Building Strong Teams with the Enneagram: Harnessing the Strengths of Each Type

The Enneagram offers a valuable lens for understanding yourself and others. When applied to team dynamics, it can be a powerful tool for building strong, cohesive, and high-performing teams.

By understanding the unique strengths and potential challenges of each Enneagram type, you can create an environment that fosters collaboration, leverages diverse perspectives, and optimizes success. This is a core concept we also explore in The MBTI Advantage book series for building better-rounded teams.

The Strengths Spectrum: What Each Type Brings

Here's a glimpse into the strengths that different Enneagram types bring to a team environment:

• The Reformer (Type 1): Brings high standards, meticulous attention to detail, and a powerful work ethic. They are the team's "Quality Control," ensuring the final product is correct, principled, and excellent. They share this dutiful nature with many ISTJ personalities.
• The Helper (Type 2): The "Team Glue." They use their excellent interpersonal skills and empathy to build rapport and focus on team morale. They are the first to notice who is struggling and provide support, much like a healthy ESFJ.
• The Achiever (Type 3): The "Team Driver." They are goal-oriented, results-driven, and adept at motivating others. They keep their eyes on the prize and can adapt to any challenge to ensure a "win," inspiring the team with their "can-do" energy.
• The Individualist (Type 4): The "Team Original." They are creative, innovative, and bring a unique perspective that prevents groupthink. They see what's missing and provide the authentic, out-of-the-box solutions that others overlook, a trait often found in INFP types.
• The Investigator (Type 5): The "Team Expert." They are analytical, knowledgeable, and masters of strategic thinking. They provide the deep research and objective, data-driven insights needed to make informed, rational decisions, much like an INTP or INTJ.
• The Loyalist (Type 6): The "Team Troubleshooter." They are reliable, dependable, and natural risk-assessors. They are the ones asking "What if?" and creating contingency plans, fostering a sense of security and trust that the team is prepared for anything.
• The Enthusiast (Type 7): The "Team Innovator." They are optimistic, energetic, and idea-generation machines. They are perfect for brainstorming sessions, connecting disparate concepts, and keeping the team motivated and future-focused, similar to many ENTP types.
• The Challenger (Type 8): The "Team Protector." They are decisive, assertive, and skilled at overcoming obstacles. They take charge, clear roadblocks, and protect the team from external pressure, allowing everyone else to do their best work. This is a common trait in ENTJ leaders.
• The Peacemaker (Type 9): The "Team Mediator." They are diplomatic, collaborative, and create a harmonious environment. They have a unique ability to see all perspectives, build consensus, and ensure every voice is heard, preventing factions and infighting.

Building a Balanced Team

While each type has its strengths, the key to building a strong team lies in creating a balance. A team of all 8s would be in a constant power struggle, while a team of all 9s might never make a difficult decision. Here are some tips:

• Identify Team Member Types: Understanding the Enneagram types allows you to appreciate their unique contributions and anticipate potential points of friction.
• Embrace Diversity: Value the diverse perspectives. You need 1s to finish the job correctly, 7s to start it creatively, and 3s to make sure it's a success.
• Play to Strengths: Assign tasks and roles that align with each member's natural talents. Don't ask your Type 5 to be the team's social coordinator, and don't ask your Type 2 to handle solitary, data-heavy analysis.
• Foster Communication: Encourage open communication that respects different styles. A Type 8's directness can feel like an attack to a Type 9, and a Type 4's nuance can feel inefficient to a Type 3. Awareness bridges these gaps.

Enneagram in Action: Strategic Pairings

Here are some additional strategies for harnessing the strengths of each type by pairing them effectively:

• Pair a Type 1 with a Type 7: The 7's boundless "what if" ideas are given structure and a high-quality finish by the 1's meticulous "how-to" execution.
• Pair a Type 2 with a Type 8: The 8 provides the assertive energy to make difficult decisions or clear roadblocks, while the 2 ensures it's done with compassion and team morale in mind.
• Pair a Type 3 with a Type 9: The 3 drives the team toward the goal, while the 9 ensures they don't move too fast, building team consensus and preventing burnout.
• Pair a Type 4 with a Type 6: The 4's innovative, out-of-the-box idea is "stress-tested" by the 6's pragmatic risk analysis, resulting in a final product that is both original and secure.
• Pair a Type 5 with a Type 3: The 5 provides the deep, objective research and data, and the 3 translates that complex information into a polished, actionable, and winning strategy.
• Pair a Type 6 with a Type 7: The 7 says, "Let's explore this new territory!" and the 6 says, "Great, let's bring a map and a first-aid kit." This pairing balances exciting innovation with practical safety.

Remember: The Enneagram is a tool for understanding, not a box to trap people in. Team dynamics are complex, and individual experiences will vary. However, by understanding the strengths and potential challenges of different Enneagram types, you can create a more collaborative, productive, and successful team environment.