Page 180 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

Become an Excellent Communicator 155

self-deprecating comment insincere (false humility), since he pres-
ents a plan that is so obviously well thought out.
If Alex wanted to use e-mails to heighten his awareness of his
Enneagram style language patterns, he could do the following:

• Talk less about his own actions and achievements.
• Use language that focuses more on the specific task and the
other people involved.
• Neither inflate nor dismiss the importance of his performance
and actions.
• Present his ideas in a more straightforward way.
• Invite a response.

For example, Alex could rewrite his e-mail in the following way:

Dear friends,
I’m away on business, yet I wanted to offer some
thoughts about our project, ideas that came to my mind after
reading the contributions several of you have already made.
[Continue outlining the project.]
I will look forward to hearing your reactions to these ideas
and to the discussion we will have.
Alex

Enneagram Style Fours

Create Genuine Relationships
Fours like nothing better than to develop genuine
relationships, which most Fours would call authen-
tic relationships. With little patience for what they
perceive to be superficial conversations, Fours
enjoy deep bonds with others, and their ability to
help people discuss difficult issues cements rela-
tionships both inside and outside of work.