The Enneagram for Business
Introducing your new CEO of business. Chief Enneagram Officer.
Your “why” is the compass of your business. Yes, you need a great product, tangible skills, and a can-do attitude, but you also need to understand yourself in order to be successful.
I spent years thinking my business struggles were strategy problems. Wrong offer. Wrong timing. Wrong market.
Then I found the Enneagram and realized the pattern wasn’t in my business. It was in me. Yes, things can feel uncertain right now. The job market is in flux, global conflict is impossible to ignore, and it can feel like the ground is constantly shifting beneath us. But at the end of the day, we all need to sustain ourselves. And that means asking the bigger question: how am I getting in my own way?
As an Enneagram 7, I know how I get in my own way. I thrive in ideas and stumble with follow through. I have the vision but the details can be boring. Shiny objects excite me and dull ones bring me to tears. That’s why coaching is my gift (I can see a higher vision for you than you can see for yourself) but also why I have to run a very tight ship when it comes to operations and accounting. I channel my inner Enneagram 1 to run my company: structure, order, discernment. Those things do not come naturally to me.
How about you? What do you actually need in order to thrive? And how is your Enneagram type shaping that answer, whether you are aware of it or not?
Here are some tried and true (and often overlooked) blind spots by Enneagram type for business owners. Understanding these barriers will keep you one step ahead of the game. (If you don’t know your type, take the quiz here. More on types here)
Business Blind Spots by Enneagram Type (pro tip: these patterns also show up when you work for someone else!)
Type 1 (Perfectionist) founders burn out chasing perfection. They struggle to hit send or put themselves out there due to fear of failing. The result? A business that can’t grow and too much shame to ask for help.
Type 2 (Helper) business owners thrive in relationship building and connecting but can lack focus when it comes to strategy. This leads to a happy team but a potential loss in revenue. Set boundaries and have a clear business plan.
Type 3 (Achiever) founders appear like they have everything figured out but a tendency to over optimize and be seen as successful may have them bypassing the due diligence necessary to run a sustainable business. Mistakes get made. Take the time to plan, you won’t regret it.
Type 4 (Creative) leaders can get so deep in their purpose they forget to automate their operations. Yes, passion drives the mission but don’t forget to tend to the numbers as well. (Or find a co-founder whose skills are complimentary!)
Type 5 (Specialist) business owners are the Google of the business world. So deep in innovation, data and facts, they are the early adopters. The problem? You need actual paying customers. Which means building relationships. Step out of your comfort zone and go to a meetup or find an accountability partner who will get you out of your comfort zone.
Type 6 (Loyalist) can get stuck in their head and fear taking action. So much thought goes into choosing the right answer that no progress is made. Work on self-trust. You have the answers inside of you so your business can thrive.
Type 7 (Enthusiast) founders are so busy brainstorming and inspiring they can forget the details. Repelled by boredom and often avoidant, a Type 7 does not want to slow down and do inventory or manage their CRM, but consistency is queen when it comes to running a business. Block off time and then reward yourself with something fun.
Type 8 (Controller) founders run a business like they do everything else, with ambition and intensity. Where they err is holding their cards too tight, they resist vulnerability which makes it hard to build trust. Slow down, be curious and engage with customers and stakeholders. Be open to connection before it’s too late.
Type 9 (Peacemaker) are motivated by harmony, they do not want to ruffle the feathers. In business, sometimes it means grabbing the low hanging fruit and not moving towards the big goal. Make a point of starting your day with hard stuff so the rest of the day can flow with ease.
Need more than a one-liner? Set up a call here.
How do I find out my type?
Take this FREE quiz. (Created by moi)
Get your personalized guide here.
Book a 1:1 session here.
Team building with the Enneagram
Enneagram Lifestyle Edits:
Each week I share small, Enneagram type-informed ways to live a little better. This week’s theme is money.
Like many of you, I am currently reading Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden about a woman blindsided by her divorce. This is not uncommon. It happened in my family, I have coached clients through this and seen it with friends. Divorce is often financially devastating for women. We don’t talk about it enough.
When it comes to money, there are two key pillars. How we spend our money and our relationship to money. Both are equally important. The practical and the emotional. As someone who always has a fiction and non-fiction book on the go, I am currently reading I Will Teach you to be Rich by Ramit Sethi. Naturally it starts with the concept of compound savings, but in order to be at peace with yourself you must also understand your “why” when it comes to financial freedom. (Tapping into your Enneagram/motivation will also shed light on your spending habits and philosophies).
This week’s challenge:
Look at the gaps in your business and then look at your Enneagram type. Set one small goals for the week that can help break down a business barrier and move you forward.
See you next week,
Ali