I’m confident that if I were to ask if you desired a more harmonious workplace, you would emphatically say “YES!” without hesitation.
Yet harmony and peace in the workplace is difficult because a variety of different work personalities are at play.
Whether you log in to Slack or walk into an office — different personalities at work impact the success and rapport of your team (and whether or not you feel at ease in your environment).
A work personality is more than just your behavior or preferences. It encompasses how you handle stress and how you communicate with others.
In short, work personalities refer to all the unique traits you and your teammates bring to the table.
But what does a work personality look like in practice? How can you lead each unique one successfully?
To answer that question, I’ll guide you through nine personality types from a popular personality framework called the Enneagram.
By relying on and applying these insights, you can develop and lead a stronger, more innovative team that is both diverse in thought AND more harmonious in action.
Win-win!
Key Takeaways
- There are nine Enneagram types: The Reformer, The Helper, The Achiever, The Individualist, The Investigator, The Loyalist, The Enthusiast, The Challenger and The Peacemaker.
- Recognizing your employees’ personality types encourages empathy, improves communication and fosters a more harmonious work environment.
- Great leaders embrace different work personalities to personalize feedback, increase workplace collaboration and build a team that is ready to face every potential challenge.
Enneagram Types and the Workplace
Thousands of years after Socrates famously emphasized the importance of “knowing thyself,” humans have developed advanced solutions — like the Enneagram — to do exactly that.
The Enneagram is a personality tool that analyzes your core motivations, desires, fears and anxieties, applies a framework to help you better understand yourself and gives specific ways to help you grow into all that you have potential to be.
Using these insights, the Enneagram categorizes you into one of nine personality types.
- The Reformer
- The Helper
- The Achiever
- The Individualist
- The Investigator
- The Loyalist
- The Enthusiast
- The Challenger
- The Peacemaker
As a leader, I’ve learned that “knowing thyself” extends to “knowing thy team.” That means moving beyond passive participation and into proactive, mindful leadership of people within your circle of influence.
By understanding your team’s core motivations and fears, you can cultivate a workplace rich in skills and abilities that work together like a well-oiled machine.
To help you on your way, I’ve outlined the nine Enneagram types and ideas to become a better leader for each personality in the workplace.
1. The Reformer
If you know a perfectionist, you likely know an Enneagram Type One.
Reformers strive for excellence and have a strong sense of right and wrong. They are organized, detail-oriented and operate at a high standard in or out of the workplace.
These are all wonderful traits.
But, their consistent commitment to perfection leads to struggles with impatience and burnout.
If you lead a team with Reformers, consider how this mindset impacts their health and well-being. Be aware of how their self-imposed expectations can extend beyond themselves to the rest of your team.
How to effectively communicate with a Reformer:
- Avoid activating their inner critic. Reformers are already hard on themselves, so be gentle and direct with feedback.
- Provide detailed explanations. Reformers thrive with clear communication. Give them examples to support your thought processes.
- Empower Reformers to delegate. Employees with this work personality type feel a lot of responsibility or inner pressure. Let them know they don’t have to take on more than is necessary.
2. The Helper
Caring, empathetic, self-sacrificing — it’s no surprise these traits describe The Helper.
At their core, Helpers want nothing more than to feel loved and accepted. You’ll find them organizing a happy hour or reminding co-workers of company birthdays.
Helpers will bend over backward to care for the team and tend to value interpersonal relationships above business results.
Co-workers will often describe these employees as “the glue” that holds a team together. But sometimes, their eagerness can come across as people-pleasing.
How to effectively communicate with a Helper:
- Express gratitude to build confidence. These team players never miss an anniversary or birthday. Make sure you show appreciation for all their contributions.
- Go beyond “How are you?” during check-ins. Helpers put others above themselves — even to their detriment. Use active listening and ask them direct questions to measure their well-being.
- Everyone has bad days! Having a Helper on your team is great, but don’t expect them to be warm and caring 365 days a year.
3. The Achiever
Here are a few signs you have an Achiever on your team.
They love a good to-do list, are the first to raise their hand for a new assignment and are highly energetic or task-oriented.
Sound like someone you know?
Achievers are charming and constantly looking for ways to prove their value. Working with an Achiever means you can count on them to get the job done. And they’ll do it well.
Just watch out for over-the-top levels of competitiveness.
How to effectively communicate with an Achiever:
- Give it to them straight. This work personality type prefers directness over beating around the bush.
- Trust them with independence. Give Achievers the information they need, but let them come to you if they have questions.
- Make them feel appreciated. Despite their accomplishments, this work personality fears appearing inadequate.
4. The Individualist
Individualists approach the workplace and the world with their own well-being front and center.
This isn’t always a negative, but even the best leaders can struggle to manage an Individualist.
People with this work personality are highly creative and offer a unique perspective.
More than anything, they want to know that they are a significant part of your team.
Learning how to deal with strong personalities at work is the key to getting this type of person on board with your team’s core values.
How to effectively communicate with an Individualist:
- Avoid comparing them to others. As the name suggests, Individualists prefer feeling unique from the herd.
- Share in their passions. Encourage people with this work personality to share what excites them. Build upon that positive energy.
- Bring them back to the team. These employees can feel disconnected from their fellow co-workers. Remind them that while they may be an Individualist, there is no “I” in team.
5. The Investigator
Asking “why” is the Investigator’s greatest strength.
This personality type is curious, innovative and unafraid to tackle complex ideas or problems. They are observant and seek to understand the work around them — often independently.
The Investigator is also comfortable challenging the status quo. They don’t mind rocking the boat to get what they want. This can negatively impact the team or lead to positive change.
The end result matters less to an Investigator than the pursuit of knowledge.
How to effectively communicate with an Investigator:
- Don’t be afraid to challenge them. Ask thoughtful questions that move them toward your desired outcome.
- Frame feedback as suggestions. People with this work personality value their independence.
- Give them space to think. Investigators perform best when they can reflect on multiple possibilities.
6. The Loyalist
Are you prepared to go down with the ship? A Loyalist is.
This work personality is responsible, hard-working and trustworthy. They ask questions and excel at troubleshooting problems.
On the other hand, a Loyalist can fall into anxiety spirals. Help them focus on the present and avoid a “doomsday” mindset when things go wrong.
At their core, Loyalists want security and support. They thrive under a compassionate and empathetic leader.
How to effectively communicate with a Loyalist:
- Be constructive yet affirming. Loyalists struggle with insecurity, so deliver feedback in a supportive tone. This shows that you are in their corner.
- Proactively provide security. This work personality thrives when they feel like a member of the group. Share your vision of how they can support the team’s values.
- Honor their questions. Loyalists crave security and understanding. Build their confidence with guidance and encourage them to explore solutions independently.
7. The Enthusiast
Say hello to the life of the party.
Enthusiasts know how to bring the energy. They approach work and life with intense curiosity and can galvanize teammates toward a common goal.
I equate the Enthusiast to a kid in a candy store. It’s difficult to keep them on task when so many exciting things are catching their attention.
Where the Achiever loves crossing things off their to-do list, the Enthusiast leaves a trail of incomplete projects.
This work personality thrives under steady leadership and patient redirection.
How to effectively communicate with an Enthusiast:
- Check in frequently. With this personality in the workplace, misunderstandings are common. Make sure their expectations and outcomes align with your team roadmap.
- Celebrate their excitement! An Enthusiast’s greatest strength is their passion. Uplift this energy and give it a purpose instead of restricting it.
- Be clear and command focus. This work personality can pull distractions out of thin air. Keep them on track with direct conversations, deadlines and milestones.
8. The Challenger
Few people crave control more than a Challenger.
This work personality is confident, assertive and demands respect. Many people see those who align with this Enneagram type as confrontational or intimidating.
A Challenger rarely backs down.
At their best, this teammate uses their strength to inspire and make others’ lives better. However, they can also display toxic levels of independence to feel more protected and in control.
Leading a Challenger comes with obvious … challenges. This is how you can effectively deal with strong personalities at work.
How to effectively communicate with a Challenger:
- Double down on their strengths. Encourage them to take on leadership roles, but ensure they clearly understand expectations and consequences.
- Convey self-confidence. A Challenger respects strength. Match their energy with polite, direct feedback and don’t beat around the bush.
- Hold them accountable. If something goes wrong, encourage them to own it. Reaffirm that mistakes do not diminish their value — this helps them grow.
9. The Peacemaker
The Peacemaker is a breath of fresh air for your team.
People who identify as this personality in the workplace form strong friendships and provide stability. However, Peacemakers can struggle with innovation because they avoid even healthy disagreements or debates.
As a leader, you have to draw out a Peacemaker. Ask them for feedback directly — or even privately — to ensure you know their true thoughts apart from the group.
How to effectively communicate with a Peacemaker:
- Be gentle and kind. Aggression frustrates them, so deliver or request feedback with an understanding tone.
- Provide a roadmap. This work personality can lack motivation. Outline clear start times, milestones and deadlines to help them manage their time.
- Balance facts and feelings. Remember the person receiving the feedback. They need to know you care about them personally and professionally.
Tips for Leveraging All 9 Work Personalities
The foundation of a harmonious workplace is built upon mutual understanding.
When you know who your team is at their core, you can inspire them, amplify their strengths and navigate potential conflict with greater ease.
Here are some additional tips (from personal experience) for managing different personalities at work:
- Practice active listening. Bosses passively hear their teammates vs. leaders who actively listen. Show employees you care by repeating key points, avoiding distractions and asking questions.
- Adapt your communication style. Every employee has a nuanced work personality. Adapt your communication style based on the situation to bring out the best in them and your team.
- Exercise empathy. Indifference does not equal strength. Great leaders achieve positive outcomes by practicing empathy and prioritizing employee well-being.
- Provide constructive feedback. Giving feedback is a difficult yet essential aspect of leadership. Adapt your constructive conversations based on the work personalities outlined above.
- Encourage collaboration. Encourage a collaborative culture with regular touchpoints, group celebrations and clear goals.
- Cultivate a positive work environment. Things won’t always go your way. Accept this as reality and use it to learn, grow and innovate.
There are many steps on the journey to become a better leader. Understanding these nine work personalities is a great place to start.
Ask your employees what their personality type means to them and customize your communication style to meet their needs
The remote team at Awesome Motive is filled with diverse personalities that drive innovation. Want to work where your unique skills and perspective are valued? Check out the available opportunities at Awesome Motive.
To embracing our differences for the common good,
Thomas
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