The Work of You
This is a podcast about the leadership that matters most — the kind that starts from within.
Hosted by certified behavioral coach and Enneagram expert Jen Ostrich, The Work of You is for high-achieving humans ready to stop repeating patterns and start leading themselves differently.
Through insights from coaching, the Enneagram, and her own personal inner overhaul, Jen brings honesty, humor, and sharp emotional clarity to the table. With real talk, self-awareness tools, and a healthy dose of tough love, she helps you uncover what’s driving you, shift what’s no longer serving you, and ultimately do the work of you — one honest episode at a time.
This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about finally understanding yourself — so your choices, relationships, and leadership can actually align with who you truly are.
The Work of You
Understanding Your Team via The Enneagram
Self awareness is essential yet without system awareness you can still be stuck in patterns.
In this episode, we explore how the Enneagram can be used not just for self awareness and growth but also for system awareness -- to understand and support the dynamics of your team. We’ll look at how different core motivations, communication patterns, and instinctual priorities shape how each person shows up at work. You’ll learn how to recognize common tension points, how to create more psychological safety, and how to build a team culture where people feel seen, valued, and able to contribute in their own way.
Episode topics:
- People reveal insights into their type and instinct by what they protect and pursue; even without knowing someones type you can notice these patterns
- The Enneagram is not a label; instead it sheds light on what drives you, and what you need to feel safe, effective, and connected?
- Self awareness vs system awareness and the values to both
- The 3 Enneagram centers and what they each need to trust
- Common team communication misfires between centers
- The role of the instincts and how this can imprint on a team's patterns
- Practical suggestions for how to both notice and name team patterns to build more system awareness
- This isn’t about treating everyone the same. It’s about understanding that what builds trust is NOT universal. Understanding ourselves helps;
understanding the system transforms everything.
Coaching Prompts:
- Notice: Try observing the team dynamics rather than just participating in them
- Journal: What do I need to feel safe in communication?
- Ask: What am I learning about my colleagues – what do they need to feel safe, effective, and connected?
Resources | Links:
Co-create with Jen for Your Team
