Page 258 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

Make Optimal Decisions 233

Development Stretches for Fours

CHART 7.5 Fours: Development Stretches

Center of Intelligence Activities for Fours That Develop That Center
Head Center Objective analysis
Don’t let your personal experiences and feelings bias your
view of the facts; become more objective in your decision
making.
Astute insight
Develop insights of the mind in addition to insights of the
heart. Ask yourself: What do I think is true? in addition to
What do I feel is true?
Productive planning
Think through your decisions, using a logical as well as an
intuitive approach; if you get two different answers, ask
yourself which decision will provide the best result.
Heart Center Empathy
Examine your perceptions about what other people are
feeling about issues and decisions; make sure you are not
projecting your own emotional reactions onto others.
Authentic relating
Let others tell you their real thoughts and feelings about a
decision; be open to whatever is said.
Compassion
Remember that excessive emotionality does not help
either you or others when making decisions.
Body (Gut) Center Taking effective action
Don’t let feelings immobilize you and prevent you from
making a decision; action is one way to move through
emotional reactions.
Steadfastness
Being adamant and overly tenacious about a decision
rarely enlists people, but neither does being overly
compliant or passive. Find the middle ground.
Gut knowing
Ask yourself on a regular basis what your gut reactions
are to these questions: What do I really want? What
should I do here?