Think Big: Understanding Enneagram 8's at Work

Enneagram 8's are movers and shakers. They are risk-takers and change-makers. If they see a problem, they WILL speak up. If something isn't working, they will make it happen.

It is important to remember that Enneagram 8's are incredibly adverse to control. Part of what makes them incredible advocates and leaders is their desire to avoid harm and control for themselves and for others.

The big energy that comes along with this personality style is powerful. And when everyone involved is aware and working towards their best, big things can happen.

Big Picture

Enneagram 8's have huge forward vision. They aren't just seeing a solution, they are seeing several steps beyond the solution. Part of this way of looking at things is because 8's don't usually feel bound by the rules and systems the way some of us do. To an 8, if rules or systems don't make sense, they need to be changed.

So in this point we can see two aspects of working with 8's: they don't want to be bored with menial tasks that make no sense, and that same principal applies to ANYTHING that doesn't make sense in the grand scheme of things. If you are asking an 8 to do something that has no clear connection to the end result and is simply a task for tasks sake, or a rule because it's always been that way, you are going to get some serious pushback.

And thank goodness you will!! In Enneagram 8's we see the example for all of us that, it doesn't have to be that way just because it's always been that way. The term used for 8's in a lot of literature is "challenger." When something isn't working or doesn't feel right, Enneagram 8's are going to speak up.

Direct and Honest

In a lot of ways, this is the most common advice given when working with Enneagram 8's: be direct. Enneagram 8's are really good at saying what's on their mind. Depending on the awareness of the 8 you are working with, this can sometimes come out a bit blunt or forceful, but none-the-less, it is often right to the point.

Going back to the original consideration with Enneagram 8's, indirect communication and secrecy of any kind often feels to an 8 like an attempt at control. They can often feel a shift in the conversation when something is being left unsaid and would rather have things out in the open where they can be addressed directly. The control comes when an issue remains hiding in the shadows of someone's mind until it pops up unexpectedly in the form of passive-aggression or guilt-tripping. While for many of us, conflict and difficult conversations are hard to get out into the open, to an 8 it often feels like dishonesty or secrecy.

When we can take these observations into consideration, we can make space for understanding on both sides. There will never be one right way to deal with misunderstandings but noticing what else is going on in someone's process will go a long way.

In Charge

And now we need to dispell a myth: Enneagram 8's like to be the boss. This isn't always true. Enneagram 8's feel a need to be the boss when they can see how things need to be changed or acted on and NO ONE ELSE is stepping up to do it.

Many 8's are tired of always being in charge and would rather follow someone else for a while but something inside of them can't relax when they can see what, to them, so obviously needs to get done.

In this point we start to see the heart of the matter for Enneagram 8's. They don't always want to be in charge but their natural way of seeing problems and solutions means they are miles ahead of the rest of us long before we speak up to contribute. Without checking in with themselves and developing the ability to slow down, they will forever be running ahead of the rest of us and feeling the pressure to lead and inspire along the way.

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 8's teach us to speak up when things don't make sense and when rules or systems harm others. 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.