Diving Deep: Understanding Enneagram 5's at Work

Enneagram 5's are the thinkers and problem-solvers of the workplace. They're the ones you'll find deep in concentration, piecing together complex puzzles or innovating solutions that others might overlook. If there's a problem that needs a thorough, analytical approach, your Enneagram 5 colleague is likely already three steps ahead in solving it.

It's crucial to remember that Enneagram 5's deeply value their mental space and energy. What might seem like aloofness or detachment is often their way of preserving the cognitive resources they need to function at their best. Understanding this can transform how we interact with and support the 5's in our professional lives.

The Inner Workings

Enneagram 5's have rich, complex inner worlds. Their minds are constantly processing, analyzing, and connecting dots. This internal activity is not just a pastime—it's a fundamental part of how they navigate the world and their work.

For a 5, being asked to immediately respond to a question or make an on-the-spot decision can feel like an invasion of their carefully cultivated mental space. They need time to process, consider all angles, and formulate their thoughts before presenting them. Rushing a 5 is like asking someone to run a marathon without warming up—it's uncomfortable and potentially detrimental to their performance.

To work effectively with 5's, we need to respect their need for mental preparation. Providing agendas in advance, giving ample notice for meetings or project changes, and allowing time for them to respond can make a world of difference in their comfort and productivity.

The Power of Focus

One of the greatest strengths of Enneagram 5's is their ability to dive deep into subjects and emerge with innovative solutions. They thrive when given the opportunity to fully engage with complex problems in their area of expertise.

However, this intense focus can sometimes be misinterpreted as disinterest in other aspects of work life, particularly social interactions. It's not that 5's don't value their colleagues—they simply have a different threshold for social engagement and often prefer to allocate their energy to cognitive tasks.

Creating a work environment that balances focused work time with necessary social interactions can help 5's thrive. This might mean scheduling focused work blocks, providing quiet spaces, or using asynchronous communication methods that allow 5's to engage on their own terms.

The Logic of Emotions

In the workplace, Enneagram 5's often approach problems and interactions through the lens of logic and facts. This isn't a lack of empathy, but rather their natural mode of processing and problem-solving.

When dealing with workplace conflicts or emotional situations, 5's may seem detached or unresponsive. In reality, they're likely analyzing the situation, looking for the most rational and effective solution. By understanding this, we can better interpret their responses and collaborate more effectively.

Encouraging 5's to share their logical insights while also gently bringing emotional considerations into the conversation can lead to more holistic problem-solving and improved team dynamics.

In essence, working successfully with Enneagram 5's is about respecting their need for mental space, valuing their analytical strengths, and finding ways to integrate their unique perspective into the team dynamic. When we create an environment that allows 5's to play to their strengths, we unlock a powerhouse of innovation and problem-solving that can drive our entire team forward.

Let's Work Together

There is no perfect solution to putting nine different personalities in a room and telling them to work together. The ONLY way to get a bit better at it is to start to understand what is behind different behaviours and actions.

Enneagram 5's teach us to understand and respect time, space and boundaries at work. We need them. But they also don't want to do that work alone. Get to know the 8's in your life. There is no quick list of tips that can be offered to get around the fact that each person needs to be heard and understood just as they are.