Coaching with the Enneagram: Tips about Type 1's, for Leaders

The Enneagram is a valuable tool to use in a coaching style of leadership. Our coaching style can be adapted to get the best out of the interaction, particularly in managing and developing performance. The following tips will be useful if you know the Enneagram type of your staff member.  

TYPE 1 - THE PERFECTIONIST

Psychological defences focus on law, order and compliance. Concentration on eliminating mistakes.

•          Focus on eliminating imperfection and what is wrong in the world. Doing the right thing is very important. 

•          Responsible, self-disciplined, conscientious and hard working.  Great eye for detail.  Work before play.

•          High personal standards. Highly self-critical.

•          Value thrift, fairness, honesty and being responsible. Can resent unfairness or be critical of those doing the wrong thing.

Coaching Tips for Type 1

·    Help the type 1 to go easy on themself and to recognise that whatever they do they will do at a high standard.

·    Help the type 1 to name and get to know their inner critic so they can watch it come up and name it - and then tell it to go away.

·    Promote understanding of the debilitating influence of the strong inner critic.

·    Promote the practice let go, let go let go. Relax more. Laugh more – not so serious.

·    Look for perspective in terms of standard of completion to move towards completion.

·    Help the type 1 to offer a non-judgmental point of view and to reframe the situation.

·    Remind them that the goal is to be human not to be without fault.

·    Help them to verbalise how they are feeling and to reframe, noting that it is not so much what happens to us, but how we choose to respond.

·    Turn the focus to the positive and enriching experiences.

·    Find ways to be more open to pleasure and joy.

·    Encourage delegation.

·    Help bring perspective to the situation.

·    Help them to feel more relaxed and focused on outcomes of the session. 

·    Help them to understand that the session is about working together – it is not about criticism.

·    Provide constructive feedback focused on opportunity for learning rather than allowing the self-critic to hijack the session.

·    Focus on success and what brings joy.

·    Focus on the positive – what is good about this situation?

·    Encourage them to give themselves credit.

·    Help them to see things in broader perspective.

·    Build rapport.

Author: Dr Veronica Lunn

Veronica has had significant experience working with large and small organizations, industry groups and individuals, providing workshops, seminars, forums and one on one coaching. With a strong background working with local government and state government, as well as the private sector, Veronica is an accredited Enneagram practitioner and teacher and brings high level facilitation and relationship skills to Griffith Consulting.

For more information about Veronica or the Enneagram, please contact us here, today.