Page 114 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

Strive for Self-Mastery 91

time was I talking? At any time during the conversation, did you
feel that I was interrupting, not listening, or appearing dis-
tracted? Do this at least once a day with different people. Listen
fully to the answers, without giving counterarguments or expla-
nations for why you did what you did. Your task is to have some-
one reflect your behavior back to you, whether you agree with the
reflection or not.

LEARN TO GO INWARD The biggest challenge for you will be to
focus on your physical sensations and emotional reactions. For an
hour each day, practice placing your focus on your emotions and
physical sensations. Once you have developed the ability to do this,
practice this inner focusing on a regular basis, particularly at times
when you feel either highly stimulated or anxious.

DEVELOP YOUR EMOTIONAL REPERTOIRE Using the categories mad,
glad, sad, and afraid, make lists of all the events in the past year
during which you have felt each of these emotions. Analyze your
lists to determine which of these four feelings you tend to experi-
ence most and least often. Spend one hour thinking about how
you can expand your emotional repertoire by eliciting feelings in
the emotional categories that you experience least often. Write
down your answers. This activity will help you to relate more
deeply both to yourself and to others.

Enneagram Style Eights

Eights pursue the truth, like to keep situations
under control, want to make important things hap-
pen, and try to hide their vulnerability.