Page 196 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

Become an Excellent Communicator 171

I would love to talk to you—I know you are busy too—home
phone: 318-277-3993—weekends are best
Daughter is getting married on April 7 to a New
Zealander—wonderful man—in Glasgow, Scotland—small
wedding, only the two of them—more later
Take care,
Leslie

ANALYSIS Leslie’s e-mail illustrates the Seven’s tendency to think,
talk, and move at a rapid rate. Leslie talks about herself, offers her
phone number, and highlights her daughter’s wedding plans, all
in a brief e-mail. Many details, however, are not included—for
example, why Leslie is so busy, who will initiate the telephone call,
and why the wedding is taking place in Scotland when the bride
is from the United States.
Leslie’s e-mail uses phrases rather than complete sentences,
uses a dash rather than a period at the end of a thought, and some
capital letters and commas are missing. Leslie’s optimism is evi-
dent, as she implies that everything is going well in her life and
mentions that her prospective son-in-law is “wonderful.”
Although the e-mail is short, Leslie’s primary focus is on what
she is doing, with limited reference to the recipient of the e-mail.
While individuals with several Enneagram styles can exhibit this
same tendency to focus on themselves, giving the impression
(almost always unintended) that their own life and activities are
more interesting and important than those of others, Sevens do so
using an upbeat tone.
Leslie could use her e-mails to become more conscious of her
Enneagram style language patterns by following these guidelines:

• Elaborate on problems or concerns as well as positive
information.
• Use complete sentences.
• Pay more attention to punctuation.
• Focus on the e-mail recipient as well as on herself.