Page 148 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

Know the Business: Think and Act Strategically 123

special attention to lines of responsibility and authority. The devel-
opment of realistic goals and concrete tactics from strategies is usu-
ally done in a team-oriented manner, with an emphasis on
resourceful problem solving.
Josh replaced a senior manager who was struggling in a key
leadership role. Six months into the new position, Josh was
described by one of his employees in this way:

“Our prior manager couldn’t handle the complexities of the job
and often retreated to his office behind a closed door. When
Josh came, the product we were supposed to deliver was six
months behind schedule, and we were over budget. Josh
simply immersed himself in all aspects of our work, got to
know each of us as individuals, renegotiated the budget with
senior management, met regularly with customers, and
created a team atmosphere where none had existed. The more
challenging the job, the more Josh rises to the challenge.”

A less experienced Six leader might find these complex chal-
lenges anxiety-producing and stressful rather than something to
attack with zest. Getting to know the structure, the systems, and
particularly the people in the organization can be a daunting task;
building relationships takes time, and Sixes tend not to completely
trust people until they have seen proof that trust is warranted.
With respect to thinking and acting strategically, less seasoned
Six leaders usually focus on goals and tactics because these ele-
ments are more concrete and predictable. While Sixes often pay
attention to the clarity of the mission, it can take them extra time
to gain the capacity to develop comprehensive, proactive, and
explicit strategies. Although they may back into strategies by
extrapolating strategic approaches from chosen goals and tactics,
the most useful strategies for teams, business units, and organiza-
tions are explicit ones.
Finally, Six leaders need to frame the vision, mission, strategies,
and goals in positive rather than negative terms. Most people find