Page 191 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

166 What Type of Leader Are You?

the feedback recipient why she or he did something rather than
making assumptions.

Manage Conflict Constructively
Because Sixes have a keen sense for issue identification and prob-
lem solving, are easy to talk to, and often give insightful advice,
others like to talk to them about distressing issues. Sixes are often
able to defuse or resolve issues merely by sharing their perspec-
tive and suggestions.
When they are directly involved in a conflict, Sixes either face
it head on or avoid it altogether. In either case, conflict causes
them to feel anxious. When Sixes feel pressured by others—and
they often feel pressured because they put so much pressure on
themselves—or when they perceive someone as being untrust-
worthy, abusing authority, or disregarding his or her commitment
to the group, Sixes can become furious. They may not say any-
thing right away, but when they do, Sixes can be quite harsh. In
either case, the issues will undoubtedly be recycling in their
minds.

Influence Others
Sixes like to influence others to come around to their way of think-
ing, and they do this by identifying potential problems, discussing
issues with group members, and building support for what the Six
thinks is important.
Sixes can feel that their perspective is not receiving adequate
attention when others act without addressing these obstacles.
However, when their timing is right (i.e., when they do not iden-
tify problems too early) and when they frame problems as issues
with solutions rather than as negatives, Sixes have a strong impact
on others.

Using E-mail as a Developmental Stretch
Two e-mails from Sheldon, an attorney in a large law firm, were
sent to a human resource staff member in charge of an employee