Enneagram Leadership Styles: How Your Type Shapes Your Leadership Strengths and Blind Spots
Leadership is not one-size-fits-all. Each individual brings unique strengths, traits, and challenges to the table. Understanding your leadership style is a key component of personal and professional development, especially when you are working in a team or leading others.
One of the most insightful frameworks to assess leadership styles is the Enneagram, a powerful tool used in leadership coaching, team development, and professional assessments. By examining each Enneagram type, leaders can identify their strengths, potential blind spots, and how to maximize their effectiveness with the help of a well-rounded team.
Enneagram 1: The Perfectionist Leader
Detail-focused and process-oriented leaders, 1s care about the look and feel of things. They are disciplined leaders who will see goals and projects through to completion, but they need time to think things through and be able to get it just right. Excellent at writing in most capacities, from magazine articles to workplace policies, they are very values-driven.
They will take the time to pause and check in to see if values are still aligned.
They can be critical of others, setting high performance expectations. They want things to be perfect, including the people around them; they may be rigid and difficult to work with as a result. They can say (and definitely think) things like, “Why can’t you just get it right?” but they are hardest on themselves. Similarly, their ability to critique makes them great at curating projects.
A 1 will thrive in environments with time and space to take care of details and think things through. They need structure in their schedule and the ability to manage their time as their own. A clean, well-organized space is key for a 1.
Practice: Embrace acceptance. Learn to let go of perfection and allow creativity to flourish. Bring in support from other types to balance your approach and help you remain flexible.
Enneagram 2: The Caregiver Leader
2s are leaders who put people first; they have big hearts and lead with great care and love for their teams, clients, and work. They tend to focus on how they can be as helpful as possible with clients and how they can over-deliver in their work. They are people-focused, generous, and full of empathy – they prioritize relationships and are highly attuned to the needs of others. Their natural ability to connect helps build trust and loyalty within their teams.
They’re always happy to help, but are they helping themselves?
A 2s tendency to over-give can lead to burnout. They may struggle to set healthy boundaries, and their desire to help can sometimes prevent others from developing their own capabilities. While they are generous with their time and energy, they can tend toward going over scope or over-giving in a self-sacrificing way. When asked how they are as bosses, the response give often begins with, “They’re a nice person but…” which is never a great start to that answer.
The environment that 2 leaders thrive in is warm and inviting, a place for others to sit and have a tea. Surrounded by momentos of love (cups with positive messages, pictures of family) and a box of tissues at the ready. Ideally, that space includes a door that closes so they can maintain good boundaries.
Practice: Learn to pause before offering help. Empower others by asking if they need assistance rather than automatically jumping in. Respect and maintain your boundaries to maintain long-term effectiveness.
Enneagram 3: The Achiever Leader
The leadership style of a 3 is ambitious, goal-driven, and action-oriented. They are great at implementing big ideas and keeping the motivation high for the team. They care deeply about others doing their best work and, as a result, help teams set goals and take action. They love plans, strategy, operations, and especially a challenge to solve – 3s are great problem solvers. Put them in front of the crowd or a camera, and they will shine – sharing ideas, speaking to the media, you name it – they love the spotlight.
3s are people who want to accomplish (a lot).
A fear of failure can cause them to be overly focused on success and status, which can sometimes lead to a lack of vulnerability or reluctance to acknowledge mistakes. Their drive to win can also create a competitive atmosphere that may feel draining to others. They can stew in near mistakes and worry about self-image.
A competitive and energetic environment is where a 3 will feel the most motivated. Ideally, it involves variety and the structure to be able to set and crush BHAG (big hairy audacious goals)
Practice: Find balance by spending time away from work to recharge and recalibrate your sense of success. Embrace vulnerability and allow room for failure as a part of growth.
Enneagram 4: The Individualist Leader
The leadership style is purpose-driven and deeply creative. They bring unique perspectives and innovative ideas to the table, making them valuable for brainstorming and problem-solving. Their ability to empathize with others makes them exceptional at providing emotional support and fostering authenticity within teams. They are great listeners who encourage others to be authentically themselves while creating a feeling of safety and trust.
When things are hard in life, 4s will always show up.
Their emotional intensity can lead to reactive decision-making and a tendency to focus on what’s missing or wrong in a project. They may also struggle with feelings of inadequacy or not doing enough, which can create anxiety and self-doubt.
Their ideal environment is creative; they appreciate beauty and want things to look good. Think: colour-coded spreadsheets, well-decorated lunch room, they want form AND function. There should be autonomy and space to share and test out ideas.
Practice: Cultivate gratitude by focusing on the positive aspects of your work and team. This will help you maintain balance, celebrate the people you work with, and have a more positive outlook.
Enneagram 5: The Investigator Leader
The 5 leader is strategic, analytical, and highly knowledgeable. They excel at deep thinking, research, and data-driven decision-making. Their curiosity and thirst for knowledge often lead to groundbreaking insights and innovative solutions.
They can be quiet leaders who aren’t celebrated or appreciated enough in society.
Blind Spots: They can become emotionally detached and overly protective of their time and energy, which may make them appear uninterested in collaboration. Their tendency to hoard information can hinder team collaboration and growth.
They are best suited to environments with a quiet place to think, plenty of autonomy, and abundant resources. They also love data! They need and want to be able to analyze and process so as not to rush decisions – ideally, in an uncluttered and simple space that includes the newest tech.
Practice: Focus on connecting emotionally with others (rather than overthinking) and allow yourself to engage more with people outside your immediate expertise. This will help you develop deeper relationships and build stronger teams. Consider a tech-free walk or watching a sappy movie.
Enneagram 6: The Loyalist Leader
Exceptional at risk assessment and crisis management, the 6 is loyal and dependable. Their careful planning makes them great leaders in high-stakes environments. They build strong trust within their teams and always look out for others' safety and security.
Be brave and trust your gut.
Their tendency to overthink and doubt their decisions can slow down action and cause indecisiveness. Their fear of risk may also discourage their team from taking necessary actions when opportunities arise.
The ideal environment for a 6 is warm and inviting for others to come in. They also love spreadsheets on a wall or a printed year-long calendar to reference at a glance. Places stocked with highlighters and post-it notes make it easy to keep up with their to-do lists.
Practice: Build courage by taking calculated risks and trusting your intuition. This will help you overcome indecision and empower your team to act confidently.
Enneagram 7: The Enthusiast Leader
7 leaders are warm, joyful and crave variety. With big ambitions and big dreams, they are full of ideas, boundless energy, and optimism. They inspire teams with their contagious enthusiasm and love for new challenges. They bring creativity, fun, and spontaneity to any team environment.
They will throw spaghetti at the wall without thinking it through.
Their tendency to jump from one idea to another or to think things out loud can create confusion among their team. They may also avoid difficult conversations or situations, preferring to focus on the positive and ignore the negative.
A fun, dynamic environment lets a 7 leader shine – innovative spaces (think: colourful, bright, upbeat music) with an open door. Ideally, it would include a mini fridge with the latest healthy sodas and snacks.
Practice: Develop discipline and focus by creating actionable plans for your ideas. Learn to prioritize follow-through and provide clear direction for your team.
Enneagram 8: The Challenger Leader
Fiery, passionate leaders who want to take action. They are confident, decisive, and assertive leaders who thrive in high-pressure environments. Their ability to take charge and make quick decisions makes them effective in crisis situations. They are passionate about protecting their team and achieving results.
“The time is now!” could be the 8s motto.
Their desire for control and directness can make them seem intimidating and less approachable. They may struggle with trusting others and allowing them to take the lead, which can lead to micromanaging. Tendency to be controlling of outcomes and results makes for a stressful work environment.
A calming environment helps the 8 leader stay grounded. Places that are dynamic but still have the structure and space for focus. Ideally, there’s a gym nearby for them to blow off steam when things get spicy.
Practice: Let go of the need for control and embrace a more collaborative approach. Allow others to lead and create space for emotional vulnerability. Show your softer side and let someone else order lunch.
Enneagram 9: The Peacemaker Leader
9 leaders are easygoing, diplomatic, and supportive. They have a strong sense of integrity and care deeply about harmony, community, and giving back. While they excel at creating calm, balanced environments and ensuring that team members feel valued and heard, their relaxed demeanor can mask their internal state of worry.
Remember, it’s okay to speak up (and to say “no”) – it can create more harmony in the long run.
Blind Spots: Their fear of conflict can prevent them from addressing issues head-on, and their tendency to avoid difficult conversations can create unresolved tension. They may also struggle with assertiveness, leading to miscommunication and missed opportunities.
The ideal environment for a 9 leaders is calm, creative, and clean. A place that is both quiet and visually appealing – clean lines and balanced colours – matter to them.
Practice: Practice assertiveness by speaking up early in situations. Encouraging open dialogue will foster a more harmonious work environment.
No matter your Enneagram type, understanding your leadership strengths and blind spots is key to professional development and creating high-performing teams. The goal is not to “fix” weaknesses but to leverage the strengths of others through effective facilitation and coaching. Consider getting to know your leadership style better; learning more about yourself clarifies how you can complement your team’s dynamic. Whether you are in the C-suite or managing a small team, embracing the Enneagram framework can lead to a deeper understanding of your leadership potential and improve team collaboration.
Want to learn more about your leadership style and how to build stronger teams? Reach out for personalized leadership coaching and team development facilitation. Let’s work together to unlock your full potential and build a team that shines.