Enneagram at Work
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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?
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Enneagram at Work
257. The Workplace Habits That Haunt Each Enneagram Type
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We all have workplace habits that seem to follow us around, especially when we’re stressed, under pressure, or moving too fast to notice our own patterns.
In this Halloween-themed episode, we’re looking at one habit that can “haunt” each Enneagram type at work.
The good news is that we’re doomed to repeat these patterns forever because awareness gives us a chance to catch them earlier and choose a different response.
In this episode, we explore:
- Type 9: the opinion they never said out loud
- Type 8: the moment they went in at a 10 when a 5 would have worked
- Type 7: the commitment they keep trying to escape
- Type 6: the “what if?” scenario that keeps multiplying
- Type 5: the conversation they keep waiting to feel fully prepared for
- Type 4: the feeling that something is missing
- Type 3: the pressure to always be performing
- Type 2: the resentment that can show up after overgiving
- Type 1: the mistake they can’t stop noticing
Along the way, you'll also hear a practical reflection question for each type, including:
Does this actually need to be fixed? Or is it simply not how I would have done it?
Do I actually need more information? Or am I waiting to feel completely certain?
Does this situation actually require all of my intensity?
What do I think about this before I start considering what everyone else thinks?
The intention of this episode is to help you notice your haunting habit a little sooner, before it starts running the meeting, the conversation, the deadline, or the relationship.
Because the patterns that once haunted us don’t have to keep following us forever.
Want to bring this kind of conversation to your team?
Enneagram MBA workshops help teams better understand themselves, their coworkers, and the patterns that can create friction at work — while keeping the experience practical, positive, and useful.
You can also explore the free Enneagram Workshop Planning Kit for sample agendas, planning ideas, and resources to help you design an Enneagram experience for your team.
Happy Halloween weekend. Uh, if you happen to be listening to this when the episode is published, uh, tomorrow is Halloween. And I thought, let's let's play on that. I think there's some fun things that we can do here. So I've had a couple of ideas, and uh this is this is where I landed. And so we're gonna look at one workplace habit for each type. This is by no means an exhaustive list. And with all of our episodes, when we talk specifically about different types, this is by no means um 100% true for everybody that identifies as whatever type we're gonna talk about. Um, but there could be some high probability here, depending on the type. So we're gonna look at that. Uh, we all have workplace habits that kind of can follow us around, um, especially under stress, uh, when there's pressure or when things feel like they're moving too fast or maybe too slow. Um, and we're just not aware. We're just not aware of our own patterns a lot of times. Um, and so the Enneagram can help us identify and recognize some of those patterns ideally sooner, um, so that they don't keep haunting us uh in the workplace and in the way that we work. So we're actually going to start from uh the type nine and kind of go backwards. I know we it's easy to always start with the type one. So we're gonna start with our type nines. Um, this is the Enneagram at Work podcast. Thank you for being here. Welcome back if you are a returning listener. Welcome if this is your first one. Um, I am your host, Sarah Wallace, founder and managing director here at um our company Enneagram MBA, which is a team training company. And that just means we use the Enneagram to train teams uh around communication and collaboration and various leaderships, leadership skills using um the tool called the Enneagram. So um if that is something you are interested in potentially bringing to your team, we do have standalone workshops. We can uh bring it to a company off-site retreat that you might be having as we uh close out the year and begin a new one. Um, and then we also have various team development programs where again, we will focus on uh some very specific workplace needs and potential problems using uh the insights of the Enneagram to help your own team recognize their patterns uh both individually and collectively. So, with that, let's get into it. So, our type nine, um, the workplace behavior or habit, rather, uh, that might be haunting your type nine who is striving to feel peaceful is the opinion that they never said out loud. So a lot of times, type nines, and again, this makes sense as somebody who is striving to feel peaceful. Um, this makes sense that they would go along, um, that they might minimize their own preferences, that they might not speak up for fear of rocking the boat and causing some sort of conflict. Um, they might be waiting to speak up and miss their opportunity to participate. Um, this is something we specifically talked about in a recent type 9 episode. I want to say it's about two weeks ago. Um, so maybe six or eight episodes after or before this, if that is something you want to go back and revisit in more detail. Um, but we we kind of talked about how to support a type nine teammate with this pattern. And then we talked about if you happen to be a type nine in the workplace with this pattern, some ideas to try. And one of those might be being the first one, committing to yourself, stepping outside of your comfort zone. And for some people, this happens on a daily basis. But for you as a type nine, this could be a real opportunity for growth to stretch yourself a little bit and maybe you commit to being the first one to speak up in your next meeting, or you just commit to yourself that no matter, you know, how the meeting is going, you are going to commit to yourself to share your opinion, um, even if you're not called on. And uh saying, you know, I actually don't agree with that. And again, for some of us, that's like, what's uh is that a big deal? Like, is that actually a growth opportunity? And for others, yes, yes, it is. Um, and for somebody who's striving to feel uh peaceful, that makes sense why that could be a struggle. And that also makes sense why uh that could be a really great opportunity for growth for you. So um your growth question that I have for you here is to consider and reflect on um what do I actually think about this before I start considering what everybody else thinks? And type nines tend to have so much um insight and opinions and thoughts because they are known as the consensus builder. They make people feel seen and and feel heard and they really listen. And so they have all of this um insight um that I think is needed by the rest of the team. We we want to hear that. We need to probably hear what it is you have to say. So um don't let the rest of us miss out on your thoughts, opinions, concerns, whatever it might be. Um and then just like I said, maybe taking some time to really get clear on what it is you think. Okay, so our type A striving to feel powerful, their leadership style is known as the challenger. Uh, and their haunting habit at work is the moment or the situation, the the conversation where they went in at a 10 when really probably a level five would have worked. Okay. Um, and this is another one where we just had, I think we did this one on Monday. If I'm releasing these according to the schedule that I have in mind now. Um, but if not, it's just a couple episodes back where we specifically talked about how directness doesn't always mean anger. Um, and for eights just to be a little bit more aware of the intensity that they can bring because they see it as passion, where others might see it as anger or dominance. Um, and so you know, our eights do have a habit of being intense and bringing the intensity. And again, I think they would say passion. Um, they do have um, and it's such a skill to be direct. Um, they are pushers, they make things happen, just do it, go big or go bigger, kind of thing. Um, they're it's really easy for them to take charge, to step in really quickly and and do what they have to do. Um, and because of some of that, in in moments of of tension, um, they might accidentally come in a little strong. And so that haunting aftermath for a type 8 might be some version of like, whoops, uh, you know, maybe I did come in a little strong there. Um, and so your growth opportunity here is to just kind of reflect on does this situation actually require all of my intensity? And we did talk about that one a little bit more in the episode before that. So that's our type eight. Our type seven haunting habit in the workplace is the commitment. They keep trying to escape. And as somebody who is striving to feel excited, their leadership style is known as the enthusiast. They get energy and stimulation and excitement. They're drawn to the next new idea, the next new thing, the next exciting thing. And so we always talk about one of the challenges for the type seven can be around, you know, seeing it through, crossing the finish line. Like, yes, let's get the gear, let's sign up for the race, let's post our training. But then are we actually going to see it through and get to the end and cross the line of that race? And sometimes that is some of the work for the type seven. Um, you know, some of their habits, this haunting habit has to do with wanting options, never wanting to be boxed in. Um that has to do with just like I was talking about moving on to the next interesting thing. Uh, love, love to be on an exciting brainstorm session, love to be on a new initiative. But then, you know, day after day, you gotta actually do the work, do be disciplined, do sometimes the the mundane tasks that it takes to bring this new exciting idea to life. That can sometimes be more of a struggle. Um, and then they do just want to avoid feeling boxed in. And so commitments can make them feel a little boxed in. Um, and their kind of haunting thought uh in life, but in the workplace, might be, you know, what if there's something better? What if I said yes to this project, but I'm missing out on this or working with this person and I could be working with this person? Um, and so a growth question for our type eights here, or I'm sorry, our type sevens is to consider what might become possible. What exciting things might I actually be able to do if I stay with this long enough to go deeper, to see it through, to finish it. So it's a question, question to ask our sevens. Um, our type sixes are known as the guardian. They're striving to feel secure. And their haunting habit is questioning uh just kind of uh the what if scenario that keeps keeps going and going and going, kind of keeps multiplying here. So they're always scanning for risk, they're anticipating what might go wrong, um, mentally preparing for multiple outcomes, contingency planning is their love language sometimes. Um, and so their haunting thought is going to be, but what if, but what if? And this is one of the um unique characteristics of a type eight, or I'm sorry, I keep saying type eight, type six. And sometimes we'll talk about the little inner um BS alert system that they have on their shoulder, just and that makes sense for somebody who's striving to feel secure. Um, that makes sense that you're kind of looking out like, can this person be trusted? I hear what they're saying, but is their delivery actually matching alert bells, alert bells, you know, they can't be trusted. So they have that. They're they're excellent at identifying, you know, BS. Um, and you know, uh just things that don't make sense, you know, they're really good at kind of poking holes and those types of things. Um, and then the other unique characteristic is their inner committee. And this is exactly what we're talking about here, where the inner committee isn't necessarily a harsh or mean voice. It's just a lot of different voices. So, you know, they hear, well, we could do it this way, or we could do it this way, or we could do it this way, or this way, or this way. And it just sometimes becomes hard to move forward because all these possibilities, all these backup plans, what do I do? What if, what if, what if? So the growth question here for our type sixes is to ask, you know, is this a useful risk to prepare for? Or am I just trying to eliminate uncertainty altogether, which is very difficult to do. So that could be one, one kind of gut check for yourself as a type six to get out of that what if scenario and the loud inner committee that can sometimes take over. Um, our type five haunting habit in the workplace is around the conversation that they keep waiting to feel ready for. Um, it could also be the presentation that they keep waiting to feel ready for. Um, and you know, it's a lot of times this person is striving to feel detached. They're known as the strategist when it comes to their leadership style. They are very focused on being capable and competent and self-sufficient. I don't want to need, I don't want to need a lot from you, and I don't really want you to need a lot from me. Um, they can absolutely be a team player, but um, a lot of times they prefer to kind of do their own work and then go back to the team with that. And they are always wanting, um, you know, they're looking for more information. Let's analyze this, let's pro and con it, let's be really thoughtful in our decision making. Maybe we need to slow down a little bit. Um, they're really great at observing too. One of their nicknames is called the observer. So all of this makes sense and it and it can be such a skill and such a um benefit to a team. Um, so they're gathering information, they're preparing, they're thinking it through one more time, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But like we always talk about the same, the same energy that fuels our strengths, we can also overdo it. And that's what we're talking about here for type five. So their haunting thought in the workplace is I just need to know a little bit more first, a little, a little bit more before we have this conversation. So, your growth question here is to consider do I actually need more information? Or am I waiting to feel completely certain, prepared, like I have covered all of my basis? And we also recently did a type five episode. Um, and we talked a little bit more about this habit um in more detail on that episode. But um, that that is kind of the the growth question here for our fives is just to reflect on when is enough information enough? Because you could you could always gather more information. Um, you could always be more prepared. Um and so when is enough enough to at least start sharing what you've gathered, to at least start sharing your opinion to that point. And then in that uh in that recent episode, we kind of talked about um how to start having a conversation, how to start speaking up, even if you haven't had a chance to research anything yet. Some very fair ways to start doing that. Um, our type fours who are striving to feel unique, their leadership style is known as the visionary. Um, sometimes their haunting habit can be around feeling that something is missing, either from themselves, something is inherently wrong with themselves, missing from themselves, missing from the project, missing from the team in general, missing from life in general. Um, they have tendencies to notice um how something could be more meaningful. They have tendencies to compare their current reality to their ideal reality. Um, and sometimes, you know, they get a reputation for being kind of melancholy. Um, and and sometimes they can kind of feel dissatisfied, um, even when everything is is going pretty well overall. And so they sometimes have this haunting thought that this should be different. This should be different. This should, you know, this should be better, this should be more meaningful, this should be more authentic. Um, and so the growth question here for our type fours is to consider what is already here. What do I already have? What is already in front of me that I may be overlooking while I'm busy focused on what's missing? What is right, what is what is what is okay right now. And not a lot of people, um, I don't think it's um, I don't think it's common to think about the similarities between a one and a four. A lot of times you just kind of see the, you know, immediate differences, but there is some overlap between that, how can this be better, what's missing, um, and and kind of feeling that frustration um when it's not as good as you wanted it to be. Our type threes, uh, their haunting habit in the workplace is this pressure that they put on themselves to always be performing, um, to always be looking good and getting it right and excelling at what that whatever it is they're doing. And so they have these habits of staying productive, wanting to appear capable and competent. Um, they and they do. They kind of make success look easy a lot of times. Um, and they they can be good, or it sometimes can come across as authentic or you know, unrealistic, where they can really move quickly past failure and uncertainty and then just kind of either spin it or just kind of blow past it. It's too painful to recognize and to see. Um, or it's like, oh no, no, no, like that that actually was a good thing and this is why. Um, and again, all of that, all of these could be strengths. It's just when we overdo it. And so the type three haunting thought in the workplace, um, a lot of times is am I and and in life really is am I doing enough? Am I am I still doing enough? Um, and this is sometimes three is kind of break my heart with just how much pressure. And I think we all do, especially here um in the US, where we do have this like always be performing, always be achieving, always be growing, self-help books, professional development, you know. Um, and again, all of it is good to, you know, to a point, but our threes just man, that pressure is heavy. And I don't know that because they make success look easy, because they um, you know, do tend to always look good and and and be successful and and win and get acknowledgement for it, stand out, um, striving to feel outstanding. Um, they, you know, I don't know that people have the empathy for this type that I think is very much needed and deserved um by this type who who can put so much pressure on themselves. So a growth question here for our type threes might be what would success look like if nobody else was watching? Ooh, I don't know. I don't know how's how threes are gonna feel about that. But um, I love that question. I love that question. What does success look like just for yourself? Nobody else is watching, nobody else is gonna notice. So, what does success look like for you? Um, type twos haunting habit in the workplace is the resentment that they are carrying around after overgiving. Our type twos are known as the um connector. They're striving to feel connected, and they're known um uh as the coach is their leadership style. Um, and you know, sometimes in other Enneagram frameworks, you'll hear them nickname the helper, and they help so that they can be connected. Um, and so, you know, the deeper motivation there is wanting that connection. And so it makes sense that this habit develops where they're helping people maybe before actually being asked to jump in and help. Um, they're taking on emotional labor um that's maybe not theirs to take on. One of the um overuse strengths that we'll talk about in the workplace for the type two is sometimes they can get so focused on somebody on their team or a client, like going through a really rough time, um, having a bad day, that they get so focused on them, how to support them, how to help them, that they can kind of lose sight of what they still need to do, the projects they need to work on, the, you know, the meetings they still need to have. And so they can easily kind of let those things go because they're so focused on taking care of someone else. Again, not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but sometimes it can be um when it's overuse, a little self-sabotaging. Um, and then they're doing all this helping, taking on all this emotional labor, and then want to assume that others will notice or reciprocate it. And it doesn't always happen. It's another thing that we'll talk about sometimes with the type twos is that kind of giving with hooks. Um, and so the haunting part might come a little later, maybe when nobody seems to realize how much they've been caring. So this one might not be as immediate as some of the others. It's just it builds up, it builds up, it builds up. And so uh a growth question for our type twos is to consider did I choose to help or did I ex quietly without saying anything, expect someone to give me something back in return? Did I choose to help or did I? Expect something in return. And that's that giving with hooks kind of mentality. And I and to be fair, I think that we all want to be appreciated. I think we all want to know that what we're putting into our relationships that we're also going to get something similar back. Um, so this again isn't a bad thing in and of itself. It's just something to be aware of that could cause the two some stress, some tension, some friction in the workplace. And this might be something to look at first if you're feeling that way. All right. And then last but not least is our type ones, striving to feel perfect, known as the administrator. Um, their haunting habit in the workplace, one of them could be the mistake that they cannot stop seeing. So they do have a tendency to see what could be improved, always could be better, take it from good to great. Um just kind of mentally correcting things. They just, you can't unsee it. It's just like, oh, I can't unsee this. Um, looking for things to looking for things, people, themselves, the team, the organization, the community, the world. You know, how could things be even better? And then um, sometimes they can just replay and replay what should have been done differently. Um, and sometimes that's themselves, sometimes that's somebody else. And so uh, you know, a a potential kind of haunting thought that they might have around here is that um a type one, um, you know, it for them, it's not the mistake itself a lot of times. Um, it's just that, gosh, if it doesn't get corrected, I can't not see it. Like I just, it is just kind of gonna, it's just kind of gonna irk me. So even when I'm just trying my very best to bring my chill, to bring my understanding, it's just really hard to not see what it needs to be fixed. Um, and so a question to help when you might be feeling that way. And sometimes it's just, yeah, maybe it does need to be corrected. And again, like we've said with all of these, maybe this isn't necessarily the wrong response in a particular situation. But um, if you keep having, you know, kind of the same issues, the same friction with somebody, this could be something to look at. And so the growth question that could potentially help that that haunting thought is to consider, you know, is this something that actually needs to be fixed, or is it just not how I would have done it? That's not easy to admit. It's probably you don't all, it's probably not something you necessarily want to reflect on. But that, like all of us, you know, with with the growth question there, um, that is something that I think if you, you know, give it some genuine curiosity and some time to to really reflect on it, whether, you know, you write something down, you just think about it on your next walk, you talk to somebody about this reflection, um, that might help see those mistakes so strongly because maybe it isn't a mistake. Maybe it's just not the way that you would have done it. And we we also have done an episode specifically with our type ones looking at this very thing, asking that very question, and we get into a little bit more detail on that. So um, if that's something you want to dig into a little bit more, we have an episode on that um a couple weeks ago. So you'll have to check that out. Um, but uh, you know, with with all of these, um, these are just again, the the Enneagram more than a description of who we are or what our personality is, which is absolutely not what the Enneagram is. Um, it it just helps us identify patterns that may not be serving us, that may be causing us grief and headaches and and uh you know friction in the workplace, friction with our relationships. Um, so the the good news is that, you know, these things are not your entire personality. They're just they're just patterns and they don't have to keep haunting us. We don't have to keep thinking about these things and doing these things. So um the first step is absolutely awareness, which the Enneagram has. Um, the that awareness gives us a chance to notice the pattern before it starts taking over our next meeting, you know, our next group project, our next conversation, um, or or relationship. So, you know, we we never want to try and be another type because whatever it is we're doing is too much. That is absolutely not the intention, not the goal with this. Um, but it's just to kind of catch those patterns, those habits a little earlier and choose more intentionally about what you want to do. Now, maybe you decide to do the same thing that you are doing unconsciously anyway, and that's perfectly fine. Um, but sometimes maybe with a little bit more intentionality around choosing what you're gonna do. Um, maybe you choose something different that actually serves you in a better way, serves you in your role or serves you in in a relationship on within your team. So those are a couple uh haunting habits for your Halloween weekend. Like I said, by no means an exhaustive list. Is this the only thing that these types can struggle with, or that all types who or all people who relate to those types will struggle with that? But just to give you some food for thought, maybe inspire some self-reflection or a conversation with a fellow teammate. Um, with that, thank you for being here. Um, I mentioned at the beginning of the episode the variety of ways that you can um work with Enneagram MBA to um have a facilitated Enneagram experience with your team. Those options are over at EnneagramMBA.com. And then if this is something you are wanting to bring, but you're thinking you know, I think I think we could do this ourselves. We do have a workshop planning kit that is totally free over at EnneagramNBA.com forward slash resources, specifically for our internal Enneagram champions, HR professionals, learning and development professionals, maybe team leaders. Um, and inside there you'll find all kinds of resources um to help you start to plan and think through your own workshop experience. So Enneagram MBA.com forward slash resources. With that, have a great weekend. If you're gonna, if you're gonna be doing anything, have a wonderful Halloween weekend. Uh, thank you for being here, and I hope to see you in the next one.