Enneagram at Work

Enneagram MBA
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Enneagram at Work, your Saturday leadership download. We're bringing you insights for your weekend so you're ready for Monday. This is a podcast about understanding people at work and navigating professional relationships. We spend so much of our time at work, why not make it more enjoyable by working on creating more enjoyable relationships with our teammates?  Listen in each week to gain self-awareness, relationship management, leadership development, personal growth insights, and real-life application ideas through the lens of the Enneagram inside educational episodes and interview conversations. Learn about bringing the Enneagram to your organization or group and view the current workshop menu at: enneagrammba.com 

  1. 7h ago

    237. My Enneagram Assessment Said Type 3. Here’s Why I’m Still a Type 7.

    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 typeWhy I can see some Type 3 patterns in the way I show up, especially professionallyThe difference between identifying with a type's behaviors and understanding the strategy underneath themWhy two people of the same Enneagram type may look very differentHow Instinctual Biases, professional roles, environment, life experience, and development can influence how a type is expressedWhat a typing interview can add that an assessment alone can'tWhy knowing the Enneagram well doesn't mean we're immune to our own blind spotsOne 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!

  2. 2d ago

    236. Can I Be One Enneagram Type at Work and Another at Home?

    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 homeThe difference between Enneagram type and observable behaviorWhy two people can do the same thing for completely different reasonsHow one person can display very different behaviors driven by the same underlying strategyWhy workplace pressure can sometimes make our Enneagram patterns easier to seeQuestions to help you identify the patterns underneath your behaviorOne 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!

  3. Aug 8

    235. Can Your Enneagram Type Change?

    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-workshopsRun your own Enneagram Workshop: enneagrammba.com/enneagram-workshop-kitConnect with Sarah on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahlynnwallace/Take the 2-question Enneagram quiz: enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtestWork with Sarah - workshops, speaking, and team facilitation: enneagrammba.com/enneagram-speakerHave a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

  4. Jul 25

    234. How Enneagram Type 5 Can Give More Effective Feedback at Work

    What You'll Hear in This Episode Type 5s have done the analysis; they're not reactive, and when they say something, it's because they actually mean it. There's no noise, no filler, no performance. But the same striving to feel detached and self-sufficient that makes Fives so precise can also make feedback land as robotic, delayed, or so carefully constructed that the person on the other end isn't sure whether they're being evaluated or actually talked to. We walk through three things to do and three things to avoid when giving feedback as a Type 5, including a specific phrase you can try that frames the feedback as information rather than judgment, which is exactly how a Five experiences it internally anyway. 3 Things to DO as a Type 5 When Giving Feedback Let your precision work for you. Fives give some of the most specific, well-observed feedback of any type, you notice things other people miss, and you can articulate them clearly. That's genuinely valuable. Lead with the observation rather than the conclusion, and let the other person follow your thinking. That approach is more collaborative than it might feel from the inside.Say it sooner than feels comfortable. Fives tend to process internally until the feedback is fully formed, which often means it arrives later than it should. A half-formed observation shared in the moment is more useful than a perfectly constructed one delivered three weeks after it would have made a difference. Done is better than perfect here.Add one human sentence. You don't need to over-explain or get emotional. That's not who you are, and it doesn't need to be. But one sentence that signals you're invested in the person, not just the performance, changes the entire tone of the conversation. Something small and genuine goes further than you'd expect.3 Things to AVOID as a Type 5 When Giving Feedback Delivering feedback like a report. Fives can present feedback so analytically ..."here's what I observed, here's what it means, here's what should change..." that it lands as clinical rather than caring. The data is right. The delivery just needs one degree more warmth to make it land the way you actually intend it to.Waiting until you have the complete picture. Fives are thorough and genuinely uncomfortable speaking until they're certain. But feedback delayed until every variable is accounted for is often feedback that arrives too late to actually change anything. The other person needed it two weeks ago, so give them the useful version now.Skipping the follow-up. Fives give the feedback and consider the matter handled. But the other person often needs a check-in afterward, not to relitigate what was said, just to know the relationship is intact and that you're still in their corner. A brief "how are you sitting with what we talked about?" matters more than it might seem from where you're standing.A Phrase to Try: "I want to share something I've been observing. I think it's useful and I think you'll want to know it." After listening: If this resonated, share it with a Type 5 on your team or the manager who leads one.  Want type-specific prompts for feedback conversations across all nine types? The Manager's Prompt Pack has you covered. Grab it at enneagrammba.com/resources. Interested in bringing this kind of practical Enneagram insight to your whole team? We'd love to talk about a workshop or retreat. Reach out at enneagrammba.com. Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!  🗓️ Book a Guided Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work: https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

  5. Jul 22

    233. Coworker Chemistry: Type 3 and Type 9 Dynamics feat. Dina Smith, LMHC

    In this episode, I sit down with Dina Smith, a licensed therapist, clinical director, and certified Enneagram coach based in Florida, to talk through the coworker chemistry between the Enneagram Type 3 (Striving to Feel Outstanding) and Type 9 (Striving to Feel at Peace). Dina identifies as a Three, and she's got a front-row seat to the Three-Nine dynamic both at home (her husband is a Nine) and at work with her own team, so I couldn't think of a better person to unpack this pairing with. We started with a quick refresher on each type, including the common Three/One and Three/Nine mistyping confusion, before digging into the good stuff: how a Three's pace-setting energy and a Nine's steady, consensus-building presence can actually complement each other beautifully when both are healthy, the trust-building friction that shows up around communication and follow-through, and what each type can borrow from the other's growth path. Dina also shared a genuinely great personal story about her Nine husband seeing something she, a therapist, completely missed with their daughter, plus what it looks like for a Three to actually rest. If you're a Three working with or leading a Nine (or vice versa), this episode will help you name the dynamic you're probably already living. *** Connect with Dina on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinasmithenneagramconsulting/ Learn more about Dina's coaching and therapy services: https://www.enneagramtherapywithdina.com/ Enneagram MBA Resources + Links: Learn more about the 3-part Dream Team Momentum program: enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshopsRun your own Enneagram Workshop: enneagrammba.com/enneagram-workshop-kitConnect with Sarah on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahlynnwallace/Take the 2-question Enneagram quiz: enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtestWork with Sarah - workshops, speaking, and team facilitation: enneagrammba.com/enneagram-speakerHave a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

  6. Jul 18

    232. How Enneagram Type 6 Can Give More Effective Feedback at Work

    What You'll Hear in This Episode Type 6s usually think through every angle before they say a word; they care deeply about fairness, and their loyalty to the people around them means the feedback is coming from a real place. But the same striving to feel certain and secure that makes Sixes so thorough can also turn a feedback conversation into something that gets overthought, over-qualified, or quietly avoided because the Six isn't quite sure how it's going to land. We walk through three things to do and three things to avoid when giving feedback as a Type 6, including a specific phrase you can try that signals loyalty first and makes the hard part easier to say. 3 Things to DO as a Type 6 When Giving Feedback Trust the preparation you've already done. Sixes rarely go into a feedback conversation underprepared.  You've thought about it carefully, you've considered their perspective, and you know what you want to say. Trust that work. You are more ready than you feel in the moment.Lead with the relationship. Sixes are deeply loyal, and that loyalty is visible to the people around them. Let the other person feel it before the feedback lands. A genuine "I'm telling you this because I'm in your corner" goes a long way, and coming from a Six, it's completely true.Be specific and concrete. You've already done the analysis. Now, bring it into the room with you. Specific observations tied to real moments are far harder to dismiss than general impressions, and they give the other person something they can actually work with rather than something they can talk themselves out of.3 Things to AVOID as a Type 6 When Giving Feedback Over-qualifying until the message gets buried. Sixes can hedge so carefully, covering every angle, acknowledging every exception, making sure nothing sounds too absolute, that the actual feedback gets lost somewhere in the caveats. Say the thing, then trust the other person to hold it.Waiting until you're absolutely certain before saying anything. Certainty is not a prerequisite for a useful feedback conversation. If you're waiting until you have ironclad evidence and the perfect moment lined up, that moment will keep not arriving. Good enough and timely beats perfect and late every single time.Letting the anticipated reaction run the show. Sixes are wired to scan for what could go wrong, including in interpersonal conversations. If you've already mentally rehearsed them getting defensive, shutting down, or pushing back, that anxiety can start shaping how you deliver the feedback before anything has actually happened. Bring yourself back to what's real, not what's possible.After listening: If this resonated, share it with a Type 6 on your team or the manager who leads one.  Want type-specific prompts for feedback conversations across all nine types? The Manager's Prompt Pack has you covered. Grab it at enneagrammba.com/resources. Interested in bringing this kind of practical Enneagram insight to your whole team? We'd love to talk about a workshop or retreat. Reach out at enneagrammba.com. Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

  7. Jul 15

    231. Coworker Chemistry: Type 1 and Type 4 Dynamics feat. Lee Fields and Seth Creekmore

    I love when I get to learn from fellow Enneagram coaches and hear about their real-world experiences and fresh takes. In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Lee Fields and Seth "Creek" Creekmore, co-founders of Analog Enneagram, to discuss the coworker chemistry between the Enneagram Type 1 (Striving to Feel Perfect) and Type 4 (Striving to Feel Unique). Lee is a certified Enneagram coach and teacher who serves as VP of the IEA Southeast chapter and on faculty with Awareness to Action. Creek is a coach, musician, and podcast producer behind Fathoms, the Awareness to Action Podcast, and the IEA's podcast. Together they bring serious depth to this framework, and honestly, this was one of the most thoughtful, insight-packed conversations I've had on the show. Lee represented the One, Creek represented the Four, and what unfolded was a refreshing, honest, funny, and real-life look at how these two types show up in working relationships and on teams; from the quiet trust-building in the beginning of a One-Four dynamic, to the friction points around identity and rigidity, to the surprising gifts each type brings when they're working well together. If you work with a One or a Four, lead one, or are one yourself, this episode will give you language for dynamics you've probably felt but never quite named. Connect with Lee & Creek: 🔗 analoguenneague.com 📸 @analogenneague on Instagram Learn from them on other podcasts: 🎙️ Awareness to Action Podcast 🎙️ Thinking Well & Why 🎙️ Fathoms | An Enneagram Podcast Enneagram MBA Resources + Links: Learn more about the 3-part Dream Team Momentum program: enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshopsRun your own Enneagram Workshop: enneagrammba.com/enneagram-workshop-kitConnect with Sarah on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahlynnwallace/Take the 2-question Enneagram quiz: enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtestWork with Sarah - workshops, speaking, and team facilitation: enneagrammba.com/enneagram-speakerHave a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

  8. Jul 11

    230. How Enneagram Type 8 Can Give More Effective Feedback at Work

    What You'll Hear in This Episode Type 8s are probably the most naturally comfortable type when it comes to giving feedback. They're direct, they don't dance around it, and they genuinely mean it as investment, not attack. That directness is a real asset in a world where most feedback conversations stay so soft the message never actually lands. But the same striving to feel strong that makes Eights so decisive can also make feedback hit harder than intended and leave the other person too rattled to hear what was actually said. We walk through three things to do and three things to avoid when giving feedback as a Type 8, including a specific phrase you can try that keeps the directness intact while making sure the other person knows you're in their corner. 3 Things to DO as a Type 8 When Giving Feedback Own your directness, it's actually a gift. Most people spend so much energy softening and qualifying that the message gets completely lost. You don't do that, and that matters. Keep it. Just pair it with enough warmth that the other person knows you're coming alongside them, not coming after them.Name the investment behind the feedback. Eights give feedback because they believe in people and want them to rise to it, but that part often goes unsaid. Say it out loud. "I'm telling you this because I think you can handle it and I want to see you succeed" changes the entire context of everything that comes after it.Stay in the room after you say it. Eights can deliver feedback and move on before the other person has had a chance to process. Leave space. The conversation isn't over when you've said your piece it's over when they've actually had a chance to respond.3 Things to AVOID as a Type 8 When Giving Feedback Leading with intensity before trust is established. Your directness lands very differently depending on the relationship. With someone who knows you, it reads as straight-talking and genuine respect. With someone who doesn't, it can read as aggression even when you mean it as a compliment. Read the relationship before you read the feedback.Confusing bluntness with completeness. Saying the hard thing clearly is the beginning of a feedback conversation, not the whole thing. Make sure you're also saying what good looks like going forward, not just what missed the mark. The other person needs both.Shutting down when they push back. Eights can read defensiveness or emotion as weakness or resistance and disengage. But sometimes the pushback is just processing. Stay curious instead of closing off. The conversation that happens after the initial reaction is often the most important one.A Phrase to Try: "I'm going to be straight with you because I respect you and because I think you can actually do something with this." This works well for Eights because it's honest, it's direct, and it does something the Eight's natural style sometimes skips: it signals that what's coming is meant to help, not challenge. It also sets a tone that makes the other person more likely to actually hear what follows rather than brace for impact. After listening: If this resonated, share it with a Type 7 on your team or the manager who leads one.  Want type-specific prompts for feedback conversations across all nine types? The Manager's Prompt Pack has you covered. Grab it at enneagrammba.com/resources. Interested in bringing this kind of practical Enneagram insight to your whole team? We'd love to talk about a workshop or retreat. Reach out at enneagrammba.com. Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here! Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

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About

Welcome to Enneagram at Work, your Saturday leadership download. We're bringing you insights for your weekend so you're ready for Monday. This is a podcast about understanding people at work and navigating professional relationships. We spend so much of our time at work, why not make it more enjoyable by working on creating more enjoyable relationships with our teammates?  Listen in each week to gain self-awareness, relationship management, leadership development, personal growth insights, and real-life application ideas through the lens of the Enneagram inside educational episodes and interview conversations. Learn about bringing the Enneagram to your organization or group and view the current workshop menu at: enneagrammba.com 

Information

  • Creator
    Enneagram MBA
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    237
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Enneagram at Work
  • Show Website
    Enneagram at Work

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