Many different teams are dominated by a specific personality type. If you have multiple Enneagram Eights on your team, this article is for you!
So how do you know if you have a bunch of Eights on your team? If your team hasn't looked into the enneagram and you don't know for sure, here are a few questions to help you determine for yourself:
Do people on your team get frustrated at injustice/unfairness?
Do multiple people on your team like to fight for the underdog?
Do your teammates sometimes come across blunt and aggressive?
Would you describe multiple people on your team as strong and fearless?
Do people on your team care deeply about social causes?
Does it feel like multiple team members want to move fast and don't always care about details?
If you answered yes to 4 or more of those questions, odds are you've got several Eights on your team.
Eights can really be a gift to a team. They are cause-oriented warrior-advocates who love to stand up to bullies and fight on behalf of others. They think of the people that others count out and are genuinely trying to build a better world. Eights are fearless and tenacious.
On the other hand, though, Eights can often come off harshly and be greatly misunderstood. Often their fiery passion is mistaken for being uncaring or harsh. They are often accused of running over people or not caring about how their teammates feel. They don't have time for drama or details getting in the way of their objectives, and they can blow by anyone who is caught up in either.
Here are a couple of great tips about what to do with the Eights on your team in order to succeed together.
First, Eights need to have clear boundaries on what is expected from them. As a leader, you can tell Eights that they are welcome to do whatever work they need in order to reach their objective, but at the end of the day, there are some clear benchmarks by which their job/position is evaluated. They must accomplish those things first, after which they can pursue other goals that they are passionate about.
Second, Eights will lose respect for anyone who is not willing to stand up for what they believe. When you get pushback from an Eight, it is important to stand your ground. They're testing you. Standing up to them and asserting yourself will help them to respect and trust you.
Finally, when Eights have conflict with other team members, confidently remind them that not everyone needs to share their passions. The world is a big place and there is plenty of room for different people to be passionate about different things.
Leading Eights, like any number, can be challenging. But when done well, they are a critical and impactful part of any team. A healthy Eight can help your team thrive in every season!
Are you an Enneagram Eight? Or do you have several Eights on your team? We would love to hear your thoughts on this article. Reach out to us on social media or email us directly at hello@evrgrnteams.com