Enneagram at Work: How to Maximize Your Career Potential

We are rarely as uninhibited at work as we are at home around the people who love and know us. Therefore, just working with someone doesn’t guarantee that we know them well. However, using the insights of Enneagram at work allows us to decipher someone's Enneatype easily and learn more about them without being unprofessional.

Moreover, by understanding how each Enneagram type approaches work, we can learn how to motivate other people to give their best while also improving our own performance.

Ready to learn which Enneagram type is the most professional, which one is the most driven, and which one lacks ambition? Read on!

Enneagram at Work

Analyzing Enneagram at work enables us to understand the strengths and limitations of each type, communicate better, and handle common business challenges with more finesse.

So, let’s see how every Enneagram personality type uses their unique talents and abilities in the workplace.

Enneagram Type 1 at Work—The Ethical Leader

Enneagram Type 1 at work shows incredible professionalism and ethics. Ones, also known as the Perfectionists, like to do everything by the book and never avoid responsibility. Plus, they have an eye for detail and are great at organizing things.

Their typical strengths at work are a strong sense of structure, a systematic approach, and an assertive communication style. However, they can be too rigid, insisting on doing things their way.

As a result, they can also be overly critical of other people, imposing their high standards on them and expecting the same level of commitment and diligence from everyone.

Embracing flexibility is the most important lesson for Enneagram 1 at work. They need to learn to accept mistakes and imperfections as an inevitable part of success instead of fixating on unrealistic standards.

Enneagram Type 2 at Work—The Compassionate Team Player

Enneagram Type 2 at work is diligent, committed, compassionate, and always ready to help everyone around them. They quietly take on a lot of burdens without grumbling and are incredibly resilient when things get tough.

Due to their dedication and professionalism, Twos are well-liked and respected by their superiors, and their colleagues value them for their teamwork. People-centric and supportive, they easily create an atmosphere of collaboration within a team. This collaborative nature is also reflected in typical Enneagram 2 hobbies, which often involve activities that foster connection and community, such as organizing social events or participating in group projects.

However, they struggle with personal boundaries and are therefore prone to burnout since they take on too many responsibilities, often neglecting the importance of taking a vacation or time off to recharge.

Twos need to learn to say ‘no’ and prioritize their own interests without feeling guilty. Recognizing that only by taking care of themselves can they be able to help others may help them adopt a more assertive attitude.

Enneagram Type 3 at Work—The Ambitious Goal Getter

Enneagram Type 3 at work shows incredible drive, as they are determined to succeed. Threes are natural leaders, results-driven, efficient, practical, and able to think on their feet or resolve problems as they arise.

Extroverted and energetic, they easily make connections and climb the corporate ladder. However, they may be impatient with people who are not as driven and fast-paced as they are.

Moreover, while they are top performers at whatever they choose to do, they may be too competitive at times. Plus, their obsession with success and social image easily leads them to workaholism and job burnout while also damaging their personal relationships.

Threes need to understand that work/life balance is essential to success. Workaholism provides short-term results but leads to failure in the long run, causing exhaustion, which results in bad professional decisions. Only by paying more attention to their personal lives can they reach their full potential at work.

Curious about more Enneagram Type 3 traits and in need of a laugh? Check out our Enneagram 3 memes page for a good time.

Enneagram Type 4 at Work—The Original Thinker

Enneagram Type 4 at work focuses on finding ways to express their individuality and unique talents. Introverted and imaginative, Fours will always offer a different perspective on any issue, inspiring their coworkers to approach work with more creativity.

In addition, they have a good grasp of the psychological factors at play at work, which allows them to empathize with people from various backgrounds.

However, despite their talents and empathy, they may often feel less worthy than others. As a result, they can also be a bit perfectionistic, striving to accomplish something extraordinary to compensate for their low self-esteem.

Focusing on the good things they accomplish at work and learning not to take things personally are both crucial for Fours. They would also do well to avoid isolating themselves and instead spend more time interacting with their coworkers.

Want to understand your colleagues' academic strengths and compatibility? Try our Type Guesser Academic test.

Enneagram Type 5 at Work—The Expert Analyst

Enneagram Type 5 at work is a treasure trove of knowledge, experience, and competence. Analytical and knowledge-seeking, they are exceptional problem solvers and strategists who thrive in autonomous roles.

Moreover, they communicate in a clear, concise manner, focusing on efficiency, and are extremely reliable. Thanks to their logical thinking and deep insights, Fives always offer fresh perspectives on business matters.

When it comes to building connections, they are very reserved and formal. Additionally, they may be prone to withholding information, which may affect their work and their relationships at work. That’s because they are highly introverted and distrustful of other people.

Fives need to understand the value and benefits of teamwork. Their reluctance to rely on anyone and share knowledge can significantly affect their career progress. Mastering the art of collaboration is essential for the Fives to reach their full potential.

Enneagram Type 6 at Work—The Careful Trouble-Shotter

Enneagram 6 at work is the most loyal, conscious, and diligent worker any employer can wish for. Security-oriented and highly aware of every possible risk related to their field of work, they are unmatched in planning, strategizing, and anticipating possible problems.

Thorough and detail-oriented, Sixes are very considerate in their communication and excellent team players who make everyone feel appreciated. Building positive relationships and a harmonious work environment is important to them, as it makes them feel safe.

Sixes excel in risk assessment and are highly responsible, but they can also be too cautious, pessimistic, reluctant to change, and resistant to any kind of innovation. Prone to overthinking, they are highly susceptible to stress and burnout.

The root cause of their strong focus on safety is their lack of self-confidence. As a general rule, Sixes are far more competent than they give themselves credit for, and they need to learn to believe in themselves and their abilities. The more self-confident they are, the easier they will find it to accept changes.

Enneagram Type 7 at Work—The Creative Thinker

Enneagram Type 7 at work displays contagious enthusiasm about the tasks they like and that inspire their creativity. They are energetic and passionate, and they enjoy variety in their everyday tasks. Their innovative spirit and willingness to try new things make them the go-to people for fresh ideas.

Spontaneous, playful, and curious, Sevens easily make connections at work. They enjoy brainstorming sessions and thrive in dynamic environments. However, they freeze in uncomfortable situations and may struggle to complete tasks, especially when they don’t find them inspiring and fun.

Sevens need to develop emotional maturity to be able to consistently maintain their focus and finish the tasks they start. Until they learn to foster persistence, they are prone to jumping from one job to another, which, while offering variety, may hinder their career progress.

Enneagram Type 8 at Work—The Big Boss

Enneagram Type 8 at work is assertive, action-oriented, and efficient. Eight aspires to a position of authority and is not frightened of the responsibilities that come with it. That’s because they have an overwhelming desire to dominate their surroundings. They are skilled communicators and excellent leaders who know how to get what they need from other people.

Eights have a strong presence and are capable of making tough decisions. Brave, strong, and composed in the face of adversity, they are capable of great things.

However, they may come across as too dominant, and they have a tendency to be too confrontational. Eights are not the type to bottle up their frustration; rather, they let it all out.

Their bravery and will are admirable, but they risk alienating those who could be on their side if they do not develop an appreciation for different points of view and practice diplomacy.

Enneagram Type 9 at Work—The Communication Expert

At work, Enneagram Type 9 usually takes on the role of mediator and maintains a harmonious environment where everyone can be productive.

Nines value stability and are excellent at managing conflicts, always finding a way to foster collaboration. They easily adapt to changes and are great team players to whom everyone turns for help and advice.

However, while they communicate smoothly with everyone at work, they rarely express their own views, especially when they believe they could cause any kind of disagreement.

Moreover, they tend to procrastinate because they have trouble saying ‘no’ to things they do not want to do or are not good at. For this reason, their coworkers often see them as unambitious.

Nines need to learn to voice their opinions and recognize the value of expressing their personal views. Practicing assertive communication may be the solution to all their struggles, as learning to set boundaries will leave more room for saying ‘yes’ to things they like. As a result, they will not have the need to procrastinate or avoid conflicts.

You can take our DISC assessment to learn how your behavior affects your work interactions.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

With any luck, you have learned something new about dealing with coworkers of varying personalities and styles and maybe even about how to step up your game.

Now, let’s round off by reminding you of some of the key traits of each Enneagram at work:

• Eights and Threes like to take on leadership roles.
• Ones and Sixes make sure that everything is done by the book.
• Fours, Fives, and Sevens are a great source of creative ideas.
• Twos and Nines are true team players and smooth communicators who make sure everyone feels valued.

Explore how Enneagram can enhance your career by listening to these top Enneagram podcasts.