Enneagram at Work – Details, episodes & analysis

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

Before we dive in: Most of our work at Enneagram MBA is rooted in the Awareness to Action model developed by Mario Sikora and team. But from time to time, we like to explore other Enneagram approaches and insights that come up in the workplace and coaching conversations. This is one of those episodes, so you may hear some differences from the ATA model we typically use.

In this episode, I’m joined again by my co-host, Demetrius (“D") Parker, as we continue our Coworker Chemistry series. Last time, we looked at the high-energy types (3, 7, and 8). This week, we shift gears to talk about another powerful trio: Types 1, 2, and 6, commonly known as the dutiful types.

These three strategies bring such a strong sense of responsibility and group cohesion to their work and teams, though they each express it in different ways. In our conversation, we covered:

• Type 1 (Striving to Feel Perfect): integrity, high standards, and the pressure of an inner critic.
• Type 2 (Striving to Feel Connected): empathy, connection, and the challenge of people-pleasing.
• Type 6 (Striving to Feel Secure): loyalty, risk-awareness, and the courage it takes to ask hard questions.

We also dig into how these types can complement one another, where they might clash, and what growth looks like for each...from turning “the way” into “a way,” to setting clear boundaries, to transforming fear into collaboration.

Whether you identify with a 1, 2, or 6 (or work with someone who does), I think you’ll find this episode full of both practical insights and real-life examples you can take back to your team.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• The strengths and blind spots of Types 1, 2, and 6.
• Why these types are often the backbone of teams.
• Stories and analogies (including the “Mafia boss” and the six’s “BS meter”) that bring these strategies to life.
• Practical tips for collaboration, leadership, and personal growth.

And stay tuned! Our next episode will cover the remaining group: Types 4, 5, and 9.

D and I both facilitate workshops on behalf of Enneagram MBA. Learn more about the options and booking your team's end-of-year experience with us over at enneagrammba.com. 

To learn more about working with D or hiring him as a speaker visit: trustleadershipcollective.com

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

Why do Type 9s struggle to face conflict?
What can they do to shift their people-pleasing tendencies to more self-care practices?
How can Nines be more confident in their decision-making?

These are just a few of the topics real estate agent and Enneagram and Sober Living life coach, Felecia Holmes opens up about with her own self-growth journey.

Whether you relate to Type 9 or have a Nine in your life, you'll leave this conversation with deeper insight into the core motives and fears and how to better understand the Peacemaker energy.
 

As a life coach, Felecia specializes in working with women to help them achieve their personal goals by identifying and owning the issues that are causing them anxiety, stress, and distress.

Learn more about Felecia's sober coaching and Enneagram life coaching programs:
https://www.ownitforgood.com/

Connect with Felecia on social media and let her know what you're taking away:

Instagram
Facebook
Linkedin

🤳Are we connected on social media yet? If not, find Enneagram MBA below and say hello!

Instagram
Linkedin

Not sure what your Enneagram type is yet, but want to?

🎙️Listen to the episode walking you through how to find your type with 2 questions:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtest

💖 Use the power of the Enneagram in your romantic relationship inside The Compatible Couple™ experience with Coach Natalia
https://www.enneagrammba.com/compatiblecouple

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

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

What types work best together?

This is a question that comes up during team workshops and while there are no types that work "best" together, it can be helpful to understand the strengths each type can bring to a working relationship, to their team, and to the organization.  It can also be valuable to know what potential challenges you might face working with someone who might share a very different perspective than you. 

In this conversation, Nathan Parcells, former Founder and now Executive Coach and owner at Sharpened Coaching, walks us through three specific co-worker dynamics and what synergies and difficulties each might face:

• Type 3 and Type 8 
• Type 8 and Type 9 
• Type 1 and Type 3 

Regardless of your type, the insights Nathan shares will give you new things to think about when it comes to better understanding yourself and those that you work with.

Today's episode is a clip from the Enneagram MBA podcast library. You can listen to the full conversation with Nathan in episode 82 where you'll also learn about: 

• Nathan's own startup Founder journey 
• his biggest tip for getting the most out of applying it
• what he sees as the most helpful aspects of the Enneagram 
• his experience having a coach and what to look for when hiring one
• one thing he's laser-focused on  getting better at as someone with Type 4 energy 
• helping co-founders manage burnout and when needed, navigate a successful exit 

Connect with Nathan:
Linkedin
Twitter
Website

*******

🤳Are we connected on social media yet? If not, find Enneagram MBA below and say hello!

Instagram
Linkedin

Not sure what your Enneagram type is yet, but want to?

🎙️Listen to the episode walking you through how to find your type with 2 questions:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtest

💖 Use the power of the Enneagram in your romantic relationship inside The Compatible Couple™ experience with Coach Natalia
https://www.enneagrammba.com/compatiblecouple

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

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

Do you get frustrated when others don't follow the rules?

Do you strive to take things from good to great and have the precision and plan to make them happen?

Do you have a very loud and very harsh inner critic?

Is it perfection or nothing at all?

1️⃣

You might be an Enneagram Type One...

Learn more about the energy behind a Type One at work to understand yourself better --- or someone you work with inside this conversation.

You'll get a few clues and hopefully, some clarity about the Type 1's:
✔️core motive
✔️superpower
✔️common behaviors
✔️ problem-solving style
✔️way they get things done

And, you'll hear from informants, Katy Lumsden and Linda Kolean, about life and work on the "inside" as a Type 1.

🔍

Katy is a self-proclaimed Noisy Introvert, an expert in the HR, Organizational, and Leadership Development space, and a best-selling author and founder of Know No Bounds.

Connect with Katy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-lumsden-noisy-introvert/

Linda does sales support, sales operations, supply chain, and project management in the pharmaceutical space.

Connect with Linda here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-kolean-42198a103/

**************

Not sure what your Enneagram type is yet, but want to?

🎙️Listen to the episode walking you through how to find your type with 2 questions:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtest

💖 Use the power of the Enneagram in your romantic relationship inside The Compatible Couple™ experience with Coach Natalia
https://www.enneagrammba.com/compatiblecouple

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

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

Is Batman a Type 1?

Is the Hulk a Type 2 or Type 9?

What type is Peter Pan?

And more importantly, why does it matter?

In this fun and light-hearted episode, we're delving into a unique approach to understanding Enneagram types. We'll be exploring how fictional movie characters can provide valuable insights into the nine Enneagram types, helping us deepen our understanding of ourselves and others.

You'll also get to hear from Nine Ways to Die: An Enneagram Murder Mystery, author Kate Hallock who shares her experience and insights with using fictional characters to better understand the Enneagram and ultimately the other people in your life.

Kate is a writer who loves taking non-fiction topics and turning them into engaging fiction. Her Debut novel, Nine Ways to Die: An Enneagram Murder Mystery, takes the concepts of the Enneagram and displays them in the fun puzzle of a murder mystery.

She's also the podcast host of the show, "Nine Ways To..." and identifies most with the Enneagram Nine.

Connect with Kate over on Instagram: @katehallockwrites

Get a copy of her book:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

*******

Not sure what your Enneagram type is yet, but want to?

🎙️Listen to the episode walking you through how to find your type with 2 questions:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtest

💖 Use the power of the Enneagram in your romantic relationship inside The Compatible Couple™ experience with Coach Natalia
https://www.enneagrammba.com/compatiblecouple

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

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

Do you tend to look on the bright side, and can find the good in almost any situation?


Are you easily fascinated by interesting people, events, and ideas?


Do you find yourself always coming up with new, visionary ideas?


Do you dislike limits of any kind and prefer to keep your options open?


If any of these resonate, you might be an Enneagram Seven.

Or maybe you see these qualities in a co-worker?

Either way, when you listen in, you'll learn more about the Enneagram Type 7 strategies and hear from two real-life experiences to help better understand yourself or your teammates.

Connect with our Case Study "informants," Ellen and Kate, to let them know what resonates with you most about what they shared:

Kate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-son-jd-67035350/
Ellen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingraham/

*************

Not sure what your Enneagram type is yet, but want to?

🎙️Listen to the episode walking you through how to find your type with 2 questions:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtest

💖 Use the power of the Enneagram in your romantic relationship inside The Compatible Couple™ experience with Coach Natalia
https://www.enneagrammba.com/compatiblecouple

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

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

Do Type 2s and Type 8s get along at work? 

What should each type know about working with each? 

What should they know about working with someone of the same type? 

Join us for this co-worker compatibility conversation with Hannah, Sarah, and Julie from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital as we explore the strengths and challenges of their individual Enneagram types in the workplace and gain valuable insights on each type's communication style, collaboration preferences, and personal growth realizations.

When you listen in, you'll hear about:

• how Hannah, a Type 8, thrives in her strength while navigating vulnerability and being misinterpreted
• Sarah, a Type 2,  shares her empathetic nature and passion for helping others, even at her own expense at times.
• Julie, also a Type 8, and the importance of standing up for those without a voice and the impact of gender dynamics on other Enneagram Type 8s

This episode is perfect for anyone looking to better understand their Type 2 and Type 8 teammates.
 

Connect with the panel over on Linkedin:

Sarah Coyle , Donor Relations Officer II, Champions Program Manager, has been working for Cincinnati Children’s for almost 5 years and has the honor of working with families who want to get involved and share their stories to encourage hospital support. 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saracoyle/


Hanna Firestone, Donor Relations Officer I, Special Events,  started at Cincinnati Children’s in June of 2022 where she is instrumental in executing fundraising events for the hospital.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannafirestone/

Julie  Spendal, Donor Relations Officer II, Annual Giving,  helps donors connect to the community, as well as raise funds and awareness for kids and families in need.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-spendal-322818a3/

**********

Not sure what your Enneagram type is yet, but want to?

🎙️Listen to the episode walking you through how to find your type with 2 questions:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtest

💖 Use the power of the Enneagram in your romantic relationship inside The Compatible Couple™ experience with Coach Natalia
https://www.enneagrammba.com/compatiblecouple

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

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

Do any of these types of bosses sound familiar?

1. A brand new boss, someone you’ve never met before.
2. A manager you don’t see face-to-face because she works in another location
3. An insecure boss (hint: it’s important to know how to tame his ego)
4. An all-knowing 
5. An indecisive boss
6. A manager who gives you conflicting messages
7. A long-winded boss
8. A hands-off boss
9. A manager who isn’t as smart as you
10. A boss that’s actually a board of directors, rather than a person

In a 2015 Harvard Business Review article, called What Everyone Should Know About Managing Up, these 10 types were outlined as potential team member-leader challenges. 

No matter what type of manager you have, there are some skills that are universally important. 

• You need to know how to anticipate your boss’s needs 
• You need to understand what makes your boss tick (and what ticks her off) if you want to get buy-in for your ideas
• You need to know the best way to bring a problem to your boss (based on their personality) and be able to navigate sticky situations together

In today's episode, we're learning from Joy M. Pederson, Ph.D. on how to specifically use the Enneagram in all of these situations to manage up.

Listen in to get insight and a quick tip about working with each Enneagram type of boss.

Connect with Joy over on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/enneagramclarity/

Learn more about Joy and the work her company, Clarity Collective, LLC, does:
https://claritycollective-llc.com/

Read the full HBR article, What Everyone Should Know About Managing Up:
https://hbr.org/2015/01/what-everyone-should-know-about-managing-up

**********

Not sure what your Enneagram type is yet, but want to?

🎙️Listen to the episode walking you through how to find your type with 2 questions:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtest

💖 Use the power of the Enneagram in your romantic relationship inside The Compatible Couple™ experience with Coach Natalia
https://www.enneagrammba.com/compatiblecouple

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

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