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.
Learn about bringing the Enneagram to your organization or group and view the current workshop menu at: enneagrammba.com
Enneagram at Work
207. Enneagram Type 6: Striving to Feel Secure - How It Shows Up at Work
In this episode of Enneagram at Work, we are continuing the 9 Types Overview Series with a closer look at Enneagram Type 6: Striving to Feel Secure. This can be one of the most misunderstood types, and also one of the most important energies on any team.
In many descriptions, you'll seeType 6s often labeled as anxious or fearful, but what I see again and again in workshops and leadership teams is something very different: brave, caring, thoughtful, prepared, and deeply committed people who care about doing things the right way and keeping the team safe. In this episode, I unpack how that drive for security shows up at work.
What You’ll Learn When You Listen:
- Why Type 6s ask questions and why that’s a strength, not a problem
- How Type 6s build trust, loyalty, and reliability on teams
- The Guardian leadership style and how it protects organizations
- Common stress points for Type 6s at work (especially during change or uncertainty)
- How the three instinctual biases shape different expressions of Type 6
- Growth insights through Type 6’s arrows to Type 9 and Type 3
- How to give feedback to Type 6s in a way that builds confidence instead of doubt
Try This at Work:
- If you’re a Type 6: Notice when your questions are actually asking for reassurance. Pause and remind yourself of the evidence that you can handle what’s in front of you.
- If you work with a Type 6: Don’t dismiss their questions or concerns. Most of the time, they’re thinking ahead and protecting the team from issues others haven’t considered yet.
For Teams & Leaders:
Type 6s bring steadiness, commitment, and preparation to teams, especially when things feel uncertain. They’re often the people thinking through worst-case scenarios so everyone else can move forward with confidence.
Teams work best with Type 6s when there’s clear communication, follow-through, and trust. When Type 6s feel informed and included, they become some of the most reliable and supportive teammates and leaders you can have.
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🗓️ 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