Fostering Psychological Safety with the Enneagram

I once worked with a leadership team full of talented, dedicated professionals who all deeply respected one another. Yet, their meetings were full of polite agreement, and the most important conversations always happened in pairs in the hallway afterward because, for this team, toxic positivity was the cultural norm. The team was fairly effective, but it wasn't quite meeting its full potential because it lacked one crucial ingredient: psychological safety.

Psychological safety is the cornerstone of a thriving work environment. It's where individuals feel empowered to express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns without fear of judgment or negative consequences (HBR, 2023). While many strategies can foster psychological safety, the Enneagram personality framework offers a particularly powerful approach, especially when combined with a scientifically-validated Enneagram assessment tool like the iEQ9.

Understanding the Enneagram

The Enneagram is a personality typing system that identifies nine distinct personality types, each with its own unique strengths, blind spots, and motivations. By understanding your Enneagram type and your colleagues' types, team members can gain valuable insights into each other's perspectives, behaviours, and how these unique personalities interact to shape team dynamics. 

How the Enneagram Enhances Psychological Safety

• Increased Understanding and Empathy: The Enneagram provides a framework for understanding our own and our colleagues' personality types, motivations, and communication styles. This can lead to greater empathy and understanding, which is essential for building trust and psychological safety.

• Breaking Down Defensive Mechanisms: The Enneagram can help individuals identify their core fears and motivations, allowing them to challenge limiting beliefs and behaviours that hinder authentic communication and connection. For example, ‘Type 1: Strict Perfectionists’ have a deep-seated fear of criticism, driving them to meticulously pursue perfection. While this can lead to high-quality work, it can also create a tense and judgmental work environment. When taken to extremes, this can result in harsh self-criticism and negative evaluations of others, deflating team members and hindering creativity. By recognising this pattern and cultivating self-compassion and forgiveness, Type 1s can create a more supportive atmosphere where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, fostering a healthier and more productive team dynamic.

• Building Trust: The Enneagram fosters a safe space where individuals can share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences openly and honestly. By understanding each other's Enneagram types, team members can develop empathy and compassion, recognising that everyone has strengths, weaknesses, and unique perspectives. This can strengthen relationships and build trust, creating a more collaborative and supportive work environment.

• Facilitating Courageous Conversations: The Enneagram can help individuals understand the underlying motivations behind their own and their colleagues' behaviour during conflicts. This can lead to more constructive and productive conversations. For instance, 'Type 8: Active Controllers,' driven by a fear of being controlled, often dominate discussions. To counteract this tendency, Type 8s can benefit from intentionally pausing during conversations to allow others to contribute. Setting a timer when speaking or counting to 10 after making a point can be effective strategies. Conversely, 'Type 9: Adaptive Peacemakers,' motivated by maintaining harmony, may tend to withdraw from conflicts. To address this, Type 9s can practise expressing their thoughts and feelings clearly and assertively. Pre-writing their thoughts can be a particularly helpful strategy in building confidence and ensuring their voices are heard. By understanding these personality-driven behaviours and implementing tailored strategies, team members can cultivate more courageous and productive conversations, leading to stronger relationships and better outcomes.

How to Become an Enneagram-Informed Team

1. Learn about the Enneagram: There are many resources available to help you learn about the Enneagram, from books to online courses to Instagram accounts. We recommend starting with Ian Morgan Cron’s podcast ‘Typology’ and Dr Ginger Lapid-Bogda’s book ‘Transform Your Team with the Enneagram’.

2. Book in an Enneagram Workshop: At ThriveWise, we offer personalised Enneagram workshops, providing tailored support to foster psychological safety and improve collaboration within your team. Our workshops provide a structured and supportive environment where individuals can explore their personality types, learn from each other, and develop the skills necessary to create a thriving team culture. We utilise the scientifically-validated iEQ9 assessment tool that provides a deeper understanding of individual personality types. By using the iEQ9, teams gain access to detailed and robust reports, like the iEQ9 Team Report, which sheds light on your team’s unique dynamics, communication styles, and potential areas of conflict. This comprehensive data empowers teams to build trust, harness diversity, and create sustainable change.

Curious to learn more or keen to book an Enneagram workshop for your team?