“I’ll never be able to delegate. I just don’t have the personality for it.”
Well, yes and no. Or, more specifically, no and yes. Delegation phobia, as I like to call it, is definitely rooted in personality. My ENFJ friend has no problem with it. She recently told an entire meeting, “Someone needs to write these thank-you letters, and I’d prefer it not to be me.”
Enneagram Type 8s are naturally headstrong and like to take charge, even when leadership is not part of their job role. That can make them very hard to manage!
You can usually get the best out of the Enneagram Type 8s on your team by encouraging the competitive, ambitious aspects of their personality, whilst controlling their tendency towards heavy-handedness. Here are some dos and don’ts, so you can help them shine.
It always starts innocently enough. Maybe you’re in a meeting with some colleagues you don’t regularly interact with. Or perhaps you’re at a networking event or happy hour with some industry acquaintances.
Somebody shakes your hand or offers a friendly wave and says, “It’s really great to meet you.”
Sigh. There’s only one problem: You’ve actually met this person before—maybe even several times.
INTJs have a mixed experience in the workplace. All the data we’ve collected suggests that they outrank most other personality types – and certainly the other introverted types – salary-wise, and they also perform well in the category of very high earners making over $150,000 USD a year. If we accept salary as a proxy for success, then INTJs appear to be doing well for themselves.
People with the Drive personality type on their DISC profile are typically bold, persuasive and impervious to influence from others. They are goal-oriented and strong leaders and, when they’re at their best, they can see projects and goals through to completion with top-of-the-line quality, effectiveness, and impact. As such, they can be excellent assets to any team.
Some would say that INFJ personalities are generous to a fault. Motivated by boundless empathy, they devote their time and energy to helping others. There is no calculation or self-interest involved; they give of themselves because it feels good and because they believe it’s the right thing to do.
Everyone knows an ENTJ at work. They’re the ones who ooze competence and authority. While the rest of us get sweaty-palmed and twitchy when we’re asked to try something new, Commanders step up and tackle the challenge head on. They’re the last people you would expect to be afraid – which is one of the reasons why they’re so successful in the workplace.
Are you shy and think this is a weakness? You may be looking at shyness the wrong way. According to the latest research, somewhere between 40 and 60 percent of all adults report being shy. And while it’s easy to get down on yourself when you are shy or socially anxious, there are times when it’s a trait of real strength.
For the most part, you like your job. You can handle your responsibilities with confidence, your boss is invested in your growth and development, and you’re learning a lot.
But, that doesn’t mean things are perfect. Your biggest complaint? You don’t feel like you’re totally meshing with your team.
So you’ve taken the DISC assessment and have learned that your primary style is “S” (for Supportive). How do you feel about that? Do you have mixed feelings? I know I did when I first took the DISC assessment. S is sometimes seen as “Steady” and a whole bunch of “S” adjectives -- “Sweet”, “Shy”, “Sincere” … even “Submissive”. At the time, I was in a leadership position and was concerned about what that said about me, what I was capable of, and whether it limited my options for my future.
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