How to Review Your Leadership Style, by Enneagram Type

Goals, purpose, success – all words associated with what you do, how you do it, and why you do it. Although their meaning is unique, the necessity to measure them is universal. Learning how to review your leadership style through the lens of your Enneagram type transforms the way you lead.

Type 1: The Reformer

Of all the Enneagram types, you are most drawn to self-evaluation. Both as a strength and a weakness, your focus naturally seeks perfection in yourself and the world around you. As you intentionally step into the process of self-review, do so carefully with an ample dose of grace.

Reviewing Your Type 1 Leadership Style

1. Overwhelm your Inner Critic by celebrating your success. In what areas did you excel this year?
2. How were your thoughts, decisions, and stances challenged this year? Think about trusted peers and associates, were there times when their differing views offered similar or better results than yours?
3. As you consider how your time and energy were spent over the last year, which time and energy investments were most exciting? Looking back, in which areas do you wish time could have been lessened?

Type 2: The Helper

Much of your time, energy, and emotional capacity is given to others. Your compassion and empathy bolster others, while at times depleting your reserves. As you consider the way you lead others, remember that you lead best when you are your best.

Reviewing Your Type 2 Leadership Style

1. Celebrate yourself. When did you choose yourself over the last year? How did you feel in those moments?
2. Considering your time, energy, and emotional capacity, what types of boundaries helped or may have helped you navigate professional relationships more successfully?
3. How have your interactions with those closest to you changed? When others struggle, how do you react as a leader? Were there instances when you wish you had reacted differently?

Type 3: The Achiever

You are not just what you do. You are not just a title or accolade. Measuring your success as a leader requires you to dive deeper into why and how you lead. As difficult as this may seem, take time to slowly consider how you impacted those around you in the last year.

Reviewing Your Type 3 Leadership Style

1. Examine your calendar. How much blank space exists? Have you intentionally given time for rest? Being physically depleted doesn’t serve anyone well.
2. How have you championed your peers and associates in the last year? Who has benefited from your encouragement? In the year ahead, who would you like to encourage?
3. In what ways have you grown and changed that others may not notice?

Type 4: The Individualist

In the pursuit of authenticity, a significant portion of your efforts may have already been spent comparing yourself to others. Building an atmosphere where individuality and excellence exist for everyone requires you to appreciate your unique personality.

Reviewing Your Type 4 Leadership Style

1. Describe yourself and those with whom you work. How does each individual fulfill a vital role in your team?
2. When have you felt most insecure about your abilities over the last year? What caused those feelings?
3. When did you feel most authentic? When operating as the truest version of yourself, in what unique ways are you able to influence those around you?

Type 5: The Thinker

There is little doubt that you haven’t learned new things this year or deepened your understanding of topics connected to your work. Balancing your internal focus with the external expectations of leadership is an ongoing challenge as you grow professionally.

Reviewing Your Type 5 Leadership Style

1. When were you able to share your knowledge with others?
2. Consider your interactions, which felt energizing and fulfilling? In situations where you felt emotionally drained, what common circumstances describe those events?
3. Describe your connection with others. How do you show interest in them and their work? What adjustments could you make that would benefit those you lead?

Type 6: The Protector

The very practice of intentionally reflecting on the past demonstrates your desire to lead well. When done with a conscious tone of reflection, you can appreciate how both preparedness and responsiveness intertwine.

Reviewing Your Type 6 Leadership Style

1. How does the past year compare to what you anticipated? Did you feel well-prepared or were there times you didn’t expect?
2. As you faced unpredictability, how were those around you affected? Who do you allow to speak into your planning?
3. Were there moments when you pushed yourself towards risk? When you faced situations of increased risk or uncertainty, how did you prepare and subsequently conquer those challenges?

Type 7: The Adventurer

Reflection and evaluation when done objectively bring to light instances and obstacles you may otherwise choose to avoid. As a strong leader, your willingness to face the less than enjoyable aspects of work demonstrates your commitment to growth.

Reviewing Your Type 7 Leadership

1. What goals did you enter the year with? What progress did you make on your goals during the last year?
2. What were the most challenging experiences of the last year? What experiences would you avoid if you could? When was it hardest to find the “good” in your work? What was the most challenging thing you pushed through?
3. Looking back, when would it have been helpful to have someone helping you?

Type 8: The Challenger

Although you may believe everything necessary has been said and done, one of the best gifts you can give those with whom you work is your attention. Your passion serves others well, as does understanding their needs and desires even more deeply.

Reviewing Your Type 8 Leadership Style

1. Considering those with whom you work closely, are there relationships where friction frequently arises? What scenarios seem to stand out?
2. What subjects or situations cause you the most frustration?
3. What have you learned about others in the last year? How did you create opportunities where honestly and learning could occur?

Type 9: The Peacemaker

Your presence and the atmosphere you create are necessary. A world without those who truly seek peacefulness amongst others feels chaotic and overwhelming. At the same time, the peace you desire cannot overshadow your value as an individual, especially as a leader.

Reviewing Your Type 9 Leadership

1. Do you feel at peace with your relationships and the impact you’ve made?
2. At times when you felt frustrated or angry, how did you work those emotions? What were the impact on the situation, others, and your work?
3. When did you take a stand on behalf of yourself or others?

How to review your leadership style

Most importantly, you are much more than a number.

Learning how to review your leadership style by Enneagram type expands your self-awareness, but shouldn’t limit your personal growth. Invest in self-reflection. Welcome constructive criticism. Pursue a better version of yourself and your God-given purpose.

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