Page 259 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

234 What Type of Leader Are You?

Enneagram Style Fives

Five leaders approach decision making from an
analytical perspective, accumulating facts and piec-
ing them together in a logical fashion. Their deci-
sions are usually well thought through because
Fives take the time to make sure they do the nec-
essary research, assessing the pros and cons and
the potential impact of each alternative before
making their final decision.
Because Fives pay a great deal of attention to the organization’s
decision-making authority structure and culture, they rarely over-
step their lines of authority, and they usually make decisions that
are consistent with the operating practices of the company.
Fives primarily make decisions using their Head Center.
Although they do use their Heart and Body Centers, they are likely
to do so only as a feasibility check for a decision they have already
made based on rational data. However, Five leaders who have
done self-development work to help them avoid disengaging from
their emotions will use all three centers, and their decisions can
be very powerful ones.
Here’s an example of Beth, a Five leader, using an integrated
head, heart, and gut approach:

Beth was in a senior team meeting listening to the company
president outline his strategy proposal. He indicated that
professional development was crucial to the organization’s
success, and he proposed that employees who did not take
advantage of the development opportunities available to
improve their performance levels could not be assured of
ongoing employment at the company.
Just as the team was about to approve the strategy, Beth
said the following: “Wait a minute. We are about to make a
decision that will enlist no one. This is way too harsh. What
about people? It’s true that we need to change the strategy to