In this episode of Enneagram at Work, we are continuing with the 9 Types Overview Series with a closer look at Enneagram Type 8: Striving to Feel Powerful.

Type 8s are often labeled as controlling or aggressive, but what I see in real teams and leadership rooms is something very different. At their best, Type 8s are decisive, protective, and deeply committed to fairness and truth. In this episode, we'll unpack how their drive to feel powerful shows up at work in areas such as communication, leadership, and decision-making.

What You’ll Learn:

• What it really means to strive to feel powerful
• Why Type 8s value autonomy, honesty, and impact
• How their intensity can be a strength, and when it cause issues
• The Commander leadership style and how it creates clarity and momentum
• A few potential workplace friction points for Type 8s
• How instinctual biases influence different expressions of Type 8 energy
• Growth insights through Type 8’s arrows to Type 2 and Type 5
• How to give feedback to Type 8s in a way that builds respect, not resistance

Try This at Work:

• If you’re a Type 8: Practice pausing before reacting. Ask for input, even when you already have a strong opinion.
• If you work with a Type 8: Be direct and honest. Don’t read intensity as anger, ask clarifying questions and name what you’re experiencing.

For Teams & Leaders:

Type 8s bring courage, clarity, and protection to teams, especially in high-pressure situations. They are often the ones willing to say what others won’t and take responsibility when things get hard.

Teams work best with Type 8s when there’s mutual trust, direct communication, and space for vulnerability. When Type 8s feel respected and included, their leadership becomes a powerful force for good.

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

In this episode of Enneagram at Work, we are continuing the 9 Types Overview Series with a deep dive into Enneagram Type 7: Striving to Feel Excited. This is a type I know well, and one I see bringing incredible energy, creativity, and forward momentum into teams and organizations.

Type 7s are often described as optimistic, fun, and high-energy, but there’s much more going on beneath the surface. In this episode, we'll explore how the drive to stay excited and avoid feeling trapped influences how Type 7s communicate, lead, and make decisions at work, especially during change or uncertainty.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Type 7s bring creativity, optimism, and possibility into the workplace
• Where overusing these strengths can lead to overcommitment or avoidance
• How the Enthusiast leadership style inspires momentum and innovation
• Common friction points for Type 7s at work, and how to navigate them
• How instinctual biases shape different expressions of Type 7 energy
• Growth insights through Type 7’s arrows to Type 5 and Type 1

Try This at Work:

• If you’re a Type 7: Notice when you’re jumping to the next idea to avoid discomfort. Practice staying present long enough to finish what you start.
• If you work with a Type 7: Help channel their ideas into clear priorities and timelines. Their optimism isn’t avoidance — it’s often a way of protecting morale.

For Teams & Leaders:

Type 7s bring vision, adaptability, and enthusiasm to teams, especially in fast-moving or uncertain environments. They help others see what’s possible and keep energy high when things feel heavy.

Teams work best with Type 7s when there’s a balance between freedom and structure — allowing space for creativity while also supporting follow-through and accountability.

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

Listen to this fun conversation with Demetrius "D" Parker, founder at Trust Leadership Collective and Enneagram MBA Leadership Coach as we each share key insights or ways we've used what we've learned about the Enneagram in our own lives!

Learn more about working with D: https://trustleadershipcollective.odoo.com/

Or hire him to lead your executive team through the Enneagram: https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

In this episode of Enneagram at Work, we are continuing the 9 Types Overview Series with a closer look at Enneagram Type 6: Striving to Feel Secure. This can be one of the most misunderstood types, and also one of the most important energies on any team.

In many descriptions, you'll seeType 6s often labeled as anxious or fearful, but what I see again and again in workshops and leadership teams is something very different: brave, caring, thoughtful, prepared, and deeply committed people who care about doing things the right way and keeping the team safe. In this episode, I unpack how that drive for security shows up at work.

What You’ll Learn When You Listen:

• Why Type 6s ask questions and why that’s a strength, not a problem
• How Type 6s build trust, loyalty, and reliability on teams
• The Guardian leadership style and how it protects organizations
• Common stress points for Type 6s at work (especially during change or uncertainty)
• How the three instinctual biases shape different expressions of Type 6
• Growth insights through Type 6’s arrows to Type 9 and Type 3
• How to give feedback to Type 6s in a way that builds confidence instead of doubt

Try This at Work:

• If you’re a Type 6: Notice when your questions are actually asking for reassurance. Pause and remind yourself of the evidence that you can handle what’s in front of you.
• If you work with a Type 6: Don’t dismiss their questions or concerns. Most of the time, they’re thinking ahead and protecting the team from issues others haven’t considered yet.

For Teams & Leaders:

Type 6s bring steadiness, commitment, and preparation to teams, especially when things feel uncertain. They’re often the people thinking through worst-case scenarios so everyone else can move forward with confidence.

Teams work best with Type 6s when there’s clear communication, follow-through, and trust. When Type 6s feel informed and included, they become some of the most reliable and supportive teammates and leaders you can have.

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

In this episode of Enneagram at Work, we continue the 9 Types Overview Series with a focused look at Type 5: Striving to Feel Detached, as described in the Awareness to Action framework.

We'll’ll explore how Type 5s bring clarity, analysis, and innovation to the workplace, and how their need for independence, energy conservation, and mastery can shape communication and collaboration on a team.

Whether you are a Type 5 or work closely with deep thinkers who prefer a bit more space and autonomy, this episode offers practical ways to support their strengths and growth in real-world work environments.

What You’ll Learn When You Listen In:

• The core motivation behind Type 5’s drive to feel detached
• How Type 5s process information and determine when they’re “ready”
• Why they avoid emotional pressure and interruptions
• The strengths they bring to teams: expertise, curiosity, and clear analysis
• Overused strengths that become withdrawal or over-observing
• The role of The Strategist as a leader
• How instinctual biases create different expressions of Type 5
• Growth practices through their arrows to Type 8 and Type 7
• How to give feedback in a way that feels respectful and empowering

Try This at Work: Experiments

• If you’re a Type 5: Share ideas sooner, perfection isn’t required to be valuable. Connect even when you’d prefer to retreat.
• If you work with a Type 5: Give advance notice before asking for input. Respect their need for boundaries and solo focus time.

For Teams & Leaders

Type 5s bring wisdom and vision that help teams make smarter decisions and avoid risks others overlook. They are steady under pressure and masterful at breaking down complex information.

But when energy feels scarce or expectations feel intrusive, they may retreat into their minds, leaving teammates unsure how to engage.
Teams thrive when they invite Type 5s in without demanding too much too fast.

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this episode is a celebration of the people you work with; the ones who keep projects moving, solve problems behind the scenes, strengthen relationships, and hold your team together in ways that often go unnoticed.

Instead of focusing on potential friction points or growth edges, we’re taking a moment to appreciate the strengths each Enneagram type brings to a team and why your workplace is better because of them. Whether you lead people, work closely with a diverse group, or simply want to feel more grounded in gratitude, this episode gives you language to recognize and celebrate the nine unique ways people contribute.

What You’ll Hear for Each Type:

Type 1 – Striving to Feel Perfect:
Integrity, follow-through, and the commitment to doing things right.

Type 2 – Striving to Feel Connected:
Empathy, support, and the ability to make people feel seen.

Type 3 – Striving to Feel Outstanding:
Drive, momentum, and the energy that inspires others into action.

Type 4 – Striving to Feel Unique:
Creativity, emotional depth, and the ability to bring meaning into the work.

Type 5 – Striving to Feel Detached:
Calm clarity, expertise, and thoughtful problem-solving.

Type 6 – Striving to Feel Secure:
Group cohesion, preparedness, and forward-thinking protection for the team.

Type 7 – Striving to Feel Excited:
Optimism, adaptability, and the ability to bring possibility into any conversation.

Type 8 – Striving to Feel Powerful:
Passion, advocacy, and the willingness to speak the truth plainly.

Type 9 – Striving to Feel at Peace:
Stability, inclusion, and a grounding presence that keeps teams connected.

A Thanksgiving Invitation:

Take one moment this week to share appreciation with someone on your team, whether you know their type or not. Name one strength you see in them. The smallest acknowledgment can change someone’s entire experience at work.

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

In this episode of Enneagram at Work, we're continuing the 9 Types Overview Series with a deep dive into Enneagram Type 4: Striving to Feel Unique, often called The Individualist or, in the Awareness to Action framework, The Visionary.

This episode explores how Type 4s bring creativity, emotional depth, and originality into the workplace, and how their search for meaning and authenticity shapes their leadership, communication, and team dynamics. You’ll learn how this type adds emotional depth and richness to teams, where they can get stuck, and how to better collaborate with people driven by purpose and identity.

What You’ll Learn:

• The core motivation or "root logic" behind Type 4’s drive to feel unique
• Why Type 4s are often the emotional and creative heartbeat of a team
• How strengths like depth, empathy, and originality can become overused
• How Type 4s approach work, purpose, and self-expression
• How the 3 instinctual biases create different expressions of Type 4 energy
• Growth practices using their arrows to Type 1 and Type 2
• How to give and receive feedback in a way that feels safe and meaningful

Try This at Work:

• If you’re a Type 4: Practice grounding your ideas in structure. Ask, “What’s the smallest step I can take today?”
• If you work with a Type 4: Invite their perspective. Ask what something means to them, not just what they think about it.

For Teams & Leaders:

Type 4s bring heart, storytelling, and emotional intelligence to teams. They help organizations connect to purpose, humanity, and meaning. But they can also feel misunderstood, left out, or undervalued if their emotional world isn’t acknowledged.

Teams that work well with Type 4s make room for both performance and meaning, honoring feelings without letting them derail progress.

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

In this episode of Enneagram at Work, we continue the 9 Types Overview Series with a fast-paced, insightful look at Enneagram Type 3: Striving to Feel Outstanding, often known as The Achiever or, in the Awareness to Action model, The Pacesetter.

We’ll explore how Type 3s bring drive, confidence, and high performance to the workplace, and how their desire to succeed and be seen as capable influences their leadership style, communication, and relationships at work.

Pulling from real client examples and team dynamics from recent workshops, we'll look at what helps Type 3s thrive, what derails them, and how teams can support the “go-getters” who keep everyone moving forward.

What You’ll Learn When You Tune In:

• The core motivation behind Type 3’s drive to feel outstanding
• Why Type 3s are often seen as natural leaders and high performers
• How their strengths - drive, focus, adaptability - become blindspots when overused
• Key characteristics of the Pacesetter Leadership Style
• What energizes vs. drains Type 3s at work
• How instinctual biases (Preserving, Navigating, and Transmitting) create three distinct flavors of Type 3
• Growth practices using their arrows to Type 6 and Type 9
• How to give feedback in ways that build trust, not defensiveness

Try This at Work: Quick Experiments

• If you’re a Type 3: Track how you showed up, not just what you achieved. Practice slowing down long enough to rest, reflect, and reconnect with your own values.
• If you work with a Type 3: Acknowledge accomplishments and effort. Set clear, meaningful goals. Invite authenticity by asking how they’re doing behind the successes.

For Teams & Leaders

Type 3s bring momentum, optimism, and ambition to the workplace. They raise the bar, inspire confidence, and help teams deliver results. But they also carry the weight of constant expectation, both from others and themselves.

Teams that work well with Type 3s create space for connection, authenticity, and rest, not just performance. A healthy Type 3 doesn’t just do great work; they model sustainable success and motivate others to grow with them.

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet