Page 72 - Using the Enneagram System to Identify and Grow Your Leadership Strengths and Achieve Maximum Success

Drive for Results 51

competent, knowledgeable, and conscientious than his
competitor for the position, he was passed over for the
following reasons: his competitor had developed more rela-
tionships in the organization that would be an asset in the
new position, and she also took action more quickly than
Chad did.

Development Stretches for Fives

THINK BEFORE YOU ACT, BUT ACT, ACT, ACT Thinking, researching,
and planning are essential for achieving excellent results. Just
remember that taking action is equally important. Take action twice
as quickly as you do now. Review your past three projects and
answer this question: What could I (or others under my supervi-
sion) have done to move each project along more quickly? Think
about someone at work whom you admire and who takes effective
action quickly. Observe what this person does, or, better yet, ask
how he or she moves to action so readily.

ASK THE BIG QUESTIONS At all points in the project, ask yourself
these questions: Why are we doing this project? How does this
project align with the organization’s vision and strategy and the
business unit’s vision and strategy? Do the people I work with also
understand this bigger framework? If they do not, what actions
can I take to communicate it to them?

COMMUNICATE CONTINUOUSLY Because Fives tend to keep their
thought processes and ideas to themselves, you can stretch and
grow by constantly sharing ideas with those with whom you work.
Even if you increase the frequency of your communication fivefold,
it might still be too little. You need to communicate vision, strat-
egy, plans, progress, thoughts, feelings, and information to other
people on an ongoing basis, and you also need to make sure that
the communication is reciprocal.