Coaching with the Enneagram: Tips about Type 4'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 4 - THE INDIVIDUALIST

Psychological defence seeks to establish a unique or special identity.
Focus on creating an emotional connection.

•          Focus upon being creative, artistic or unique.

•          Authenticity of feeling and emotional connection are highly valued.

•          Often feel something is missing in their lives - can be attracted to tragedy and romance and experience melancholy.

•          Deeply experience a wide range of moods from great joy to
depression and sensitive to the feelings of themselves and others

COACHING TIPS FOR TYPE 4’S:

·    Focus attention on what is positive and in the present.

·    Take the attention away from the feeling of being inherently flawed.

·    Support the 4 to move into purposeful action.

·    Practice listening.

·    Get into creative expression

·    Take a reality check from someone you trust.

·    Focus on what they have – not what is missing.

·    Acknowledge their uniqueness but ask them how they would like to be held accountable and then follow through.

·    Encourage focus on what strategies they can use now in the physical world to move towards their desired outcomes.

·    Get them to become engaged with others and look at ways they can help others.

·    Shift the attention away from self-absorption to a balanced way of interacting.

·    Focus on the breath to develop more groundedness.

·    Get them to recognise feelings for what they are – they are not a reflection of reality.

·    Get them to do a reality check.

·    Focus on the positives and what is real now.

·    Get them to acknowledge their actual gifts and talents.

·    Get them to focus on positive self-talk.

·    Acknowledge that you are a real person with strengths and with fallibility if envy comes up.

·    Get them to find the extraordinary in the ordinary and to appreciate the small things and enjoying what they already have.

·    Remember – one breath and one step at a time.

·    Practice gratitude.

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.