Enneagram at Work
Welcome to Enneagram at Work, your Saturday leadership download. We're bringing you insights for your weekend so you're ready for Monday.
This is a podcast about understanding people at work and navigating professional relationships. We spend so much of our time at work, why not make it more enjoyable by working on creating more enjoyable relationships with our teammates?
Listen in each week to gain self-awareness, relationship management, leadership development, personal growth insights, and real-life application ideas through the lens of the Enneagram inside educational episodes and interview conversations.
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Enneagram at Work
103. What Benefits do Type 1's Bring to a Team? feat. Katy Lumsden and Linda Kolean
Do you get frustrated when others don't follow the rules?
Do you strive to take things from good to great and have the precision and plan to make them happen?
Do you have a very loud and very harsh inner critic?
Is it perfection or nothing at all?
1️⃣
You might be an Enneagram Type One...
Learn more about the energy behind a Type One at work to understand yourself better --- or someone you work with inside this conversation.
You'll get a few clues and hopefully, some clarity about the Type 1's:
✔️core motive
✔️superpower
✔️common behaviors
✔️ problem-solving style
✔️way they get things done
And, you'll hear from informants, Katy Lumsden and Linda Kolean, about life and work on the "inside" as a Type 1.
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Katy is a self-proclaimed Noisy Introvert, an expert in the HR, Organizational, and Leadership Development space, and a best-selling author and founder of Know No Bounds.
Connect with Katy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-lumsden-noisy-introvert/
Linda does sales support, sales operations, supply chain, and project management in the pharmaceutical space.
Connect with Linda here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-kolean-42198a103/
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Not sure what your Enneagram type is yet, but want to?
🎙️Listen to the episode walking you through how to find your type with 2 questions:
https://www.enneagrammba.com/blog/enneagramtest
💖 Use the power of the Enneagram in your romantic relationship inside The Compatible Couple™ experience with Coach Natalia
https://www.enneagrammba.com/compatiblecouple
✏️ Get an overview of all nine types inside the Understanding People at Work Cheat Sheet
https://www.enneagrammba.com/cheatsheet
Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!
🏆 Begin the process of becoming a Dream Team Certified Workplace: https://www.enneagrammba.com/enneagram-certified-workplace
🗓️ 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
How do you even know if you happen to be working with an Enneagram type one on your team?
Speaker 1:A couple of clues to keep an eye out for is that they're the ones who usually insist that people follow the rules, that they follow whatever procedure is in place. Go by the book, refer to the book, refer to the playbook. You might find them really inspiring You, the team, the organization to reach these really high standards, to achieve excellence, to make the company and potentially even the world a better place. Sometimes people will experience the one is a little bit critical, and that may be true. The thing to keep in mind, and when you start to better understand the Enneagram and your teammates in this way, you'll start to understand that our type ones, yes, may be critical outwardly, but they're usually 10 times more critical inwardly in the way that they talk to themselves. So you can start to have a little bit more compassion and understanding of what's going on inside. They want to make sure that the expectations, the instructions, whatever is being communicated, is precise and planned out. So if they're the ones giving instructions, it's going to be pretty step by step and pretty clear about what to do. Sometimes you might experience them as a little micromanaging, because once, typically not always but have a tendency to not trust others to do as good of a job as they can. They can get over focused on the details, but they do have a great work ethic and really do try hard to do their best in everything they do. So if somebody is coming to mind with some of those qualities, this episode might help you understand them a little bit better.
Speaker 1:Today we're talking about the Enneagram type one at work. This is a LinkedIn live that was done a few months ago but still very relevant, where we get into some additional highlights of the type one at work as well as hear from two type ones in real life about what resonates with them, how that looks like in their work environment, in their life. So you'll get a mix of some Enneagram kind of standard education as well as hearing about some real life experiences. So enjoy this one, whether you're listening to it to better understand yourself or to better understand someone on your team. You're listening to the Enneagram MBA podcast, a show about understanding people at work, including yourself. I'm your host, sarah Wallace, and I'm looking forward to diving into this week's episode with you.
Speaker 1:Sometimes our type one is known as the perfectionist. I don't always like to go by the names because any of us can be a perfectionist or any of us can kind of resonate with some of the titles. But if we are going to label it, i like the title improver And we'll talk a little bit about why that might actually be more accurate And we'll also hear from our informants that that might be more accurate. So we're going to look at the type one profile and this is really for three groups of people. The first group that today is for is for somebody who knows, without a doubt, they are a type one, to give them some additional insight into what that means and how it might be showing up in their work life. We're also going to be talking about the type one for those people who are wondering am I a type one or a type three or a type five or a type eight? to give them some additional information into their own typing journey. And then, if you know you're not a type one but have a type one in your life, whether it's at work or at home, this will hopefully give you some more information about where they're coming from and conflict and conversations and to better understand and have maybe more productive conversations with the ones in our life. So, right off the bat, our type ones.
Speaker 1:The thing that makes the type one a type one is this striving to feel perfect. And at the end of the day, they want to feel good, to have high integrity, and they tend to be very focused on the common good as well, and we kind of talked about. They're known as the improver might be a better name for them because they are very focused on making things better, whether it's themselves, the groups that they're leading, the communities that surround them, or just a cause or a project. And I sometimes think of, like Captain America as the ultimate type one, really always doing the right thing. Even if it may get you into trouble, it's I'm going to do the right thing. I have that understanding of what that is, and they tend to be a little bit more task oriented. We've covered our type twos in the past, not to say that type ones can not also be relationship focused, but they are kind of looking what needs to be done to get us from here to there. Type ones had a book. It might be the good to great book. They're always kind of looking how can I take what's already good and make it great.
Speaker 1:Their superpower, one of many, is this ability to be incredibly methodical and just understand how to execute on this big vision they have for making things better. They tend to be really rational, very disciplined, structured, like I said, conscientious understanding of what's not just best for me, but what's going to be best for the group, for the community. Sometimes, though, people experience them as a little rigid, maybe a little critical. They're also very critical of themselves and maybe sometimes to detach, because they are so focused on the task, what needs to be done. Their problem solving style is listen. We are sensible, rational adults here.
Speaker 1:I'm sure that if we can just get to work, we can come up with a solution, and then, when it comes to let's see here I'm covering up our slides when it also comes to being clear I talked about, they have this ability to have that big vision. They're also going to create the order, the clarity, and they're going to be comfortable and okay most of the time, enforcing that order, enforcing the policies. Where some people may not want to speak up, they're going to say, hey, nope, that's not right, we need to do it this way. So we're going to talk a little bit more about this energy, but before we do, i want to bring in our informants and hear a little bit about what it is like on the inside of the Type 1 world. So I'm going to bring Katie up and I have Linda and I'm going to take away our slides for just a minute so we can see everybody.
Speaker 1:Welcome, ladies, hi, hi, sarah, katie, would you introduce yourself? Just what do you do, where you're from? And then I would love to hear how you knew you were a Type 1.
Speaker 2:Oh okay, thank you, sarah. Yeah, my name is Katie Lumson. I'm an HR practitioner. Actually, i wasn't always an HR practitioner. I have a background in creative spaces, visual communications, calligraphy, that kind of thing.
Speaker 2:But yeah, my awareness of Enneagram really came after my pivot into human resources. I had a wonderful mentor when I first moved into this area who was a huge fan of the Enneagram. I didn't know anything about it, but she seemed such a sensible person. I thought there's something to pay attention to here. And then when I was doing a master's degree, we did a huge chunk of work around organizational behavior and we did a lot of psychometrics and various instruments And Enneagram wasn't one that was part of the program, but it was one.
Speaker 2:Again, i was drawn to because of people talking about it And actually I found it was kind of like a hub for all the other instruments and psychometrics that we've done. It helped me make sense of a lot of the things that had come up for me and the others And it was unequivocal when I first did my through the Enneagram Institute, when I first did my assessment, i was an Enneagram type one And there were lots of things in their definitions that resonated with me and made sense of some of the other, the findings from the other instruments that I'd used. So that's my Enneagram path so far.
Speaker 1:Was there anything? because sometimes I joke, but it sometimes is most of the time it's true that it's typically the type that maybe you don't want to be or there's some things that kind of make you cringe that you're like. Unfortunately, that's my type. Was there anything as you read that, that resonated?
Speaker 2:That's where the learning is, Sarah. Yes, it is Yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the things that made sense for me were particularly well. Firstly, that overarching kind of reformer or improver piece. I really recognised that in myself. But then the very the detail focus. I mean, i'm a brilliant proofreader, i love proofreading for people, but where that sort of gets me into difficulties is working with people who actually ultimately have taught me a lot about sometimes it's better to have something done than perfect. So you know, that's the, you know the perfectionist piece can lead me sometimes into that really sort of stock space of detailed focus. And the learning then is you know, from other people I'm going yeah, sometimes it's okay to let that go a little bit.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, which you know. We all can struggle with that, and sometimes I hear that a lot from one. So you are not alone, linda. What about you? Would you introduce yourself what you do and how you knew you were a type one?
Speaker 3:Yes, okay, so I'm Linda Colleen. I am from Holland, michigan. Currently I am in cell support for a pharmaceutical company. Largely my background has been in financial services There's some brokerage services, employee benefits, there's a lot of retirement planning and employee benefits So more recently it has been like project management and cell support.
Speaker 3:So how I learned that I was in Enneagram one. There was a girl that I was following on Instagram a couple of years ago And a lot of things that she posted. She hashtagged Enneagram two And I'm like what is this Enneagram stuff? And so I looked into it and I took the test. I took the test on truity.
Speaker 3:Okay, yes, i had to take the test twice because I think the first time around I tested as a two And I'm like some of that makes sense. So then I took it again same night And I'm like, okay, linda, be honest, you know, you know as a one, it's like you want to be seen as good And it's like, wow, i felt like I had to answer the questions a certain way. But then I'm like no, i'm just gonna full throttle, just be super transparent. And then it was like Oh my gosh, i won wing two. I can see that, i can see that, and I think what really stood out to me was like so yes, the perfectionist and I don't really love being called that Because it just seems so cliche.
Speaker 3:I'm so basic like. isn't everybody a perfectionist, but maybe not The improver? I really like that. But I think what really resonated was the rigidness, like. I don't like to look at myself that way, but I'm like. you know what a lot of the way everyone responds to me I'm rigid. Part of things. I'm like no, that's not me. I'm an open minded person. And it's like yeah, but how long did it take you to get there? Let me, yeah. so there's like some growth opportunity there where it's like okay, i'm not completely rigid, but I am. And that was where it like really resonated with me. And it's like not something that I'm proud of, but it is something that I'm constantly working on.
Speaker 3:So I think that one of the my favorite things about being an Enneagram one I like that I'm able to. so, to be an improver, i am trying to find out, like about everyone else's Enneagram styles and anyone who will share with me. So I've made the mistake of like. at first, when I found out about this, i was telling everyone about it And I'm like well now, well, now I need to know what your Enneagram is. So that's a better relationship. So if I like that, like we're going to have an amazing relationship, but then people start to feel like, like I'm trying to fix them, you know, at the board, or it comes off that way, but it's like no, no, no, i'm working on fixing myself. So I I'm sure that you would want to be like the best version of yourself too.
Speaker 1:So Oh, that's so interesting.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that that fixing kind of energy like for me it's just like well, you know, i'm feeling so good about this discovery. It's like I found this gem And I just want everyone else to know about it. But I don't think that everyone feels about it that way, because when I talk about the Enneagram, they're like, oh, what are you What? What did you say? How do you pronounce it? Yeah, yeah. And then, like it's a personality test, i'm like it's not just a personality test. It really helps, you know, self discovery in ourselves and within other people too, and I think it strengthens relationships on a personal level, but also in the workspace too.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Yes, you said that perfectly. And something else that you said for those that are listening to this and maybe still are questioning what their type is, i thought I think what you shared is one of my biggest pieces of advice is that the only person you have to be honest with is yourself, and there are certain characteristics or qualities that maybe we feel like we should be based on our gender or our faith or society, and so that can make the typing process much more difficult. But you know, like you were saying, just kind of taking an honest look. Okay, so a lot of times and I'll ask you about this, i know for you ones especially this is that this question about maybe your challenges or what comes difficult for you, will be easy for you to answer.
Speaker 1:But what I want to talk about first is what strengths and strengths are. So we talked about the strength of precision and being able to come up with a plan to get things done Based on those or what else other strengths. you have learned about the Enneagram. What is one that you have seen show up for you and how have you used it in the work, the career that you have now? if you would be willing to share first, katie.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's lots in there that I think I can see now has served me well. I've got me to where I am, and part of it is what you had in your introduction, actually, sarah, that the for ones, oftentimes the reforming or improving peace and draw can be so strong that it allows you to cut across norms sometimes or conventions which you know can. You know it has sometimes got me into difficulty, but it's oftentimes allowed me to create a space where there wasn't one before, and that's what I love it, it just it. For me, it it brings a Kind of imperative, if you like that I'm going there, people, and you know you can come with me or and I suppose that's part of the rigidity as well I'm going. Well, you know, i can see this and I'm going there, and it may not be in the most conventional way you've ever seen, it may not actually go along with a protocol that we have, but I know, because I'm a one, that it's ethical and I know that I'm doing it with integrity and alignment. So it's sort of it gives me a safe space in me to work, even where other people might be looking down.
Speaker 2:What now? I think I've realized that it's, it's, you know, that combination of things, coupled with the conscientiousness to see things through, have really, you know, my my career pivot, for example, coming out of a very creative role Into something that other people perceive as not creative at all, working in the human resources space To the point where people were genuinely quite worried about me when I sort of announced this and I was saying no, no, no. This this is equally, if not more, creative because it is totally aligning with that improving and reforming thing. It allows me to kind of go with my gut in terms of maybe seeing team or group needs where Logic and analysis would take me forever to get there. There are certain things that I feel, and I go with it, into spaces that perhaps other people hadn't seen. So, yeah, no, i love thinking about all that in the context of the enneagram and the type one profiling.
Speaker 1:I'm glad you mentioned that, the creativity part, because I think sometimes we get kind of reduced To certain qualities and then other qualities get associated with other types. So, like fours are the creative types right, but all of us can be creative. All of us can be structured in discipline. It's just kind of that intentionality and Allowing sometimes too, and so that's a great reminder that just because your creative doesn't mean you're a four. All of us can be, and we got plenty of very creative ones that I have come across. So I'm glad you brought that up, linda. What about for you? What is the strength of the one that you have seen show up in yourself?
Speaker 3:I Think the strengths are being structured, being disciplined, the black and white it I. I do think that that is a strength. As far as being Methodical about decision-making, it's easier to make decisions. So, okay, for example, i have worked in a couple of highly regulated industries where it it made it. If I was training for training someone for something, or if I was explaining products or like, let's see, yeah, i'm for 1k withdrawals, so I used to do employee benefits.
Speaker 3:Um, that was something that I was really passionate about. It was easy to be passionate about and explain, like withdrawal rules or contribution rules or distribution rules. It because the ones are They, they excel in, you know, like fact, fact-based things, so it's easy to like. So I'm not surprised, katie, that you know you. You are an HR Like.
Speaker 3:I love seeing a one in the HR role because like, yes, like that is going to be someone who follows the rules, but not Company, but also for the greater good of, maybe, their people, because they tend to have integrity in the things that they do, for whatever reason. That is really important to us. So, structure, if I am entering in a new role where there maybe there isn't so much of it, it's been something that I can create for myself and LPs. I'm standard operating procedures, if they're, you know. If there's a role that I've been in where they don't have those in place, i tend to become an expert in the role that I'm in or the task being super task oriented I tend to those and introduce those and Distribute them among the organization so that way everyone else can save time and we can all be doing things the correct way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the right way.
Speaker 3:The right way, which is probably the way we're doing it.
Speaker 1:Okay, i want to hear from you guys, or the two of you on some some growth and stress topics, and one of my favorite things about the Enneagram Linda, you mentioned several of them is is the fluidity of it and that when you get it, it's not just these are your five strengths or this is your color, it's, here's your starting point, but depending on what's going on in your life, how much personal development, professional development you've done, you may look very different than the nine other ones in a room, or you may have ten ones in a room that all look very different for all kinds of reasons wings, arrows, all the stuff. So One of the things that has been really helpful in the typing process, as well as the kind of How do I use the Enneagram, are looking at the arrows or is looking at the arrows, and for those that aren't familiar, our type one Will use their, it's the. It's known as this, the stress arrow, or possibly the Supporting strategy of the type four, which is known as striving to feel Unique and how ones will tend to use that is that, just like Linda said And Katie, you've mentioned it too I know what the right thing to do is and so I'm okay being unique or standing alone in that knowing, in that integrity, and so they'll kind of use that energy of the four being unique, not going with the flow with everybody, and to support that strategy of striving to feel perfect. On the flip side, they're a neglected strategy, which I want to hear from both of you on this which One's tend to, out of all the types, will tend to neglect this one the most is the type seven, known as the enthusiasts, where they're striving to feel excited, because that energy sometimes for a one can feel like undisciplined, unstructured, unplanned, and that can be terrifying for the one.
Speaker 1:Ironically, that is known as the growth arrow for our ones. And when you not become a seven but you use flavor, your type, with some of that seven energy, you just become this. Really, it just kind of enhances for the good of you and those around you. So I would love to hear in this one, linda I'll start with you how you've seen either of those or one of those kind of show up or what's resonated with you throughout your own in-eagram journey with those.
Speaker 3:Okay. So I definitely see the, you know, when I start to get into because I know there's healthy levels of being one, maybe not so healthier levels of being one, that's where I kind of catch myself and but it won't happen for like maybe a week or so, or maybe several weeks, where it's like those are some, those are some toxic traits or things that I was doing and feeling as far as like, okay, i have it's easier for me to see in myself, i think, because I know, like I have a sister who is a four And so I start to see parts of my and she's like she's super unique, she's she's super fun. But then there's a side of us where we can get together and I'm like, oh man, i don't know if this is good or not. Like I think we're going down this rabbit hole of like being super hard on ourselves and showing up in the workplace that you know that can be, that it feels, it feels terrible. Like we have this harsh inner credit, you know so, for like I feel bad, because once I discovered that I was a one and how I might be coming across to others, i'm like, wow, for you know, for myself, i'm even harder on myself. I'm even harder on myself, and so I have seen that that for in me And I, i catch myself And you know, with like the last two years, i'm trying to see the things that are causing me to have like this downward spiral, which are, you know, things like the perfectionism, like not handing in something unless I'm 150% sure that it's my absolute best, that that that has held me back, and you know, not just in work but in school too.
Speaker 3:So I'm taking classes right now And that has been so stressful, like it's been. You know, i'm proud of myself because I've been able to make like top percent of my school. Then now I'm like, now that I'm there, i want to stay there And it's just, you know, the reality is you got to let it go. You can't always be up there and not, you know, not being at the top, doesn't? you know?
Speaker 3:I've had to reassure. I constantly have to reassure myself, like it doesn't make you a lesser version of yourself just because you didn't show up like here today. Like you can, you can show up here And like I've had to like teach myself that. So, so that's what the four now I have a seven in my life who teaches me like it's okay to have fun. My the seven in my life is like super intense, like I love you but, man, you are super intense and like for me as a one, for me to have fun or to just be carefree, it doesn't come easy. It's like I have to earn those things, like I'm constantly having to, to earn myself like privileges. It's like oh okay, well, if I want like that third cup of coffee or something, you know I better get like a ton of work done before I do that.
Speaker 1:Linda, yes, i, yes. That is such a common, just a common common feeling that I that I hear You describe that perfectly And you know talking about ones and fours. The other thing that they have in common, and sometimes why they get confused you may not, you may think, oh my gosh, they're so different. But both of those types have this feeling of feeling like defective or like very critical of themselves. Yes, yes, and they the. The nuance difference not all, but many times is that fours just feel like I'm inherently defective. I was born this way, i will never be good enough, whereas a one tends to feel something's wrong with me, but if I just work harder, i will get better.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and it feels like man that's toxic, because, yes, there has to be good enough, and it feels like that's a hard place to get to. But I don't know if you get this to Katie, but it's like everyone around us is like you're so amazing, you're so good, you're so put together, and it's like, no, no, i'm not, i'm not.
Speaker 2:Linda, that's so resonant. That's so resonant And it's funny because I've just recently finished studies as well. You know the master's degree that I spoke about, that was a part time thing over three years And it's just in the autumn we concluded it. So everything that you said there about the, you know the pressure on myself to show up here always and you know consistently, and when you've done it once to feel you know you can't let that slip, then You know that's exactly my study experience. So I'm really glad that you mentioned that And I think I was, yeah, thinking about the four especially and that's uniqueness thing. In a way that's my tester of how sort of healthy or unhealthy I am.
Speaker 2:I remember, you know, that's been a feature of my life always. I remember, you know, being very early years in school I think I was only five And we had a girl in our class who you know was a bit of a well, she liked to have her gang around her, let's say, and if you didn't have the same as her for lunch you couldn't sit with her, you know, in the lunchroom. And I remember, after a couple of days of this at that very young age, going, no, that's not right, i don't want to do that, and I was very happy to take myself, you know, and sit by myself for a little while. And, you know, gradually people went oh, oh, do you know what? I'll go and sit with Katie, because I'd rather have my own lunch, thank you. So that kind of changed things. And it just when I was reading a while ago about that kind of I'm unique thing in the Enneagram type one, that incident came to mind and my kind of, my very strong sense of age, for that I didn't mind placing myself part because of something that I thought I'm not a sec, that doesn't feel right.
Speaker 2:But I know also that, you know, when I'm in alignment with myself, you know that sits well with me. That's setting myself apart. But if I start to get stressed or tired, quite quickly that downward spiral begins and then suddenly uniqueness is I'm just weird, or, you know, i'm not performing at my best now, or I'm out of alignment with everybody else, and you know that. So that piece of I'm happy to be unique is the healthy piece of it And the piece is oh, no, no, no, i have to do more work now to stop being so. You know. So it is that never ending cycle of, like you say, like kind of earning your privileges, earning, earning some sense of ease actually. Now, I think that's that for me, that's the crux of the. The oneness is the. You know, if it doesn't feel easy, then I'm not doing it right.
Speaker 1:Ah, yeah, it's the hard work. Yeah, work, work harder. Yes, you know, in some of the it's really interesting to just to see. I thought about doing a series on like how the types energy shows up in society because, you know, both of you talked about the earning and I hear that in the workout industry all the time, like come in and spend so you can, you know, earn your turkey dinner or you know whatever, or you know, and like earning the cup of coffee. I got to do the work, or you know, earn, and it's like if it's like right, it's something's wrong If it doesn't feel hard, if it's easy, like you know, it's just not, it's not, it's not right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what have I done wrong If it's this easy? Yeah, I must have missed something.
Speaker 1:Anything for you, katie, on the type seven that you've noticed like as you continue to work, like how you bring in the fun and the joy and kind of the maybe flexibility.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's, that's a funny one for me And it's kind of, you know, i do make a joke out of it. You know I'm Scottish and I'm Presbyterian And there's, you know that that comes with a whole lot of baggage around. You know well, i'm no fun ever Even unpacking those things, you know. But I do feel, you know, i, the conscientiousness is something that can go into overdrive, seriously for me. If I'm, you know, if I'm tired and stressed, then you know, conscientiousness just turns into a big, a big stick to beat myself with. And so I really, and again, even reading through the, you know, the healthy to unhealthy one profiling again before.
Speaker 2:This was really helpful because when I first did my enneagram assessment like that was, oh, three years ago at least, just starting out on my my MBS journey, and I could see that I already am in a different space because I'm working much more in alignment And a lot of the material that I looked at through my studies was around organisational change and actually just getting comfortable with what change specialists would refer to as the emergent And going. Just, you know, if you're on a big change programme and I realise this relates to self as much as to an organisation don't have the end goal in mind, you know, just let it happen. And even that learning around organisations for me has helped free me up personally to be much more open to just, you know, the spontaneous happenings and being comfortable with that and actually bringing the fun It's great.
Speaker 2:It's actually new for me, really.
Speaker 1:I love that. I love that It's kind of detaching from the results and just kind of enjoying the process. Okay so, linda, i'm going to start with you on this next one as we start to wrap it up here. But both of you had kind of said something around. you know, if you think I'm critical, then you should hear what I'm saying to myself, kind of thing, and that is one of the key things that we'll talk a lot about when it comes to understanding our ones. right? You know, you can have so much more empathy for somebody when you're like, oh my gosh, wow, I cannot imagine how hard they must be on themselves.
Speaker 1:Some other things to consider if you're working with a one being led by a one working side by side, maybe have a one in your family or friendship. A couple of things that I have heard that just really annoy them pet peeves at work is rule breaking, arriving late to meetings, which, oh my gosh, i'm always fashionably late. So for you both, today I was like I need to log on 10 minutes early. I'm not going to let my ones down. Not following the process. It's like we have a process in place. Why are we not doing this? So, like HR processes probably you know, yes, being making excuses cannot stand that.
Speaker 1:Take responsibility, being irresponsible again, sometimes sevens, kind of that neglected strategy. But all types can kind of, you know, maybe have some of that A noise that's the ones to know in When mistakes are repeated. You know it's like listen, lesson learned here And then sometimes, when their competence or their you know, their integrity or how they're doing the right thing is, isn't acknowledged or even dismissed. Anything that you would add to this list or anything that you want to expand on, linda, I'll start with you.
Speaker 3:Rule breaking. That is pretty good, you know, in the workplace. I am very thankful that I am in a hybrid situation. I'm not noticing, you know, it's okay. So I think there's like a misconception here about ones Like we're never looking for what's going wrong. It. I think it's just like we're super observant And like I don't know for you, Katie, but I I do. You know, i I'm seen as an introvert in the workplace, so I'm like an extroverted introvert once you get to know me, but that means for me that I tend to be introverted And so, okay, if I'm noticing rule breaking, it's not.
Speaker 3:You know, i think that has a lot to do with, early on in my career, that I worked in such places where there were such. They were so highly regulated. And then not only that, but in the school place too. there there just seemed like there were all these standards that needed to be met or rules that needed to be followed. And then, even in my own home, growing up, if people want to understand, like, how did you get to be a one, why are you the way that you are? Because it was something that I was, you know, struggling to understand about myself too, like, why am I this way. So, yeah, so rule breaking, i guess for me it's bothersome because it's like man, you know, if I was ever caught breaking the rules I was punished. So it feels so unfair, not for myself but for everyone. You know, when I'm seeing like, oh okay, so so and so gets to see them breaking the rules, but but then that one like sort of got talked to or in trouble about that, but then that one didn't it just the way. That it makes me feel I hate that. It makes me feel this way, but it's like, wow, that feels that feels so unfair for them. And you know, you end up taking it personal And it's like I don't want to take it personal, but wow, like I really don't like what I'm seeing.
Speaker 3:So working remotely has been really great for me because I'm like I don't know what's going on And that's probably better for me. Yeah, now I just minded my own business. I don't know what's going on. All I know is I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, the showing up late, i think, in the workplace it's well. I guess I don't feel like a lot of that is happening right now, but you know, if I'm waiting for something or someone. I try not to let it get to me too much, because there's always something else that I've got to be doing anyway. So then I just leave and I'm like, okay, i'm going to send them a quick note that I waited for them, and you know, now I'm off to do my thing. I think that was that has been growth for me, you know, because before I think it would have been like like three or five years ago it would have been like that was so annoying, that was so rude. How can they be so inconsiderate. But now it's like you know what, i have other things to actually worry about, so I'm just going to keep it moving.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, and you know that's an interesting thought. It's just like you know, you the working remote, and just kind of you know, understanding your triggers, and in this situation it was probably not an option. But sometimes, like, the more that you learn about yourself, the more that you understand what your own pet peeves are and how to avoid them or how to better navigate through them. And that's why we learn about ourselves And that's why we, you know we do these things, and it doesn't mean that you have to be okay with that. It might just be changing your environment, it might be, you know, making some sort of change, and that's perfectly fine too. It's just knowing what you need and doing the best to get there for you. Katie, what about? what? about you Anything really standing out on the pet peeves list or anything that wasn't listed here that you would? you would add?
Speaker 2:Oh well, it's really interesting, following on from what Linda was saying.
Speaker 2:I mean, i'm a if I do the Myers Briggs thing, for example, like I'm a, i'm an off the scale introvert in that, but yet I have on my LinkedIn profile, for example, that I'm a noisy introvert, so I could be known as a sort of an extrovert, introvert or an ambivert, you know, depending on the context.
Speaker 2:But the and it's something that is actually come back through 360 feedback, for example, that I can appear, you know, not just introverted but quite detached, and you know, that's, i think, quite quite a key part sometimes of the type one. But I was interested in the first thing on the pet peeves list here and what you were saying, Linda, and I realized that for me, in relation to rule breaking, this is where my, my type one, i think, can sometimes get a bit monstrous, because sometimes I I would take it upon myself to go well, do you know what? some rules are? stupid rules, but it's because I said so. So you know, i sometimes I'm okay with rule breaking, but it's because I've been the arbiter that actually those rules didn't really matter anyway. You know it's and again coming back to where I started, with the enneagram being a kind of a hub for all the other psychometrics and instruments that I had done in the past.
Speaker 2:You know when I think of I don't know if you've come across the Belbin team roles instrument, for example, which looks different you know different types within a team And I come up as what they call in Belbin, as a shaper, which means I can work, sometimes to a point that you know veers sometimes quite dark in terms of you know maneuvering things in the background to kind of get where I want to get to. And I think that rule breaking thing is sometimes that it shows up in that way of saying, well, yeah, rule breaking is a big, big pet peeve mine, but I'm the arbiter of those rules. Thank you very much. Yeah, that really stood out for me there, that I, you know there's a, perhaps not a rigidity there. There's probably less or more fluidity perhaps for me around that, but it's because that's when, particularly, maybe, the rigidity is around. Well, i can decide, you know, even in quite well established processes, actually not really stupid. So, yeah, you know, go elsewhere. Thank you, yes.
Speaker 1:I don't mean to make everything about Captain America, but I've become into a huge Marvel nerd over the last couple of years. But I think of you know Captain America, like you know, detaching from the team and not going along with, like, what people wanted him to do, because he knew what the real right thing was to do. So he's going to go rogue because it, you know, he knows what to do. So I think of that and that it that's a great example and you both kind of shared that. as we start to wrap this up, i'd love to hear Linda you mentioned it a little bit but anything else that comes up for you and anything Katie, you want to add to this.
Speaker 1:You know a lot of times what we, what we read about the type one or all of our types we're getting from Instagram, memes or maybe a book, and even what I teach you know is coming from my perspective of how I interpreted that text and my influences and who I've learned from and my own type, and so sometimes what we read isn't correct, and there can be, or everybody's experience anyway, and I always like to ask in these kind of conversations is there anything that the rest of us get wrong about the type one, energy. What should we know? that maybe is like a stereotype that just isn't true, or isn't true for you, katie. I'll start with you if there's anything else that comes up.
Speaker 2:I think in a way we went there before, but it's really around. I suppose creativity, or that origin and creativity can often sit together in a strange paradox. In the type one It can lead to great integrity and process, but for me anyway, it also sometimes leads to a third way. So I think yeah, i mean again not to generalize an entire type, but I think it's the rigidity that often gets. You know, that's the big label around the ones.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what would you add, Linda?
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 3:So I would definitely add that the rigidity is yeah, i think there's a lot of misconceptions about that, because when people get to know me, they're like you know, you're a lot more fun than I thought you would And I'm like, what would make you think that I'm not fun?
Speaker 3:And I surprised myself too with the black and white thinking where someone brings something up and it's like oh well, you know I've been working on this, but I think it's just maybe been the way I have been all along. But I do have an open mind as a one about a lot of things. So just because I think that I have done all the research and I have all this fact based evidence to back up my like my being right in processes or you know things that we're doing, it doesn't mean that I'm that as a one, that I'm not open to new ways of thinking. I think, in fact, ones are probably going to be the ones who can help lead, like you know, when you're you're working on a new idea or a project. As far as implementation goes, i think ones are probably one of the stronger employees to help pioneer that.
Speaker 1:So well said both of you.
Speaker 1:I'm going to share a couple of resources for anybody who is wanting to learn more about the type one, and then we'll wrap this up with Katie and Linda if there's anything you would add, any other Enneagram or just general self awareness resources or podcasts that you would have been helpful in your journey that you would recommend.
Speaker 1:Over on the Enneagram MBA channel There are a couple of this or that mystery Enneagram mysteries that we are solving between type one and some of the other types. So if you're in the camp where you're still trying to figure out, is this my dominant type? Some of those videos over on the Enneagram MBA YouTube channel might be helpful. And then, if you do happen to know your type already, we do have fun Enneagram mugs. We have guides, typing guides that if you know you're a type one, we got 25 pages of all the the insight ins and outs about being that type, what it looks like at work, growth, stress, all the things So you can find those over there. Linda, any other resources that have been helpful for you that you would recommend?
Speaker 3:Well, i, okay. So I use Instagram a lot And I don't know if any how much of that anyone is using, but on any platform really, i think if you can hashtag Enneagram, so for me it's Enneagram one, and then there's a lot of two sixes, whoever I have in my life, and I really love to learn more about like. As soon as I find out what Enneagram they are, i start following that hashtag And I get to learn so much about them And then I start doing weird things like googling. You know a relationship between Enneagram one and Enneagram one, because my husband is an Enneagram one, so that is, yes, that's weird, it's great Weird because it feels like we're on an island all alone.
Speaker 1:So good? Yeah, the people are. That's one of the most popular questions is is there like, what are the best types, compatibility wise? And it's just like it has nothing to do with the type but just has to deal with. You know how self aware you are, how open to growth and where each of you are at on that, and there are a lot of good, a lot of good resources funny resources as well over on Instagram, katie. What about you? any specific book podcast account? anything else that's been really helpful in your Enneagram self awareness journey.
Speaker 2:I don't have an awful lot to add here. I'm, i'm, you know, i done my assessment and I am growing into that and exploring it. But the again thinking of what you just said. In that I mean the only two people in my life whose Enneagram type I know are the two people who spoke to me about Enneagram in the first place and kind of intrigued about it. So it's something that I would love to do more with And, you know, maybe try and encourage some openness in the people in my life Just around exploring that and kind of evangelizing about how useful it's been for me and because, as I said at the beginning, it's allowed me to kind of triangulate all the other different tools and self awareness tools and psychometrics and things that I have used. It's just because it's so far reaching. It's really been helpful for me to kind of bring all of those into this kind of center full term of the Enneagram.
Speaker 1:Yeah well, I appreciate all that you have shared. I know talking about your personality is literally one of the most personal things you can open up about, So I appreciate you both be willing to do it publicly, And I always learn so much myself hearing about you know real life experiences. So I appreciate you. Before we sign off, Linda and Katie, would you tell us where we can connect with you in case there's anybody that wants to reach out and say, oh my gosh, you were in my head today or really appreciate what you shared? Linda, where can we find you online?
Speaker 3:You can find me on LinkedIn. I am on Instagram as just a modern mom, but you can find me on LinkedIn if you just go in my messages. Send me a direct message. I'm pretty responsive. Okay, i do have to add, sarah, that you are one of my greatest Enneagram resources. Like I love. And seeing your posts, i'm like man. She is like a mind reader. Like she gets.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for saying that, and you know social media gets a bad rap, sometimes rightly so, but it also can be such a such a fun tool, and that is how I met both of you, i think was through LinkedIn. So grateful for that And grateful for Linda. Thank you for being on here, and I appreciate you saying that. Katie, what about? what about you? Where can we find you?
Speaker 2:Well, again, linkedin is my platform of choice. I'm all over the place. It's a running joke that for so many people I know they say, oh yeah, i was going to comment on that and Katie Lomson was there before me. Yeah, so Katie Lomson, noisy introvert on LinkedIn, that's where people can find me And I yeah again, i have the most fabulous LinkedIn network. I've found so many riches and treasures through LinkedIn, so I'm always open to new connections and new learning. So, yeah, i'm, you know. Messages I will respond to for sure.
Speaker 1:All right, we'll have those in the show notes when we share this in other places. So I appreciate you both so much. Thank you for being here, for all you shared, and we'll see you. It sounds like around LinkedIn. Yes, great, thanks so much. When I'm not planning for the next episode or getting to interview the next podcast guest, i'm probably out doing an Enneagram team training or a group workshop experience, because, while Enneagram MBA is a podcast, it is also a team training company, which means, whether you have a team of four or 40 or are planning an event for 400 people, there is an experience that is waiting to be created just for you and your team or organization or event, and I'm going to invite you to start that process over at Enneagram MBAcom, where you'll be able to check out some of the initial ideas and options and then reach out to get in touch to start planning your own.