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You're listening to the Enneagram at Work Podcast, a show about understanding people at work, including yourself. I'm your host, Sarah Wallace, and I'm looking forward to diving into this week's episode with you. Welcome back or welcome to another episode here on the Enneagram at Work Podcast. I am your host, Sarah Wallace, founder and CEO here at Enneagram MBA, a team training company where we get to work with all kinds of teams, sizes, industries, different departments, all give different kinds and get to bring the Enneagram to communication, team building, personal and professional growth opportunities. So if you happen to be uh looking for a summer or fall or end of year, we are starting to talk about end of year team retreats and events. Um, I'm gonna invite you to check out our workshop options over at EnneagramMBA.com. Today we're talking about a topic that doesn't show up in our typical workshops. Um, and the reason why has to do with a reason that I shared at the end of 2023, episode, let's see, 132, called the 2024 Enneagram MBA Methodology. And in that episode, I give you kind of what I've been doing unofficially, what we'll be doing more officially moving forward. And it has to do with following a specific Enneagram approach. And the the methodology that we have adopted here is the awareness to action Enneagram approach. Um, I link more information in that episode. I talk about what that is. So I don't want to repeat it here if you're interested or curious. It's episode 132. I'll link it in the show notes as well. Um by going to detail about why uh we're following that approach, our kind of internal methodology, what to expect uh about the parts that we'll cover, the Enneagram pieces that we'll cover in our time together inside a training or workshop or over here on the podcast. And one of those has to do with the uh instinctual biases. And we have talked about that in great length already this year. I think there's a five or six uh series at the beginning of 2024 over here on the podcast. So you can dive into all of that the preserving, the transmitting, the navigating. Um, if you're not familiar with that or haven't caught those, that would be a great uh kind of next step on your on your podcast listen list. And uh I like that, those explanations, I like the language, I like the descriptions, I like what those are. So we have adopted that here at Enneagram MBA. And we have um, and I I like it because it is descriptive and it's prescriptive. It's um it, you know, when you overlay it with the type, you get a really good, um, not a perfect, not a all time, every time, every day, every person, but you get a more accurate representation of uh where someone's coming from, the lens that they view the world, what's important to them when you overlay the type and one of those instinctual biases. So I really like that. And I should I talk more about the that in in the methodology episode 132, as well as the whole series. Uh, talk about why I love uh the way the awareness to action group teaches that. So when we then talk about the wings, we've kind of already talked about it uh with those and and I would argue um in in a more detailed way uh that I think is that is useful and like I said, informative and prescriptive. Whereas sometimes the wings, then if I followed up with talking about the wings, it's almost gets a little repetitive. And I don't find the wings to be as um specific with useful guidance as the instinctual biases are. So, you know, we're getting um information that maybe not it maybe isn't as helpful, but also isn't as um doesn't offer as much guidance for growth. So that's why I don't typically talk about wings. Now, with that said, just because I don't talk about it doesn't mean people don't want to hear about it. And I don't want to be so rigid in the approach that we that we uh neglect or dismiss what people are interested in. So although we won't talk about the wings um in a workshop, or we're not gonna probably talk much more about it here on the podcast, um, I did want to address it. I did want to have something for somebody who was interested or curious, what the heck is a wing? What are the different types of wings? Um, they could have a quick resource to go to, and then I'll I'll offer some additional um resources to dig more in if you do find this helpful. So first thing is first, wings are the types on either side of your dominant type. And that's something else that I like to be cautious with is that if you are in the very beginning stages of trying to narrow down your type between maybe two or three, then trying to figure out what your wing is. Oh my goodness, you're just all kinds of types. It can be confusing. And so I really want people to first, you know, whether it's an assessment, it's an assessment in reading, you're self-identifying, you're reflecting, to really get as confident as you can in that dominant type, really understand what is that core motive, what's that core feeling need, and what type is that associated with? So once you have that nailed down, feel pretty confident in that. Then you can kind of dig into am I this wing or this wing? And and wings like those instinctual biases, uh, preserving, transmitting, uh, navigating, um, I like as well because it it kind of can help explain why you might have um multiple types of the same type in a room, but they might look very different. They might behave or present very differently. Um, instinctual biases can play a role in that. Um, and for those of you who find wings helpful, they can also play a role in that. And so our wings are the type on either side. Um, so for example, a nine is either going to be a nine wing eight or a nine-wing one. Um, sometimes people think it means the second type that they most identify with. So it might be, oh, I'm a nine-wing two. Well, um two might be the the one that you also really resonate with. Um, and you can say that, obviously, you can let people know that, talk about that, have that in a conversation, but it will not be one of your wings. A not a wing will only be one of the types on either side of you. And I have heard um I went through my initial certification is through the Enneagram University, and they use the analogy for wings as like salt and pepper to your eggs, so that to your type um or your eggs, which is your dominant type. So it might be do you like your eggs scrambled, do you like them fried? Do you like them over easy, whatever, however, you like your legs, that is your dominant Enneagram type. Then we get into kind of sprinkling in do you like a lot of salt? Do you like a lot of pepper? Do you like a little bit of both? Do you like neither? Do you prefer neither? And so sometimes people won't identify with either wing, and that's okay too. Um, it use them if they are helpful, ignore them if they aren't. So um we are going to go through uh each of the 18 types, uh each type with the with a wing, give a little description. If you're curious, I'm gonna recommend The Wisdom of the Enneagram book by Don Riso and Russ Hudson. Um it has all kinds of details, um, pretty lengthy description of the wings in there. Um that would probably be my go-to. As always, I recommend the what's your enneatype because it's so colorful, there's a lot of white space, there's different kinds of font. Um it's just it's pretty and pretty easy to read as well, visually appealing. And in here, it will talk about uh give an overview of each of the types as well. Um, the Enneagram Institute website is another resource that I would recommend. It has uh pretty lengthy descriptions on the different uh wings as well. So what I share with you today will just be like a little a little snippet. Um, and I encourage you to if if you find these helpful or you're curious about more, check out some of those additional resources there. So shall we get into the overview of each of the wings with each of the nine types? Let's do it. Let's jump in. All right, so we'll start with the type nine. The type nine is gonna have either a wing one or a wing eight. If they identify most with the wing, uh, with the wing one, this person is going to want external order. So that makes sense. Are one striving to feel safe and or striving to feel perfect? They're good at creating order and routine and consistency. So when you blend that with the nine, they're gonna want external order to achieve internal order or in inner peace. Um, this type might be a little bit more imaginative and creative. Um, this one, I don't know that I see that as much. Um, I guess because ones can sometimes be very um much kind of the idealist, and they can be a visionary for how things can be better, the world can be better. So maybe that's where that's coming from. Um, a type eight, or I'm sorry, type nine wing eight, it's going to be powerful but gentle. Um, they're maybe going to be able to engage a little bit more easily with others, focused on quick results, maybe more active, maybe more outspoken, um, maybe even a little bit more angered or easily angered than the other wing. And when we talk about um overlaying them with the um, or like accounting for the differences because of subtypes, I see that nine wing eight, maybe more of that transmitting, let's go far, let's go fast, let's leave the legacy, want to make a dent in the universe kind of energy that we've talked about before. And the wing one, I could see being more of that preserving energy. And then, you know, I don't know, I don't know. The navigating energy kind of gets left out. That's again, there's only two here. That's why I love the subtypes because there's three. But this is for our wings people, and and there may be some things in here that might be helpful. So we're gonna stick to the wings. Okay, so type eight, you're either gonna have a wing seven or a wing nine. If you identify most with the wing seven, um, you're gonna be probably the most energetic, the most uh, you know, risk taking of all the types. This type's gonna be very adventurous, they're not gonna be concerned with people pleasing, they're gonna be very comfortable with confrontation, not necessarily looking for it, but if it comes their way, they're gonna be fine with it. Uh, really outgoing. And this is the type where I see like kind of the textbook eight is gonna show up with an eight-wing seven, probably that transmitting subtype. Um, if we're overlaying those. And then the wing or the type eight wing nine, they're gonna still have that blend of strength and confidence because that is a type eight, striving to feel powerful. That is what you're motivated by. But there may be a little bit more um of that nine energy influencing them with striving to feel at peace, and they might show up a little bit more grounded, they might be a little bit more quiet or introverted versus the other type that's kind of that textbook extrovert. Um, they're still gonna have a desire for power, but it's more about power so they can protect themselves and protect others. So I see that one um having some navigating energy. I could also see that preserving energy um with an eight-wing nine. Our type seven um is gonna have a six and an eight. When you have a seven-wing six, they're gonna have a very cooperative spirit. Uh, they're probably gonna be a little bit more positive. Uh, see the world half full than maybe the other type will uh tend to be generally productive. And this kind of type can be a little bit more um distracted. And it's interesting because you have both the six and the seven are kind of thinking about the future, like, but the six is what might happen, what might go wrong, and the seven's kind of like, oh, what might happen? What are the possibilities? And so it's almost kind of like that that push and pull uh energies coming together. It's like, I want to have fun, but let's be safe about it. And then our type seven wing eight is focused on a lot of activities, adventure, and that might be more important along with um material success and a position of power rather than connecting with others, rather than having that cooperative spirit that the six does. So again, I see this seven uh wing eight combination as that more of that transmitting um energy that we've talked about in previous episodes. Um, our type six is gonna have a wing of a five and a seven. So you're blending two very analytical uh types together when you have a type six wing five. And this type's gonna be a little bit more independent, probably a little bit more serious than the other wing. Uh, probably more, may look more like an introvert, may look more like a loner. Um, and they, oh my goodness, uh, are gonna be outstanding problem solvers when you have both a five and that six coming together. Whew, I could see that. Um this one might be a little bit more preserving six, uh, if we're when we're overlaying those uh instinctual biases. Now, the type six wing seven um is going to be more sociable because you're bringing in kind of that just the inverse of what we talked about. Hey, I want to be safe, but I also want to be excited. So this type's gonna be a little bit more sociable and maybe engaging, funny, witty, have a little bit more humor. Um, they may sacrifice their own well-being uh for friends and family. And so again, this is kind of interesting where you have the six and the five kind of really um support each other or highlight each other. Um the the six and the seven again kind of have that unique push-pull. Um, I see a six wing seven, maybe more of that transmitting energy a little bit, maybe more of the navigating energy a little bit. Um, type five is coming together with the four, striving to feel unique. So you have type five striving to feel detached with wing four, striving to feel unique. You're gonna have more emotions than the other wing, um, more creativity, maybe a little bit more introspection uh than the other wing, uh, possibly a little bit more independent and resist the structure. Um, you know, again, we just talked about that five and that six, they have a lot of things in common. And so they're gonna be a little bit more disciplined, maybe a little bit more um find structure, uh desirable almost. Uh, they're gonna be drawn to maybe tech and science and engineering, philosophy, and venting. Um, and they may be a little bit more cooperative. Type sixes are kind of known for their teamwork, their cooperativeness. And so uh this wing type might be more than the wing four there. Um, we have our type four coming together with wing three, striving to feel outstanding, or wing five, striving to feel detached. Um, type four wing three is probably gonna be a little bit more sociable than the other wing. Um they may fours are known for being creative, uh, whether it's creating art, creating something new, putting a creative spin on something. And with that wing three influence, they may create, but with an audience in mind. Um, they very much want to be successful. They want to be unique, but they want to be successful as well. Whereas a type four, wing five is gonna be less worried about the acceptance of others, about their status, um, and they're gonna enjoy the creative process more than the presentation of their creation or whatever it is. And again, that makes sense. Type fives tend to be a little bit more introverted, striving to feel detached. Um, so that's an interesting combination. There's some similarities there. Type four and type five both tend to be more withdrawn. Um, but then you also have the strong emotions of the four with the the analytical mind of the five. So how that gets how that kind of shows up can be interesting. And then type four, wing three, um, also kind of interesting, uh, with the four being emotional, a little bit more in touch with that. And a three having emotions, of course, like a five, but maybe being a little bit more focused on the goal, the task, what's at hand. So again, it's an interesting, both of those are interesting wings for our four. Some fours don't are some types in general don't resonate with either wing. And that's okay too. I know I said that at the beginning, but I want to remind you that's okay too. And some people resonate with both, and that's okay as well. Um, type three is gonna have the two or the four wing. Type twos are striving to feel connected. You mix that with type three, striving to feel outstanding. This type is gonna be more emotional, spontaneous, outgoing, it's gonna kind of be a little bit more dazzling, uh, maybe a little bit more charismatic and charming. They want to be liked, and this type is probably gonna be really competitive. Now, you have the type three mixed with the type four striving to feel unique. This type is gonna be a little bit more serious, probably a little bit more diplomatic, task-oriented. Um, they may struggle with self-doubt. Fours kind of fours and ones really have that harsh inner critic, so you're gonna get some of that. Um, and it can feel like your self-worth is on the line with your work success. So I see this type three wing four being a little bit more, well, being serious, a little bit more serious. And I could see that showing up as a preserving three, where you don't really look like the textbook three. Um, and then versus the type three wing two looks a little bit more like most of the type three descriptions, probably. Um, and if we're overlapping the the subtypes, I see um definitely transmitting here. Um, maybe navigating, it just kind of depends. I don't, I don't get a strong sense for navigating in either one of these wings, but it could it could show up there. Um, the type two, striving to feel connected paired with the wing one, striving to feel perfect. Again, kind of two very different energies coming together here. Um, and so this may some of these are called um, sometimes it can be called like a counter type because it's like you identify with the motive, but you don't look like the quote unquote typical normal type. Um, this is one of those I could see type uh type two wing one. You're gonna get that combination of the warmth and the inner empathy from the two, but it's going to come with some more seriousness, uh, a sense of purpose, a sense of morality. You're going to um you're going to, you know, be on the lookout for the greater good as they both are. Um, but you're also, you know, you want your focus on do we have enough to go around for everybody? Um, and then this type might also be a little bit more severe with themselves. I definitely see the preserving two in this wing one energy uh versus the type two wing three. So we have striving to feel connected, striving to feel outstanding. Wing three is gonna be more outgoing and charming. Um, there may be Not going to be that overt uh caretaker that sometimes we think of twos as. They're going to be less, less task-driven than the wing one, which again kind of makes sense. Um, I could see the transmitting two in this combination here. And then last but not least, our type one, striving to feel perfect, coming together with the wing nine, striving to feel at peace. This type is going to be a little bit more introverted than the other wing. Um, they're going to have a strong desire to improve things that just is a one that is kind of in the the DNA of a one. However, they may do it in just a little bit softer and a little bit gentler way. Whereas a type one, wing two, um, is going to be a little bit more outgoing, really passionate, um, can be really persuasive, and they can be very fiery when it comes to their improvements and their ideas for how to make things better. So again, I see a type one wing two, maybe more of that transmitting, let's go far, let's go fast, let's leave a legacy, um, more comfortable with taking risks versus the type one wing nine, which I could see preserving, I could also see navigating. You know, um, type nines are known for their consensus building, like the six for being really collaborative, for making sure everybody feels heard. Um, so I could I could see some of that uh type one wing nine being a navigator energy. So, you know, if uh the intention of sharing this was to give you just a quick kind of crash course on wings and then to uh give you some direction if you want to dive into wings more, but then also show you where specifically in our Enneagram MBA methodology, um, where we use the awareness to action Enneagram approach, um, a lot of this stuff is already covered and it's covered in a little bit more detail. Um so I I uh I think wings can, again, if you find them helpful, use them. Um but sometimes wings can get confusing, um, especially when we start naming them. Um and that that can be confusing because we don't identify with the name. So, you know, just just be cautious and take what feels helpful, leave what does not feel helpful. So, with that, if you have additional questions about wings or comments you want to share about how wings have been helpful or not helpful, um, we have our Enneagram hotline. So leave us a voice message, leave us a text message, and uh we can share that with others because most likely if you have a question, especially, uh somebody else probably has that same question. So let me know. As always, thank you for being here, and we'll see you soon.