Page 269 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

244 What Type of Leader Are You?

Enneagram Style Eights

Eight leaders perceive making decisions as an
essential part of their job, and they view them-
selves as being highly skilled in this area. Eights’
certainty and courage come from their gut, since
they process information instinctively and usually
respond swiftly to issues that confront them.
More than people with any other Enneagram style, Eights sense
power and authority dynamics, being highly attuned to the orga-
nization’s decision-making authority structure and culture. This
doesn’t mean that Eights always follow the existing authority struc-
ture or make decisions in accordance with the organizational
culture. When Eights break the rules, they do so intentionally, and
they know that there may be consequences.
In addition, Eights factor the context of the decision into the
process, focusing particularly on the urgency of the decision. Most
Eights utilize their Head Center to process information (although
they tend not to need as much data as the Head Center styles, Five,
Six, and Seven) and to integrate this information with their gut
reactions. Some Eights also utilize their Heart Center to do the fol-
lowing: (1) anticipate other people’s likely responses to a decision,
(2) assess the impact of a decision on the people affected, or (3)
make a tough decision that may hurt someone and then feel guilty
or remorseful afterward.
The following story about Renee shows the bold, action-ori-
ented confidence of Eight decision makers:

One of three attorneys leading a global law firm, Renee
believed that the firm’s success required greater leadership
capability among the practice managers (all of whom were
working attorneys with no management training) and a
greater emphasis on business development. The other two
leaders, one of whom was the firm’s chairman and the
other a peer of Renee’s, agreed to let Renee take the lead