Page 155 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

130 What Type of Leader Are You?

Although some Eights are good at detail work, very few Eights
actually enjoy it, preferring to leave it to others. For most Eights,
goal setting is part of the big picture, but tactics are viewed as the
specifics of execution. Most Eight leaders would rather receive
honest and timely progress reports than be involved in the day-to-
day particulars of the work.
Finally, while Eights like to make big things happen and move
quickly, without a lot of smaller, preliminary steps, they can
become impatient and angry when their organizations, business
units, or teams do not proceed at as fast a pace as they would like.
When Richard was younger, one of his employees had a differ-
ent take on his leadership performance:

“Although I think Richard is a great person, his expectations
for himself and those who work for him are not sustainable.
He works too many hours without a break, and he gets frus-
trated when people don’t perform the way he wants or when
the organization puts any kind of obstacle in our path. Nothing
happens as fast or as well as he wants it to, but he can’t make
this happen all by himself. Details end up falling through the
cracks because we are all overextended and exhausted.”

Development Stretches for Eights

DEVELOP YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR You may think you already have
a well-developed sense of humor, but ask yourself this question:
Do I use my sense of humor at work as a way to laugh at myself
and my expectations? If you can laugh at your foibles, you will
work less excessively and enjoy yourself more at work.

BECOME MORE FLEXIBLE Make a list of all your strongest beliefs,
opinions, and ideas. Next, ask yourself: If I were to react less
intensely and become more open-minded about anything on this
list, would I perceive myself as being less strong? If your answer is
no, proceed to the next paragraph. However, if you answered yes,
tell yourself this: Being flexible is not the same as being weak, and