Enneagram and Emotions at Work: Understanding Triggers

Exploring the topic of the Enneagram and emotions at work is an effective way to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your colleagues, and how to prevent and manage difficult emotions in the workplace.

Since the Enneagram test is designed to provide insight into the deepest aspects of personality, such as fears and motivations, it can help support a positive work environment by fostering mutual understanding.

Read on to learn more about the Enneagram and emotions at work, including the key emotional triggers of each personality type.

How Each Enneagram Type Responds to Workplace Emotions

Each Enneagram type has a unique approach to handling workplace emotions. While some hide them from their colleagues, others don’t hesitate to express them openly, even if it can escalate the situation.

Here’s a detailed overview of how each Enneagram type handles and responds to emotions at work:

Enneagram 1

The Enneagram Type 1 focuses on doing the right thing and adhering to the rules, which is why it is also known as The Perfectionist. Naturally, Ones’ emotional triggers at work mostly revolve around perceived lack of responsibility from colleagues.

Known for their strong work ethic, Ones take their careers seriously and expect the same from others. As such, they can get irritated when others disregard established rules and procedures, cut corners, or miss deadlines. Likewise, they can become frustrated with themselves when they make mistakes or fail to meet their own expectations.

At work, Ones are most likely to experience anger and irritation. A study by Stickney and Geddes found that the most common cause of anger suppression in the workplace is professional courtesy, and this certainly stands true for Ones. They rarely let others see their emotions at work because they deem it as unprofessional.

However, pent-up anger can spill out as harsh criticism; to avoid this, Ones should practice constructive communication and focus on progress rather than perfection.

Enneagram 2

The Enneagram Type 2 (The Helper) is empathetic, warm, and supportive. Twos go above and beyond to help others, but they may struggle with sadness, disappointment, and other negative emotions at work when others take them for granted. Because they yearn to be valued, their primary emotional workplace triggers are criticism and a lack of appreciation.

Although Twos usually display high emotional intelligence at work, they tend to conceal their emotions. Instead of expressing them, they overcompensate by becoming even more helpful, often to the point of people-pleasing. But if their efforts remain unnoticed, resentment may set in; Twos typically display it through passive-aggressive behaviors.

For Twos, the key to managing workplace emotions lies in acknowledging and expressing personal needs without feeling guilty or ashamed. Cultivating internal validation instead of seeking appreciation from others can also help them build resilience.

Enneagram 3

The Enneagram Type 3 (The Achiever) is charismatic, goal-oriented, and dynamic. Threes are conscious of their image and strive to achieve success in their careers. At work, the primary trigger for this Enneagram type is failure.

Threes are highly ambitious and competitive; although they typically have no shortage of self-confidence, their self-esteem is closely tied to their accomplishments. As such, they may struggle with anxiety, frustration, and feelings of inadequacy if others are more successful than they are.

They usually channel these emotions into productivity; when stressed out or triggered, they seek to prove their worth by outshining others and achieving their goals. However, this can make them susceptible to burnout. To manage emotions at work in a healthier way, Threes should learn to slow down, accept failure gracefully, and set realistic goals.

Enneagram 4

The Enneagram Type 4 (The Individualist) is introspective, creative, and sensitive. Because they feel deeply, they are less likely to hide their emotions at work than most other personality types.

Some of their emotional workplace triggers include:

• Feeling unseen, misunderstood, or excluded
• Not having the freedom to express individuality at work
• Being forced to work on repetitive tasks that don’t require any creativity

Fours are prone to experiencing feelings of inadequacy, sadness, jealousy, and self-doubt at work, especially because they tend to compare themselves to others. However, because they are very sensitive, they also experience joy, inspiration, and other positive emotions more intensely than others.

That said, Fours often let their feelings get in the way of their performance. They may, for example, find it difficult to focus if they simply don’t feel productive. For this reason, they should focus on putting in consistent effort into their workinstead of waiting for the right mood or inspiration.

Enneagram 5

The Enneagram Type 5 (The Investigator) is inquisitive, independent, and analytical. Fives strive to be competent and genuinely enjoy gathering knowledge and solving complex problems. This cerebral personality type generally isn’t comfortable dealing with emotions at work, which is one of the reasons they prefer working by themselves.

Although Fives can be emotionally detached, being interrupted, having to socialize too much, and witnessing or being involved in workplace conflict can trigger anxiety and irritation in them. If this happens, they usually withdraw to conserve their energy. However, they can also become defensive or critical of others if pushed too far.

To cope with emotions at work and effectively manage workplace conflict, this Enneagram type should embrace open and honest communication. Setting clear boundaries with colleagues can help Fives thrive in their careers, especially if their job involves lots of social interaction.

Enneagram 6

Also known as The Loyalist, the Enneagram Type 6 is reliable, dutiful, and cautious. Because people with this Enneagram personality type seek security and stability, uncertainty and a lack of guidance can cause them a great deal of stress and trigger uncomfortable emotions in them. The most common emotions they experience at work are anxiety, worry, and self-doubt.

When Sixes feel like their jobs or the people they work with don’t provide them with enough certainty, direction, and stability, they tend to overthink and become preoccupied with worst-case scenarios. They can also become quite indecisive and overly dependent on others.

When it comes to Enneagram and emotions at work, Sixes can benefit tremendously from becoming more comfortable with uncertainty. Cultivating self-trust and doing grounding exercises, such as deep breathing, is an effective way for this Enneagram type to reduce overwhelm and build resilience.

Enneagram 7

The Enneagram Type 7 (The Enthusiast) is energetic, optimistic, and spontaneous; these individuals crave novelty and stimulation both in their personal lives and at work. As such, boredom is their main emotional workplace trigger. Having to face too many restrictions or being forced to adhere to strict rules can also induce negative emotions in them.

It’s not uncommon for Sevens to struggle with anxiety, restlessness, and frustration at work, yet they tend to avoid negative emotions altogether. Instead of admitting that something is wrong, they try to escape discomfort through distractions, such as chatting with colleagues instead of tackling tasks.

To manage stress and negative emotions at work more effectively, Sevens should first make time for self-reflection. Acknowledging and processing their feelings can help them feel less overwhelmed and find more constructive ways to deal with them. If possible, they should also identify ways to reduce boredom at work.

Enneagram 8

The Enneagram Type 8 (The Challenger) is bold, energetic, and confident. People with this Enneagram type are fiercely independent, which explains why one thing that can trigger an emotional response in them is a lack of autonomy.

Eights dislike being controlled and micromanaged. They desire to feel powerful and capable of making decisions by themselves. If they feel powerless or others undermine their authority, they can quickly become angry. Beneath their anger, however, usually lies pain, yet their fear of being vulnerable prevents them from revealing their true feelings to others.

Unlike most other Enneagram types, Eights don’t suppress their anger. They confront problems head-on and may even lash out at others, which only escalates conflict. Practicing active listening and adopting a softer communication style can help this Enneagram type manage emotions at work more effectively.

Enneagram 9

The Enneagram Type 9 is adaptable, calm, and easygoing. Nines are known as Peacemakers because they desire harmony and go to great lengths to avoid conflict and confrontation. It’s no surprise, then, that workplace conflict, tension, power struggles, and the like can trigger anxiety and discomfort in them.

When stressed out, Nines tend to withdraw from others. Even if they’re experiencing intense emotions at work, they’d rather gloss over the situation than address it directly, as they strive to protect their inner peace. However, their tendency to bottle up emotions often leads to feelings of resentment.

Instead of sweeping things under the rug, Nines should make the effort to speak their minds and assert themselves. Reframing conflict as an opportunity for improvement rather than a threat can also help them manage their emotions in a more constructive way.

Now that we’ve discussed the Enneagram and emotions at work, let’s see how understanding this system can enhance your relationships with colleagues.

Using the Enneagram to Improve Workplace Relationships

The Enneagram can significantly improve workplace relationships by providing a deeper understanding of yourself and your coworkers.

This framework explains the motivations, fears, and desires of different personality types. By taking the Enneagram test with your colleagues, you can ultimately gain insight into their behavior patterns and emotional triggers at work. While the core type alone is very insightful, you can learn even more about them by exploring Enneagram wings.

This system can also help you learn more about yourself and how to adapt your communication style to others, thereby reducing misunderstandings and preventing workplace conflict. Although the Enneagram is not an absolute truth but rather a powerful tool for self-discovery, it can be highly effective in fostering empathy and strengthening collaboration at work.

Moreover, a study done by Kusuma and Sopiah suggests that improving knowledge of employee personalities may enhance hiring, teamwork, and productivity. Therefore, applying the Enneagram framework in organizations could potentially boost not only team dynamics but also hiring efforts and job performance.

Discover Your Enneagram Type Within Minutes

Take our free Enneagram test today to find out what your personality type is and unlock deeper self-awareness!

Key Takeaways

Now that we’ve come to the end of our guide to the Enneagram and emotions at work, it’s time to summarize the key points we covered today:

• Types Four and Eight are the most emotionally expressive at work, whereas Type Five is the most emotionally detached.
• Each Enneagram type has a unique way of handling emotions at work: Sevens try to avoid negative emotions through distractions, Threes channel them into productivity, and so forth.
• The Enneagram system can help teams improve communication and foster empathy and collaboration.

Enneagram and Emotions at Work FAQ