The Enneagram at Work: Unlocking the Power of Type to Lead and Succeed

by Jim McPartlin

Use the power of the Enneagram to become a more effective, capable leader

The Enneagram at Work is the first book to harness the insight of the Enneagram to transform leadership in today's workplace. A veteran of the high-profile hospitality industry with two decades of experience working with the Enneagram, author Jim McPartlin has seen firsthand the way self-awareness can radically transform leadership, strengthen teams, and spark creative solutions. From giving and accepting criticism to fostering strong mentorships and managing conflict, The Enneagram at Work will give you invaluable tools for growing and thriving in your career.

For the longtime Enneagram fan or those who are just learning to identify their type, The Enneagram at Work helps readers explore the full breadth of their type, becoming aware of their blindspots in the workplace and leaning into their strengths more fully. Each chapter includes actionable exercises and practices so that readers can move from learning to doing and apply their insights in the real world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Self Help, Leadership

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2021

About the author

Jim McPartlin is a renowned hospitality consultant with over three decades of leadership experience across the luxury hotel industry. Most recently employed as the Vice President of Leadership Development at Forbes Travel Guide, Jim is also a recognized authority on using the Enneagram as a means of understanding interpersonal workplace relationships. Over the past 20 years, Jim has taught hundreds of courses on the Enneagram and emotional intelligence and has delivered keynote speeches and seminars on this topic across the globe. He actively works as a professional coach with clients ranging from American Express, Chanel, Geico, and XL Construction.

Reviews

[Joy Matteson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a very well researched and story driven narrative on how to navigate the Enneagram at work. There are MANY books on the Enneagram by self styled coaches that have a lot of pop-psych references but little substance. Author Jim McPartlin studied under some highly respected and educated Enneagram teachers, including the late Dr. David Daniels and the late Helen Palmer. He knows his game. It's very corporate America heavy with his examples, but his self deprecating humor and an intense amount of self awareness makes this a must read for Enneagram devotees. Some general leadership principles are scattered throughout the Enneagram types as well, making this an easy read for readers who enjoy business leadership podcasts. As someone who's read literally dozens of Enneagram books--this is towards the top of my list.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Incorporating the Enneagram as a mechanism for supporting and empowering your team transforms both you and the organization, with enduring impact.”

The Enneagram at Work is an insightful and enlightening portrayal of how business leaders and managers can utilize their understanding of the enneagram to become more self-aware in their own roles, and to interact with their employees in more productive ways.

”The pattern awareness helped each member better understand how to approach one another, which buttons not to push, and how to bring out the best in each other and ourselves.”

Jim McPartlin offers valuable advice on the importance of self-awareness, observation, feedback, and vision in leadership. I appreciated how his unique voice puts the enneagram into a professional context and invites leaders to lead their teams better by endeavoring to understand the people who work for them, and why they behave the way they do.

”Arming yourself with this knowledge allows you to anticipate the situation and practice your response ahead of time.”

I most enjoyed McPartlin’s breakdowns of how each type gravitates to one of three “centers of intelligence,” how each type navigates failure, and how each type deals with conflict. I can see all of these sections being particularly helpful in the workplace!

”The goal is not eradicating conflict (that is an impossibility), but, rather, knowing how to successfully guide yourself or a group through it.”

I noticed lots of name-dropping and personal anecdotes. These seemed designed to impress as much as to instruct, and did start to wear on me eventually, although this seems to be pretty typical in the self-improvement genre.

”The words we embrace and the stories we tell ourselves matter.”

I would recommend this book for those who are already familiar with the enneagram and know their own types (and, preferably, their employees’ types) in advance. This is not a “let’s-take-a-quiz-to-discover-your-type” book; rather it is a “let’s-synthesize-what-you-know-with-these-actions-you-should-take” manual. With those expectations in check, it’s a handy guide!

”Learning to work consistently well with other people in a positive common endeavor is what collaboration is all about.”

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A huge thank you to Jim McPartlin, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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Follow @letteredlibrary on Instagram!

[Lindsey (Bring My Books)]

Thank you to Edelweiss & St. Martin's Essentials for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

So this is going to be an interesting DNF review - I would actually recommend having a copy of this available to skim while not being actively interested in reading through the entire book. I found the enneagram in the summer of 2020 and have been hugely interested in it ever since, and have loved actively using it as a tool to recognize where I can make improvements in my life. With this in mind, I thought a book specifically for utilizing the enneagram at work would be right up my alley!

It's not that it wasn't, per se - but more so that not all of it was. There are a lot of personal anecdotes and/or case studies, and while those are helpful to show the author's knowledge and background, I was actually looking for a bit of a more textbook approach to how each type works best, and also how best to interact with other types to get the most out of that working relationship.

Like I said, I will probably order a copy of this into our developmental library at work - but I think it will be a lot more tabbing certain portions for their use than offering it as a whole to read.

[Kathleen Messmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're struggling to be a more effective leader in your job, read this book. The guidance is so valuable you'll wonder how you got along without it.

[Jung]

Learning to lead starts with learning to manage yourself, and the key to this process is self-awareness. The Enneagram is a tool you can use to get in touch with your core strengths and blindspots. Yes, your patterns are hardwired, but they don’t define you; instead, by seeing them clearly, you can make them serve you. In the end, you’re fine just as you are – but with some active introspection and focus, you can evolve from fine to amazing in both your professional and personal life.

And here’s some more actionable advice:

Walk the walk in order to talk the talk.

You can’t effectively lead others until you’ve walked in their shoes. As a new hotel school graduate, Jim McPartlin cleaned rooms, and then outdoor toilets, in the Florida summer heat. Fast forward a few years, and he became a hotel manager – but he stayed connected to that initial experience. The bottom line is, you’re never too senior or highly ranked to do the unglamorous “dirty” work. Having – and acting upon – such a mindset will foster a team culture of mutual awareness, trust, and respect.

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The Enneagram can help you capitalize on your strengths and chuck your weaknesses.

The Enneagram isn’t a new concept. It first appeared 2,500 years ago and has been linked to mystical and religious practices like Sufism and Christianity throughout the ages. In the twentieth century, the enigmatic model was updated with modern psychological terms – and it shot into public consciousness.

What was once considered “woo-woo” by some is now firmly embedded in mainstream practice. The Enneagram is often used to resolve workplace conflicts and marital troubles. And companies like Chanel, Geico, and Best Buy have integrated the Enneagram into their corporate culture to strengthen employees’ personal performance and interpersonal dynamics.

The key message here is: The Enneagram can help you capitalize on your strengths and chuck your weaknesses.

As a leader, possessing an awareness of assets and blind spots – both in terms of yourself and your colleagues – is invaluable. Knowing what makes you and the people around you tick and, conversely, stall is an invisible superpower that can boost trust, morale, productivity, and profit.

The Enneagram provides a springboard for cultivating that awareness. A geometric model of the human psyche, it outlines patterns in how people understand and navigate the world. What it won’t do is try to fix you. In fact, the Enneagram’s underlying message is that you’re fine just as you are.

But being doesn’t equal knowing. While the Enneagram won’t try to alter your core, it’ll reveal your behavioral patterns and help you build on the strengths that benefit you while demonstrating how to release those patterns that don’t.

That said, change won’t come easy. If you’re like most people, you’re probably very attached to your behavioral patterns. They’re comfortable and familiar, even when they’re hurting you. Because of this, trying to break free of them is difficult.

As you work on shedding ingrained habits and behaviors to reveal your true core, you may be met with resistance – both internal and external. But by gaining a comprehensive understanding of who you truly are, what motivates you, and how you connect with your peers, you will grow and evolve.

Self-acceptance is key – acknowledging that this is where I am and committing to this is what I’m working toward. Practicing patience is also essential. By taking things slow and being open about your process with yourself and those around you, you’ll have a better chance at achieving the behavioral metamorphosis you’re striving toward.

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To be an effective leader, you need to cultivate self-awareness.

Crazy, big fears used to dominate author Jim McPartlin’s life. It helped him in terms of his career – he was always prepared for the worst. But anxiety pervaded everything he did. Then, one day in 1993, he attended a seminar on the Enneagram. When the presenter reached Type Six, the Loyal Skeptic, McPartlin exclaimed, “Holy shit!” She was describing his life and personality without knowing him at all.

That experience enlightened him as both a person and a leader. It made him see just how much about himself he couldn’t articulate and showed him the importance of self-awareness – one of the most overlooked aspects of leadership.

The key message here is: To be an effective leader, you need to cultivate self-awareness.

Self-awareness was once considered squishy self-help fodder. But in the modern workplace, it’s as critical for success as technical competency. Research also shows that confidence and creativity come from seeing ourselves clearly. We build stronger relationships, perform better, and lead more effectively – which in turn leads to more profitable companies.

Being self-aware means not allowing your patterns to function on autopilot; instead, it’s seeing your mind as a muscle you can direct and focus. And, just like with any muscle, you can train and focus the mind to become stronger – through meditation.

McPartlin, true to his type, was a meditation skeptic at first. But he found that it really works. Here’s how to begin: just breathe. Wherever you are, notice your breath and focus on it. How do you feel, both physically and mentally? Next, focus on something – it could be as banal as a piece of carpet fuzz – for ten breaths. Notice it in a nonjudgmental manner, and welcome any thoughts or feelings that arise. Can you simply let them exist? Now ask yourself what you want to do next.

Self-awareness, or rather know thyself, is the first of McPartlin’s five Enneagram-inspired leadership principles. The second is be curious. By starting each day with the aim of learning something, and ending with a reflection on what you’ve learned, you’ll build personal growth into your daily routine.

The third principle is honor your commitments. This is doing what you say you’re going to do. This proves you’re reliable, trustworthy, and that you don’t put yourself above your team. Remember, honoring commitments is also knowing when to say no.

Next, choose your team carefully. Once you understand yourself and how you work, you can bring together people who complement you. And finally, pay attention. Whether you’re in a meeting or making a sandwich, practice being present – the meditation exercise you learned will help with that. You may be surprised by the increased productivity and respect you achieve.

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Diffuse conflict and foster collaboration by recognizing and releasing your patterns.

Conflict happens daily – and it can derail even the most well-intentioned leaders. It has infinite potential causes, including contrasting value systems, differing competitiveness levels, and mismatched opinions over the quality of a deliverable. But the single largest source of conflict? Differences in pattern expression, resulting in miscommunication and misunderstandings.

Before attempting to mediate others, you need to comprehend how you’re self-managing. And this starts with taking a detached look at your own behavior patterns.

The key message here is: Diffuse conflict and foster collaboration by recognizing and releasing your patterns.

There’s a series of paintings by George Rodrigue called Blue Dog. The images depict his deceased dog, Tiffany, who’s traveling through space and time to find her owner. In a smaller series, the same dog isn’t blue, but red. According to Rodrigue, this is when Tiffany is “being her bad self.”

Like Tiffany, each of us also has a good and bad self. Different personality types instinctually manage discord in various ways – but regardless of the approach, there is a higher and lower expression for each type. For example, in a stressful situation, a Type Four (Intense Creative) will express their good self as being self-aware and calm; their bad self, on the other hand, will be exasperated, dramatic, and withdrawn.

We all possess an inner observer. During a tense moment, practice tuning into this impartial set of eyes to identify when you’re slipping into your bad self – and shift course in real time. This will diffuse conflict and improve your leadership game.

Just as it can help you express your best self, the Enneagram can help bring out the best in collaborative teams. The key to effective, fun teamwork is learning to acknowledge another’s point of view, voicing your own, and then solving the obstacle together.

There are three Enneagram subtypes, or instincts, that can help you gain a more nuanced understanding of others’ positions: self-preservation – which entails a sense of security; social – wanting to belong within a group; and one-to-one needs like partner intimacy or close friendships. We each naturally gravitate toward one of the three.

Have you ever immediately clicked with someone? That’s probably because your subconscious types are synced. Then there are people you just don’t like working with. What about them rubs you the wrong way? And what do you do to push their buttons? If you know, for example, that the Type Four’s trigger points are feeling ignored or devalued, you can make a concerted effort to show you care about and value their input.

Letting go of your patterns without knowing if the other party will follow suit is hard – and the learning and growing process might go on forever. But, as with any great relationship, it’s worth the effort.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's for an ARC of this title.

So, to start: amongst the various personality typing systems that are out there, I like the Enneagram. It starts from telling you that you are not just one specific box, but there are patterns you're more likely to fall into as a person. That's good! It's a great tool for personal development, catching yourself in bad habits, and generally trying to be a better person.

Given its rising profile in the last few years, it doesn't surprise me that someone's tried to turn this into the type of business book your boss picks up at the airport, but WOW does this do you a disservice if it's the first book you read about the Enneagram.

Do you like hotels? All of the author's examples are personal examples from their many years in the hotel industry, and on the whole, they're not the most universal examples. There's an attempt to try and bring examples of business leaders/celebrities in as examples as well, but most of those come off as the author name dropping a celebrity/business leader they met in the process of Doing Things As A Hotel Executive and don't really work, especially because the author is presuming that person matches the enneagram type they're talking about for a given example.

I'd maybe give that a pass, but the enneagram content is also given a very corporate rebranding throughout. Literally - the various enneagram numbers have a few different common labels, but the book tries to give them new business-y names...that don't really stick. Every time a type is mentioned, its new Enneagram At Work name gets put in parentheses (like this). Seeing these alternate names pop up 17 times in the same paragraph makes things feel like a George Saunders story, not a manual for using these tools successfully.

I'd maybe give this a pass too - okay, so it's trying to really sell the "business" angle of all of this, even if it needs to cram the Enneagram's round peg in a square hole to do it. Except that it's the blandest business advice that you could literally read in any other business book. I get what the authors are going for here, but there are better places to get both the Enneagram content AND the business content of the book.

Frankly, if you're wondering how to use the Enneagram to succeed in business: know yourself. Read something like The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery (and maybe pair it with The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships so you understand enneagram types in relationships, and maybe throw in The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth if you want more of a spiritual development angle. Know how you work best, and how you relate to others best, and then read books about business stuff/leadership (if you must) to fill in the rest.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm super interested in enneagram stuff and have read a few books about the topic. This was a well-written take on the enneagram viewed through a work setting. It offers insight into how each type can work with their strengths to excel in the workplace (including working effectively as a leader, getting the most out of a mentor relationship, etc.).

McPartlin writes this with tons of examples from his own career - it was helpful to see the suggestions in real-life situations. Because I'm the same type as him, I think I got a great deal out of the book because I could relate so much to what he was describing. I'm not sure if other types would be able to connect as much to the examples given.

I appreciated that this book had so many enneagram exercises to try out but I think it would be more helpful for people who work in more traditional work set-ups. As a freelance writer, I wouldn't be able to apply all of McPartlin's recommendations as easily as I could in more of a corporate setting.

I'd recommend this for anyone who wants to know more about the enneagram and how their career might be affected by it.

*Free ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great resource for managers who are well versed in the Enneagram. Lots of good applications for using the types to mitigate workplace challenges. My 4-star rating is based on how useful this book would be in a workplace where everyone was interested in and onboard with using the Enneagram. If that’s the case, this is great book to have on your shelf.

However, the author doesn’t differentiate much between people typing themselves and him/managers typing the people he’s/they worked with. We can try to identify someone else’s type, but every person has to figure out their own type for themselves because the types are based on motivation. You can guess at someone’s type based on their actions and attitudes, but you can’t understand someone’s motivations unless they tell you. Treating people based on a guess of their Enneagram type may or may not be helpful. But I wouldn’t want someone to treat me according to a type I don’t identify as, and I don’t think this author should be recommending that either.

[Alyssa Foll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read about using the enneagram in business and in leadership settings. A couple of caveats:
1) This is not a great introductory book to the enneagram. You're going to want to read something like "The Essential Enneagram" or "The Road Back to You" or other introductory works to fully grasp the concepts. That being said, once you have a basic understanding, you'll be able to easily connect with this book and apply the knowledge to a business context. 2) The author has a lot of experience in the hospitality industry and has held leadership positions in that field, but there aren't a lot of other examples from other industries or businesses. This isn't a weakness, per se, but having more examples from leaders in other fields would have strengthened the book.

I still really enjoyed the book and it was helpful to me to think through how I will want to present the enneagram to leaders within my industry (healthcare).

[Edi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admittedly I didn't know much about the enema gram concepts prior to reading this book and not sure I know much more after reading it. It is filled with name dropping and his uses strictly within the hotel, hospitality industry. Not a lot of correlation of the practical use of this method into industry or healthcare, or even technology giants, After reading I am not convinced this is a way to categorize work or life traits as most people I know could easily drop into several categories and could never be locked into one. Antedotal stories are interesting but again its a lot of "all about me' situations. If you looking to learn about this theory of personality profiling in the workplace, you should probably look elsewhere.
I was.provided an advanced reader copy at my request and was under no obligation to review the book. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to peruse the book.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Someone who is studying the Enneagram it was interesting to see how the author applied it in the business setting. That said, if you haven't read other books or studied the enneagram this likely isn't the book that you are seeking. Understanding the enneagram and applying the learnings is really more about our individual journey and understanding what is driving us and with that awareness we can choose different behaviors. To focus too much attention on someone else's type quickly can turn to manipulation. The DISC tool is likely a better one on the workplace to foster good collaboration and communication.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jesse | jessereviewsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am pretty new to Enneagram and thought I had an understanding of which type I was. However, after listening to this audiobook I am not really sure anymore and several kept feeling spot on over and over again. I really appreciated the way Jim explained many of the nuances of each enneagram type (along with how different scenarios may play out depending on the type). I felt that Jim gave clear examples and instructions on how to try and apply what you're learning to your every day work environment. Overall, I thought this was a good introduction to the Enneagram and I am interested to learn more and see how I can apply it.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Rob McFarren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up here a bit - 3.5 stars. This is a practical take adapting the enneagram into the workplace for both personal and professional growth. There are a lot of really excellent points in the book, unfortunately also way too many 'case studies' and personal experiences that I found myself needing to skip over rather than get bogged down in. I would say this would be a good book for a discussion group, and there is really good information here. As odd as it sounds, I found the filler of stories and the font size/type and spacing/format of the book to be the main detractors. A better spacing and/or font size would easily bump this to 4 stars for me.

[Kristy Pinkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think using the enneagram in the work place is a good idea, but I don’t agree when the author says you should try to guess what a person is based on a few questions. I think the enneagram is one of the better tools for learning what makes someone tick but should be one of many tools in a manager’s tool belt. This is a good book for a manager/leader of a workplace if they know what enneagram is & are willing to give their employees an assessment.

Thanks to the publisher, author, & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for honest review

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim McPartlin's long career in the hospitality industry serves well in conveying advice on using the Ennegram in the work place. In particular, managers, team leaders and other senior management would benefit from reading the book.

McPartlin's examples from his industry experience help the reader understand how effective the Ennegram could be not only in the work place, but in one's personal life.

As an example, the chapter dealing with "Self-Aware Feedback" provides some relevant advice for the workplace and family life as well.

Thank you GoodReads for the book.

[Ada-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Jim McPartlin, and St. Martin’s Essentials for the advance digital galley. This is a great reference book for the workplace. Because you can only be one enneagram type, some of the discussions of the other 8 types were skimmable. I also found many parts repetitive. I enjoyed the author’s stories from the hospitality industry maybe more than the enneagram information! #TheEnneagramatWork #NetGalley

[Michael Ostrowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve ever read on leadership and personal development. Practical and engaging, my copy is now full of highlighted sections that I will return to again and again for guidance. Even if you do not decide to dig deeper into the Enneagram (which of course you should), after reading this book you will walk away with knowledge and strategies to improve yourself and your relationships (whether at work or at home).

[Corrica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really hoping this book would go into more detail about specific enneagrams. It did some at the beginning, but it wasn't what I expected. I would have loved sections dedicated to each enneagram and talking about how they are in certain situations and how they relate to other types on work projects. This book was more stories with enneagram information than an enneagram textbook.

[Joan R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and accessible intro to the complexities of the Enneagram system. Jim McPartlin has crafted a usable reference for leaders and managers that will greatly enhance their communication skills and insights into how different we are from each other. The Enneagram is a map and this book is a great guide.

[Nicole Never Reads Too Much · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did receive this as a giveaway, but I have to tell you that it has been passed around our office, with everyone wanting to learn how to learn more about themselves AND their coworkers! If you are looking for a great teambuilding book, that also puts focus on your own success I highly recommend this one.

[Cherie l brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Work assignment. Read over several months, but thankfully I read the last chapter today. I’m a Type 9, and can see some of those same characteristics in some of my coworkers. The intent is to know ppl’s core for better collaboration. Good takeaways.

[Michelle Pulignani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read with some good information. I’m familiar with my own type, but appreciated a more structured way of learning about the other types encountered in a supervisory capacity.

[Estel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helps on how to become a better leader by using the enneagram to describe coworkers :)

[Sabrina Gage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting look at who you are & how to be successful.

[Megan Evert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m slightly obsessed with Enneagram right now absolutely this was a useful lense to see the different types through. I liked the suggestions for how to apply and see situations from all angles.

[Mary Dombeck · Rating 1 out of 5]

A good read if you want to learn about the hospitality business. Doesn’t go too in depth about enneagram.

[Joanie Block · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm generally not a fan of team building type exercises - organizational development books, going to conferences, self administered personality tests etc - I prefer to get to know my team through casual get togethers and time away from the office. Also, I find business books a bit on the dry side. That said, I loved this book!! A friend of mine suggested I read it, and I was immediately hooked. Jim McPartlin is so relatable ... while his experience is in the hospitality industry, his stories and examples resonated with me as a non-profit exec with a background in both medical and K-12 education. While I will resist the urge to "number" everyone I work with, I am excited to incorporate the Enneagram principles in the work place. If you are an Org Development doubter like me, give this book a try - you will immediately love Jim. If not for the Enneagram, then because he started each day that he managed hotels with the housekeeping staff. That in and of itself speaks volumes.

[Morgan Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

My opinion of this book fluctuated as I kept reading but overall I found it valuable. I was familiar with the enneagram so the first few chapters were a little redundant but probably helpful to those with limited knowledge of it! I appreciated that the author emphasized that each of us has all 9 personality types in us that manifest differently. We’re not confined to 1-2 types, which I think is so true. I score highest as type 3 but found I didn’t relate to many of the descriptions provided in the book of type 3s.

Key takeaways

-Author encourages readers to cultivate non-goal related aspects of life
-To better understand yourself: Ask 10 people in your life to use 3 words to describe you

[Kate Schiffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has been interested in the Enneagram for a while, this book was the best! I loved the stories that McPartlin told of his career, they were very entertaining. The breakdowns of each concept by type was also very helpful; I will be using this as a quick reference going forward!