. A Type 1 may notice the typo, the missed deadline, the unclear process, the skipped step, or the work that is almost right - and then quietly become the person who fixes it, checks it, follows up on it, or takes it back over. Over time, responsibility can turn into over-responsibility . In this episode of the Enneagram at Work Podcast, we'll explore together what can happen when a Type 1’s desire to do things well starts creating extra work for themselves, and sometimes extra pressure for the people around them. The question at the center of the episode is: Does this actually need to be improved, or is it simply not how I would have done it? You'll also hear about in this episode: Why Type 1s are often the people who notice what everyone else misses How responsibility can quietly become over-responsibility The invisible workload Type 1s may take on without being asked Why “I’ll just fix this real quick” can add up to a much bigger workload How resentment can build when a Type 1 feels like they are the only person who cares Why different approaches do not necessarily mean someone is less committed Why delegation can be especially difficult when “done” isn’t the same as “done the way I would do it” How high standards can unintentionally make teammates feel constantly corrected Practical questions Type 1s can use before stepping in, redoing, correcting, or taking something back You'll also hear about three useful categories for evaluating someone else’s work: 1. It is actually incorrect. There is a factual, legal, safety, requirement, or outcome-related issue. 2. It genuinely needs improvement. Something is unclear, inconsistent, likely to create a problem, or does not meet the agreed-upon standard. 3. It is simply different. The approach, style, order, process, or execution isn’t how you would have done it, but it isn’t actually wrong. That third category can be one of the biggest growth opportunities for Type 1. Because different people can be committed to the same outcome while valuing different parts of the process. Different does not automatically mean less committed. Questions for Type 1s to consider Before correcting, redoing, or taking something over, ask: Does this really matter to the outcome? Is this actually my responsibility? Was this standard clearly communicated? Is the outcome wrong — or just different? Am I fixing this because it needs fixing, or because fixing it lowers my own discomfort? What happens if I let this be good enough? The goal isn’t to stop caring or lower your standards. It may simply be learning that not every detail deserves the same amount of energy, not every task belongs to you, and not every different approach needs to be corrected. ***** Want to go deeper into your Enneagram type? Enneagram MBA now offers individual typing, coaching, and workstyle sessions designed to help you better understand your patterns and actually apply what you’re learning to your work, leadership, and workplace relationships. Our 1:1 Session Options: Typing Interview Understand Your Type + Instinct 3-Session Deep Dive Coworker Translation Session Leadership Strategy Session Learn more at: EnneagramMBA.com/enneagram-coaching Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

AI can help us write faster, prepare for meetings, summarize information, and organize ideas. But can it also help us become better managers and teammates? In this episode of Enneagram at Work , we're looking at how AI and the Enneagram can work together as a thinking tool - not to predict, diagnose, or stereotype people, but to help us become more intentional about the way we communicate, lead, give feedback, navigate conflict, and prepare for important conversations. The goal isn't to ask AI, “How do I manage this person?” A better question might be: “How can I manage myself more intentionally before I walk into this situation?” Because AI doesn't know the person sitting across from you. And their Enneagram type can't tell you exactly how they'll respond. What these tools can do is help you slow down, examine your own patterns, consider another person's perspective, and explore a few different ways forward. In this episode: How to use AI as a thinking partner before feedback conversations Why adding your own Enneagram tendencies can make an AI prompt significantly more useful Using AI to explore conflict without deciding who's “right” Questions AI can help you ask about your own reactions before a difficult conversation What not to ask AI about someone's Enneagram type Why both AI and the Enneagram should help us become more curious about people, not more certain about them The AI + Enneagram Prompt Template Before asking AI to help you prepare for a conversation, meeting, or conflict, give it four pieces of information: 1. CONTEXT: What is happening? Briefly explain the situation you are preparing for. 2. PATTERN: What do I know about myself? What tendencies do you recognize in yourself, through the Enneagram or simply through experience? Where might you overdo a strength? What tends to happen when you're frustrated, stressed, rushed, or under pressure? 3. PERSON: What do I actually know about the other person? Focus on what they have told you or what you have directly observed. How do they prefer to communicate? Do they like time to process? Do they prefer detail, brevity, conversation, written information, or clear next steps? Avoid assuming what they need simply because of an Enneagram type. 4. OUTCOME: What do I want this interaction to accomplish? What would a productive outcome look like? Then ask AI to help you prepare. Copy + Paste Prompt Context: I need to [describe the conversation, meeting, feedback, conflict, or decision]. My patterns: I tend to [describe your natural tendencies, including anything you know from your Enneagram type]. When I am stressed or frustrated, I can sometimes [describe the pattern you want to watch]. The other person: What I know about this person is [share only what they've communicated or what you've directly observed about how they work, communicate, process information, or receive feedback]. Desired outcome: I want this conversation to [describe what you want to accomplish]. Help me prepare for this conversation. Identify any blind spots I should consider, language that may land differently than I intend, questions I could ask rather than making assumptions, and a few ways I could approach the conversation while still sounding like myself. Example I need to address a missed deadline with a direct report.I tend to move quickly into problem-solving and can become overly direct when I get frustrated.This employee usually likes context and time to think before answering.I want the conversation to create accountability without shutting down the conversation.Help me prepare. Compare that with simply asking: “Help me prepare for a conversation about a missed deadline.” The additional context gives AI much more useful information to work with, while still leaving the judgment, discernment, and actual leadership to you. One Important Reminder Use the Enneagram and AI to generate questions, possibilities, and perspectives, not conclusions about another person. Avoid prompts like: “Based on these behaviors, what Enneagram type is my employee?” “How do I get a Type Six to agree with me?” “My teammate is a Type Nine, so how should I handle conflict with them?” Instead, try: “Here are some tendencies this person has told me about themselves. What questions could I ask to better understand what they need instead of assuming?” That's the bigger opportunity. The Enneagram gives us language for patterns. AI can help us examine those patterns and consider alternative paths forward. And you still bring the judgment, experience, relationship, and humanity required to lead the person in front of you. ****** Planning an Enneagram Experience for Your Team? Year-end meetings, leadership retreats, team offsites, and new-year kickoffs can be a great opportunity to bring teams together around something that is both fun in the room and useful back at work. Enneagram MBA offers standalone team workshops, team development experiences, and programs designed to bring multiple teams or departments together around a shared language for communicating, collaborating, and navigating tension more effectively. Explore the options at EnneagramMBA.com . And if you've found an especially useful way to combine AI and the Enneagram at work, we'd love to hear about it. Reach out at EnneagramMBA.com/contact . Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Not everyone walks into an Enneagram workshop excited to be there. In fact, there are usually a few skeptics in the room, and that’s okay. In this episode, I’m sharing a recent experience from an Enneagram team workshop in Nashville. One participant admitted that he didn’t want to attend the workshop and didn’t want to take the Enneagram assessment. But after receiving his results and learning more about his Type 8 pattern, his reaction changed completely. He described how surprisingly accurate the Enneagram felt, not only in identifying his strengths, but also some of the things he knows he struggles with. And it gets even better. He went on to become one of the most engaged people in the workshop, asking great questions and adding perspectives that made the experience better for the rest of the group. It was a great reminder for managers, HR and L&D professionals, and anyone facilitating the Enneagram with a team: Skepticism doesn’t have to be the enemy of a good workshop. You don’t need everyone to arrive already believing in, or even liking, the Enneagram. You need to create an experience that is credible, relevant, useful, engaging, and strong enough to earn their participation. In this episode, I share: Why I don’t try to talk skeptics out of being skeptical What changed for this particular participant after taking the assessment Why his skepticism ultimately contributed to the workshop What managers can learn from this experience when they’re worried their team won’t “buy in” Why an Enneagram workshop doesn’t require everyone to walk through the door excited about personality typing If you’ve thought about bringing the Enneagram to your organization but wondered, “What if some people on my team are skeptical?” this one is for you. Thinking about an Enneagram experience for your team? Visit Enneagram MBA to tell us a little about what’s going on with your team, and we’ll help you explore an experience that fits. enneagrammba.com Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

“But what happens if…?” “Have we thought about…?” “Who’s responsible for…?” “What if this doesn’t work?” If you work with an Enneagram Type 6, you may be familiar with the questions. And depending on how those questions are delivered or received, they can sometimes sound like resistance, negativity, or a challenge to the person leading the conversation. But what if the Type 6 question isn’t really just a question? In this episode of Enneagram at Work , we're looking underneath a common Type 6 workplace behavior to understand what may actually be happening. For a Type 6, striving to feel secure can mean looking for potential problems, unanswered questions, missing information, or risks that everyone else seems ready to move past. In other words: What sounds like resistance may actually be risk detection. And that can be incredibly valuable to a team. Of course, there's another side to it. Question after question without the ability to eventually move forward can slow down a decision or frustrate coworkers. That's why the goal isn't to label questioning as either a strength or a weakness, it's to understand the pattern underneath it and learn to use it more intentionally. In this episode, we explore how Type 6 questioning can show up at work, why managers may misinterpret it, the value a Type 6 can bring by pressure-testing a plan, and how both Type 6s and their coworkers can translate those questions into more productive conversations. For the Type 6, try: “I want to pressure-test one part of this before we move forward.” For the manager or teammate, try: “What's the biggest risk you're seeing that you don't think we've accounted for?” Sometimes a better conversation starts when we stop reacting to the question and get curious about what's underneath it. Bring the Enneagram to Your Team Tell us what's going on with your team, and we'll help you determine the right place to start. enneagrammba.com Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

“I can see myself in several of these.” If you’ve ever said that while trying to determine your Enneagram type, you’re not alone, and it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing anything wrong. In this episode of Enneagram at Work , we’re talking about why it’s completely normal to relate to multiple Enneagram types and why identifying your type requires looking beyond individual traits and behaviors. Of course you can be helpful without being a Type 2. Ambitious without being a Type 3. Security-conscious without being a Type 6. Excited by new possibilities without being a Type 7. And there are probably times when you want connection, peace, autonomy, recognition, or certainty. The question isn't “Which type descriptions sound like me?” It's “Which underlying strategy do I find myself returning to most often?” We’ll also look at some of the factors that can make multiple types feel familiar, including your work role, learned behaviors, resource points or arrows, Instinctual Biases, and simply being a complex human being. If you’re stuck between two (or three!) Enneagram types, the goal isn’t to find the description that matches everything you do. Start getting curious about why you do it. Because your Enneagram type isn't meant to explain every behavior. It helps you notice the pattern underneath them. Bring the Enneagram to Your Team: enneagrammba.com Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Someone plagiarized our website. Not exactly the way I expected to find clarity about the future of Enneagram MBA, but here we are. In this behind-the-scenes episode of Enneagram at Work , I'm sharing what happened when I discovered that a significant amount of our website messaging, design, and offers had been copied, and the unexpected good that came out of an understandably frustrating experience. Because somewhere between “Are you kidding me?” and figuring out what needed to happen next, I started asking a much more interesting question: What have we built that someone else can't simply copy so easily? That question made me realize something: Enneagram MBA had outgrown some of its own messaging. For years, we've talked about Enneagram workshops for the workplace. But the work our clients are asking us to do today goes much further, helping teams improve communication, navigate tension, develop leaders, strengthen cross-department relationships, and figure out how to keep using the Enneagram long after the initial workshop ends. In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of that evolution, including our new Shared Language Framework: Learn It → Translate It → Use It → Keep It Going You'll hear why learning the nine Enneagram types is only the beginning, what we mean when we talk about creating a shared language at work, and why the real value comes from translating Enneagram theory into your team's actual meetings, feedback, conflict, leadership, and day-to-day relationships. I also share what's changing at Enneagram MBA, from standalone workshops to development programs and organization-wide experiences, and why we're putting even more attention on what happens after the workshop. Because ultimately: The Enneagram is the tool. What you do with it matters. Knowing I'm a Type 7 and you're a Type 1 might be interesting. But what changes in our next meeting? Our next conflict? The way we give each other feedback? The way our departments work together? That's where the work really begins. So no, I wouldn't necessarily recommend having someone plagiarize your website as a business strategy. But in this case, it forced us to get much clearer about what we believe, what makes our approach different, and how we can better support the people and organizations we work with. Curious what this could look like for your team? Visit Enneagram MBA and tell us what's going on. You don't need to know which workshop or program you need, that's our job to help you figure out. enneagrammba.com Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Have you ever walked out of a meeting thinking a decision had been made, only to discover your coworker thought you were still discussing it? You were in the same room. You heard the same words. And somehow, you walked away with two completely different interpretations. In this episode of Enneagram at Work , we’re kicking off our Overheard at Work series by looking at what can get lost in translation during everyday workplace communication. Because we don't necessarily listen to conversations neutrally. One person may be listening for What did we decide? Another is listening for What could go wrong? Someone else is focused on How will this affect the team? while another is already thinking about What happens next? The Enneagram can help us understand some of the different patterns influencing what people naturally pay attention to, and why two smart, engaged coworkers can hear the exact same conversation differently. In this episode, we explore: Why workplace miscommunication isn't always about someone being a “bad listener” How different people assign importance to different parts of the same conversation Why we can mistake our interpretation of a conversation for the conversation itself How the Enneagram can help teams get curious about what coworkers may be listening for One simple question managers can use at the end of a meeting to catch misunderstandings before everyone walks out the door Try This Instead of ending your next meeting with: “Does everybody understand?” Try: “What is everyone walking away believing we've decided?” Or: “What are you taking away as your next step?” You may be surprised by the answers. The goal isn't to test whether people were paying attention. It's to give everyone a chance to translate back what they heard, and catch what's been lost in translation before it turns into a missed deadline, unnecessary frustration, or the classic: “Wait...that's not what I thought we decided.” That's your translation to try this week. Learn more about bringing the Enneagram to your team: enneagrammba.com Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

"You’re the Enneagram expert...can’t you just tell me what type I am?” It’s a question I hear sometimes. And while an experienced Enneagram practitioner might have a hypothesis about someone’s type, there’s a reason we should be cautious about typing people based only on what we see from the outside. In this episode of Enneagram at Work , we’re talking about the difference between observing someone’s behavior and understanding the motivation or strategy underneath it. The same behavior can come from very different places. The coworker who stays late perfecting a presentation might be concerned about getting it right, producing an impressive result, or simply making sure they feel prepared. From the outside, we see the behavior. The Enneagram asks us to get curious about what’s driving it. In this episode, we cover why common stereotypes like “helpful = Type 2,” “ambitious = Type 3,” or “quiet = Type 5” can lead us in the wrong direction; what an Enneagram assessment can (and can’t) tell you; and how a trained Enneagram professional can help you ask better questions, distinguish between similar patterns, and notice things that may be difficult to see on your own. And there’s an important workplace takeaway: The Enneagram should help us become more curious about people—not more certain that we already have them figured out. Instead of thinking, “She’s doing that because she’s a Type 6,” try asking: “I wonder what’s important to her here?” Because the goal isn't to get better at putting people into boxes. It's to get better at understanding what's happening underneath the behaviors we see. References: "My Test Said I Was a Type 3. Why I'm Still a Type 7" Episode Learn more about bringing the Enneagram to your team: enneagrammba.com Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

There’s one workplace that deserves an Enneagram conversation of its own: education. In this special episode of Enneagram at Work , I’m introducing our brand-new podcast, Enneagram for Educators , co-hosted with Tawny Hall. We’ll explore how the Enneagram can help teachers, school leaders, administrators, and other education professionals better understand themselves, communicate with others, navigate stress and conflict, and strengthen the relationships that shape their schools. Listen in for a quick introduction, and then hear the official Enneagram for Educators trailer to find out what we have planned. If you work in education (or know someone who does!), follow Enneagram for Educators and share it with someone who should join us. And don’t worry, Enneagram at Work isn’t going anywhere. We’ll be right back here with more workplace conversations next week. Subscribe to the new show here: https://enneagramforeducators.buzzsprout.com/ Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Your Type 9 coworker may have an opinion. They may even have a strong opinion. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to hear it in the meeting. In this episode of Enneagram at Work , we’re looking at why Enneagram Type 9s can sometimes stay quiet in group conversations, even when they have something valuable to contribute. For a Type 9, the issue isn't necessarily that they don't know what they think. They may still be processing their thoughts, considering everyone else's perspective, questioning whether their point is important enough to interrupt the conversation, or deciding it isn't worth disrupting the direction the group is already moving. And sometimes, by the time they're ready to say it…the meeting has moved on. In this episode, we explore: Why a Type 9's silence shouldn't automatically be interpreted as agreement What may be happening internally when a 9 doesn't speak up Why interruptions can make it especially difficult for some 9s to reclaim the floor How Type 9s can contribute earlier without needing a perfectly formed thought What managers and meeting facilitators can do to create more space for quieter voices Why not every Type 9 will look quiet or reserved—and how other factors, including Instinctual Bias , can influence how Type 9 shows up at work One important reminder: Participation isn't always a good measure of how much someone is thinking. And silence isn't necessarily agreement. Try This If you're a Type 9 and notice yourself waiting until your thought feels completely ready, practice entering the conversation a little earlier with: “I'm still thinking this through, but one thing I'm noticing is…” And if you're leading the meeting, instead of only asking: “Does anyone have anything else?” Try: “What haven't we considered yet?” Or, if someone gets interrupted, intentionally hand the conversation back: “I think you were about to say something. What were you thinking?” Sometimes better team communication isn't about getting people to talk more. It's about creating the conditions where more of what people are already thinking makes it into the conversation. Learn more about bringing the Enneagram to your team: https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

What happens when someone who teaches the Enneagram takes an Enneagram assessment…and gets a different type than expected? That's exactly what happened to me. I've identified as an Enneagram Type 7 for years, but recent assessments put Type 3 at the top of my results, which wasn't a total surprise. In this episode of Enneagram at Work , I'm sharing what happened next, including my recent typing interview with Mario Sikora , and what the experience reminded me about assessments, typing, and the difference between what an Enneagram type looks like and the underlying strategy driving the behavior. We’ll talk about: Why an Enneagram assessment result isn't always the final answer on your type Why I can see some Type 3 patterns in the way I show up, especially professionally The difference between identifying with a type's behaviors and understanding the strategy underneath them Why two people of the same Enneagram type may look very different How Instinctual Biases, professional roles, environment, life experience, and development can influence how a type is expressed What a typing interview can add that an assessment alone can't Why knowing the Enneagram well doesn't mean we're immune to our own blind spots One of my biggest takeaways from the experience? Looking like a type isn't the same thing as using that type's underlying strategy. An assessment can give us valuable information to explore, but the Enneagram isn't simply asking which description sounds most like us. We're looking underneath our behaviors for the motivations, needs, and strategies that consistently shape how we navigate our lives and work. So yes, my Enneagram assessment said Type 3. I'm still a Type 7. And after years of studying, teaching, and using the Enneagram professionally, I still find value in having someone else ask better questions and help me see my own patterns more clearly. The Awareness to Action Enneagram Assessment: https://www.ataondemand.com/ata-enneagram-assessment Learn more about typing and coaching options with Enneagram MBA: https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-leadership-development Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Have you ever felt like one Enneagram type at work and a completely different type at home? Maybe you’re organized, polished, and decisive at work, but much more relaxed, emotional, spontaneous, or outspoken at home. Does that mean your Enneagram type changes depending on the environment? In this short episode of Enneagram at Work , we'll explore why different behavior doesn’t necessarily mean a different Enneagram type . Our behavior naturally changes based on context. At work, how we show up can be influenced by our role, company culture, manager, responsibilities, professional expectations, and the people around us. At home, we may have much more freedom in how we express ourselves. But the Enneagram isn’t simply a description of behavior. What matters is what’s happening underneath the behavior: the motivations, needs, concerns, and strategies we repeatedly use to navigate situations and get our needs met. In this episode: Why you may behave very differently at work and at home The difference between Enneagram type and observable behavior Why two people can do the same thing for completely different reasons How one person can display very different behaviors driven by the same underlying strategy Why workplace pressure can sometimes make our Enneagram patterns easier to see Questions to help you identify the patterns underneath your behavior One idea to take with you: Home may give you more freedom to express yourself. Work may give you more opportunities to see your strategy in action. Instead of asking, “Do I act like this everywhere?” try asking: What am I trying to accomplish? What am I trying to avoid? What feels important or threatened here? And what strategy do I instinctively reach for? That’s where the Enneagram gets interesting. Learn more about Enneagram MBA: https://www.enneagrammba.com/ Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

The short answer...no. But what will change is your expression of your type aka your behavior. If you want to learn more about this question, tune into this week's episode! Enneagram MBA Resources + Links: Learn more about the 3-part Dream Team Momentum program: enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops Run your own Enneagram Workshop : enneagrammba.com/enneagram-workshop-kit Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn : linkedin.com/in/sarahlynnwallace/ Take the 2-question Enneagram quiz : enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtest Work with Sarah - workshops, speaking, and team facilitation: enneagrammba.com/enneagram-speaker Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!