Before we dive in: Most of our work at Enneagram MBA is rooted in the Awareness to Action model developed by Mario Sikora and team. But from time to time, we like to explore other Enneagram approaches and insights that come up in the workplace and coaching conversations. This is one of those episodes, so you may hear some differences from the ATA model we typically use.

In this week’s episode, D and I wrap up our three-part conversation on the Enneagram’s movement strategies: the compliant, assertive, and withdrawn ways we move through the world. These patterns influence how we lead, collaborate, and connect under stress and in safety, whether we lean toward others for belonging, push against for control, or pull away for clarity.

Together, we explore how each movement shows up at work, what it looks like in meetings, and how it impacts team relationships. You’ll hear us break down:

• The core logic of each strategy: If I align, I’m safe. If I take charge, I’m safe. If I retreat, I’m safe.
• What leadership strengths each brings, from empathy and reliability to bold vision and deep insight.
• The blind spots that can trip us up, like over-pleasing, control, or disconnection.
• How to apply this awareness in real life, using self-checks and reflection prompts to flex between all three strategies instead of staying stuck in one.

We also talk about the power of awareness in managing our instincts when “life gets loud,” how to communicate what you need before others misread it, and even how a “pineapple” code word or LED light system can help you hit pause before you hit conflict.

If you’ve ever wondered why some coworkers want to talk everything out while others disappear to think, or why your team clashes when deadlines hit, this episode can help you see those dynamics with more clarity, compassion, and choice.

Key Takeaways

• Each movement strategy serves a purpose. Compliant types seek connection, assertives create motion, and withdrawns bring meaning. We need all three for healthy collaboration.
• Awareness creates choice. Once you know your instinctive movement (toward, against, or away), you can flex as needed.
• Communicate your coping strategy. “I’m taking a day to think” can go a long way toward preventing misunderstandings.
• Reflection practice: Think of a recent workplace conflict. How did you move...toward, against, or away? What might a different movement have looked like?

Listener Challenge

Reflect on your go-to strategy this week.

• Where do you naturally thrive: connection, courage, or clarity?
• Which situations call for the opposite?
• How can you intentionally lead with one of the others when the moment calls for it?

Resources & Next Steps

• Bring this to your team: We’re already booking year-end closers and 2026 kickoffs. Explore workshop options at EnneagramMBA.com and invite us in to blend theory with your team’s real dynamics.
• Say hello / suggest a topic: enneagrammba.com/contact... I’d love to hear your 4/5/9 stories or questions f

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

Ever worked on a team where everyone genuinely gets along? Where collaboration, kindness, and support come naturally, yet honest, direct conversations can be harder to come by?

In this short team map review, we'll unpack the group dynamics of a team heavy in Type 9s, 2s, and 4s, a mix that creates one of the most emotionally intelligent and people-focused teams you’ll find. They care deeply, collaborate well, and truly want everyone to feel valued.

But when keeping the peace becomes the top priority, clarity and direct communication can take a back seat. When you listen in, together we'll walk through why that can happen through the Enneagram lens, and how teams like this can pair care with candor to strengthen trust and communication without losing the warmth their team dynamic is known for.

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

Before we dive in: Most of our work at Enneagram MBA is rooted in the Awareness to Action model developed by Mario Sikora and team. But from time to time, we like to explore other Enneagram approaches and insights that come up in the workplace and coaching conversations. This is one of those episodes, so you may hear some differences from the ATA model we typically use.

Today’s conversation is such a special one, and honestly, a huge honor. I had the chance to sit down with two incredible leaders from a company you’ve probably heard of (and maybe even ordered from): ButcherBox.

In this episode, you’ll hear directly from Mike Salguero, founder and CEO, and Eliza Jackson, Chief People Officer, about how they’ve woven the Enneagram into the DNA of their 200-person organization. From onboarding to manager development, the Enneagram isn’t just a one-time workshop at ButcherBox; it’s part of their shared language and leadership culture.

We talk about:

• How Mike first discovered the Enneagram and why it resonated with him as a leader.
• The practical ways ButcherBox is integrating the framework into hiring, feedback, and team communication.
• What’s surprised them most about using the Enneagram company-wide.
• The connection between self-awareness, organizational trust, and scalable culture.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when an entire company uses the Enneagram to build connection, accountability, and clarity at scale, this conversation is a must-listen.

Tune in to learn how the Enneagram is shaping leadership and culture at one of the most mission-driven consumer brands out there.

Learn more about ButcherBox and take advantage of their Fall sale ending 10/13: https://www.butcherbox.com/

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

Before we dive in: Most of our work at Enneagram MBA is rooted in the Awareness to Action model developed by Mario Sikora and team. But from time to time, we like to explore other Enneagram approaches and insights that come up in the workplace and coaching conversations. This is one of those episodes, so you may hear some differences from the ATA model we typically use.

In this episode, D and I wrap our stance series by exploring Types 4, 5, and 9, the so-called “withdrawn” types. We unpack what “withdrawing” actually looks like at work (hint: it can be deep engagement happening on the inside), how each type’s strengths show up on teams, and where friction tends to arise under pressure. We also share quick, practical “stretch” moves for each type and reframes that managers can use to turn perceived quiet into powerful contribution.

What You’ll Learn

• What “withdrawn” actually means: the difference between internal engagement and disconnection, and how to tell which one you’re seeing.
• Type 4 (The Visionary): depth, authenticity, and storytelling superpowers, plus the pull toward what’s missing and how to re-ground in action.
• Type 5 (The Strategist): the “quiet genius” who protects limited energy, leads with data, and benefits from defining “enough information.”
• Type 9 (The Consensus-Builder): the calm bridge-builder who sees every side, along with the risk of fading out or numbing when things get intense.
• Adaptive vs. maladaptive (via Awareness to Action)
• Pairings & chemistry

Quick Stretch Practices (Try These This Week)

• For 4s: Notice when emotion is pulling you inward; name one next action to move your insight forward.
• For 5s: Decide “what’s enough” before you research; share work-in-progress to invite collaboration (even if it’s not perfect).
• For 9s: Speak before consensus—offer your “current take” and say you’re open to revising it.

Reflection Prompts

• When I’m overwhelmed, do I retreat into feelings (4), thoughts (5), or comfort/peace (9)?
• Where’s the line, for me or my teammate, between internal engagement and disconnection?
• What’s our re-entry plan after someone steps back to process (time box, next touchpoint, decision deadline)?

Resources & Next Steps

• Bring this to your team: We’re already booking year-end closers and 2026 kickoffs. Explore workshop options at EnneagramMBA.com and invite us in to blend theory with your team’s real dynamics.
• Say hello / suggest a topic: enneagrammba.com/contact... I’d love to hear your 4/5/9 stories or questions for a follow-up on trust and the Enneagram.
• Book D as a speaker for your conference event: Check out potential topics here.
• Book Sarah as a speaker for your conference event: Check out details here.

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

In this episode of Enneagram at Work, I’m joined by Dina Smith, licensed therapist, clinical director, certified Enneagram practitioner, and one of our Enneagram MBA visiting faculty members, to explore an important (and sometimes confusing) question:

What’s the difference between Enneagram coaching and Enneagram-informed therapy?

Dina and I dig into:

• How they differ – Why therapy often looks at symptoms, diagnoses, and the past, while coaching focuses more on present-day growth and future goals.
• Practical examples – How Dina uses the Enneagram both in her therapy practice and as a leader of her team.
• Ethics and responsibility – The boundaries coaches and therapists need to keep in mind, and when it’s time to refer out.
• The real benefits – How the Enneagram helps us create shared language, build faster connections, and uncover blind spots.
• Misconceptions – Including why the Enneagram isn’t “just like astrology” and how to use it responsibly in professional settings.

You’ll also hear Dina share what it’s like leading as a Type 3, including some of her blind spots, strengths, and how feedback from her team has helped her grow as a leader.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Dina on LinkedIn
  
  
• Find Dina on Psychology Today
  
  
• Interested in a typing session with Dina or having your team members clarify their types? Start here and tell us more: https://www.enneagrammba.com/contact
  
  

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

Before we dive in: Most of our work at Enneagram MBA is rooted in the Awareness to Action model developed by Mario Sikora and team. But from time to time, we like to explore other Enneagram approaches and insights that come up in the workplace and coaching conversations. This is one of those episodes, so you may hear some differences from the ATA model we typically use.

In this episode, I’m joined again by my co-host, Demetrius (“D") Parker, as we continue our Coworker Chemistry series. Last time, we looked at the high-energy types (3, 7, and 8). This week, we shift gears to talk about another powerful trio: Types 1, 2, and 6, commonly known as the dutiful types.

These three strategies bring such a strong sense of responsibility and group cohesion to their work and teams, though they each express it in different ways. In our conversation, we covered:

• Type 1 (Striving to Feel Perfect): integrity, high standards, and the pressure of an inner critic.
• Type 2 (Striving to Feel Connected): empathy, connection, and the challenge of people-pleasing.
• Type 6 (Striving to Feel Secure): loyalty, risk-awareness, and the courage it takes to ask hard questions.

We also dig into how these types can complement one another, where they might clash, and what growth looks like for each...from turning “the way” into “a way,” to setting clear boundaries, to transforming fear into collaboration.

Whether you identify with a 1, 2, or 6 (or work with someone who does), I think you’ll find this episode full of both practical insights and real-life examples you can take back to your team.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• The strengths and blind spots of Types 1, 2, and 6.
• Why these types are often the backbone of teams.
• Stories and analogies (including the “Mafia boss” and the six’s “BS meter”) that bring these strategies to life.
• Practical tips for collaboration, leadership, and personal growth.

And stay tuned! Our next episode will cover the remaining group: Types 4, 5, and 9.

D and I both facilitate workshops on behalf of Enneagram MBA. Learn more about the options and booking your team's end-of-year experience with us over at enneagrammba.com.

To learn more about working with D or hiring him as a speaker visit: trustleadershipcollective.com

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

Still wondering if you’re a Type 3, 7, or 8 on the Enneagram?

In this bonus conversation, co-host Demetrius “D” Parker (Type 3) and I (Type 7) break down the similarities and key differences between these high-energy types. From what “gut punch” clues reveal your true type to how instincts and personality expressions can look very different, this episode offers insights for anyone navigating their typing journey.

Whether you identify with Type 3’s drive to be outstanding, Type 7’s need for excitement, or Type 8’s push for power and control, you’ll find practical reflections to help you clarify your type and better understand your strengths.

To learn more about working with D or hiring him as a speaker visit: trustleadershipcollective.com

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet

Before we dive in: Most of our work at Enneagram MBA is rooted in the Awareness to Action model developed by Mario Sikora and team. But from time to time, we like to explore other Enneagram approaches and insights that come up in the workplace and coaching conversations. This is one of those episodes, so you may hear some differences from the ATA model we typically use.

What happens when three of the most high-energy Enneagram types (Threes, Sevens, and Eights) work together?

In this conversation with guest co-host Demetrius “D” Parker, we dig into the unique strengths and challenges of these assertive types, how they interact with each other, and the dynamics they create with other styles on a team.

We also explore practical growth paths for each type, helping them channel their drive, enthusiasm, and power into stronger professional relationships and sustainable leadership

If you happen to still be on your typing journey and stuck between two or all three of these types, be sure to check out the bonus episode where D and I talk about the similarities and key differences between these three to give you additional insight and reflection points as you narrow down your top type.

To learn more about working with D or hiring him as a speaker visit: trustleadershipcollective.com

Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

🗓️ Book an Enneagram Workshop for your team retreat at work:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-team-workshops

✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet