Page 184 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

Become an Excellent Communicator 159

ANALYSIS Althena’s e-mail uses the words I, my, me, and myself
14 times. In addition, most of the e-mail discusses Althena’s expe-
rience with a recent surgery, although the e-mail’s ostensible pur-
pose is to apologize for having to miss a business call. As a result
of Fours’ frequent use of personal words and stories, they are often
perceived as being “self-referencing”—that is, continually bringing
the conversation and attention back to themselves.
Although this e-mail is personal, warm, and informative, Althena
could increase her self-awareness by doing the following:

• Reducing the number of self-referencing words (I, my, me,
mine, and myself)
• Using language that is less personalized and more objective
• Focusing the e-mail more on others than on herself

Here is a possible way Althena could rewrite her e-mail:

Hi everyone,
Thank you all for your concerns about my recent surgery.
The healing has gone remarkably well, and the biggest chal-
lenge right now is to slow down and let the recovery process
take its course.
Unfortunately, a doctor’s appointment will prevent me
from attending the scheduled conference call.
With regrets,
Althena

Enneagram Style Fives

Create Genuine Relationships
Fives develop respectful relationships because they
honor people’s privacy and make it their goal to pro-
vide relevant information to those who need it. Fives
also create intellectual rapport with others, providing
thoughtful perspectives and intellectual stimulation.