|
|
| www.1001TopWords.com |
|
|
Introduction to the The Enneagram as a Leadership Tool
The Enneagram is a fascinating tool of nine orientations that enables us to gain insight into the depths of our true potential. It seeks to provide insight into how we fund our foundation of assumptions so they work for us or they don't! (In some ways it provides a generic Owner's Manual to Life! That little book we all hoped came with us to provide insightful directions on how to employ us and treat us with care.) Leadership development requires fluency at this level. Margaret Jackson, the Chairperson of the QANTAS board of directors put it this way, "Know your self, appreciate others, be bold and be brave." This tool enables you to do the first two at a depth rarely available in psychological profiling. From this foundation, with the wisdom of appreciation, the other two become natural behavior. History: Some use it as a personality tool I prefer it as a road map, a generic blue print for your 'model' of assumptions that can be used to direct intentional and purposeful growth. It enables the discarding of assumptions that are past their use-by-date, maybe formulated in childhood, and the growth of wiser concepts. Its application: As such it fits perfectly into the newest assumptions of quantum physics that by measuring an event we influence it (there is a subjective component to every observation). Our language has lagged behind these forward concepts and we still prefer objectivity presuming it is more truthful. However, the information provided by the interview and the practicality of working with others has always been the definitive test for compatibility rather than the pre-selection psychological tools. Questionnaires to determine our Enneagram orientation, which are readily available on the web, are not very accurate. Not because of the skill of the questionnaire compiler but due to the inability of ourselves to appreciate our unconscious motive objectively and compare it to others. How many thoughts have you ever had about this area of your life? In working with the Enneagram for 15 years I have yet to fault it, despite rigorous testing. A skilled practitioner can provide information to identify an individual's orientation or, alternatively those who know us well. The most telling insights into our orientation are those based in the person's conflict behavior. Because we assume our conflict is well clothed we do it with abandon - to others we are the Emperor with no clothes and they often perceive our actions with great clarity. Consult a skilled practitioner or ask loved ones, colleagues or friends to help you identify your orientation. Leadership Development: The Enneagram shows us our pot holes (limitations) and our mountains (talents). Our job as leaders is to develop conscious competence with both! The Enneagram shows us where these are so we can begin the work of our lives. This article may be reproduced in printed or web format, provided the resource box below is included. Rosemary Johnston is a professional corporate and personal coach. Working with executives from some of Australia's largest and most successful companies for over 15 years. Rosemary's new book, "How To Develop Your Leadership Style and Skills to Take Charge of Your Career and Life" is now available to download at her web site. Read about how you can share some of the success Rosemary has had coaching leaders in Australian blue chip companies. http://www.leadershipfirst.com.au
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Three Growth Guidelines from Stephen Covey I have been looking for answers to what it takes to create a winning corporate culture in the midst of today's confusing economic indicators. If I rely solely on history or economic indicators, I won't find the answers. Company profits are up, yet job growth is sputtering. Communication happens at breakneck speed, yet we often feel less connected to our peers than we ever did. The Defining Moment: The Straw That Stirs The Drink Of Motivational Leadership (Part Two) In Part One, I described the importance of establishing deep, human connections with people you lead. I said there were three ways to do that, by communicating information, by making sense, and by having your experience become their experiences. By far, the most important and most effective way, is the latter. A Lasting Leadership Lesson: How One Leadership Talk By George Washington Saved The Revolution A Lasting Leadership Lesson: How One Leadership Talk By George Washington Saved The Revolution (And Our Fledgling Nation) From Catastrophe. Are You The Most Powerful Leader You Can Be? As someone who teaches, manages, parents or influences you'll probably already be aware that powerful leadership is not just about the boss, it's about the team, irrespective of whether that team is in the classroom, in the office or around your home. None of Us Arrived with an Owners Manual: A Fresh Perspective on the Drive to Lead (part 2) Why didn't I get an Owner's Manual Are You a Good Manager or a Great Leader? Your word is your truth - Know that when you speak, you will fulfill your promise to others and others will know they can depend on you. Think before you speak. Under promise and over deliver. Always keep your promise. Creating Unlimited Belief for Success! What's holding your team back from experiencing "breakout performance"? The Compassion Paradox Effective leaders are comfortable with paradox. They can call on skills and work in ways that seem to be contradictory. 7 Awesome Leadership Power Generators! 7 Awe-Inspiring Leadership Power-Generating Strategies! From Failure To Victory; The Cats Out Of The Bag! Did you ever think that all of the great heroes we read about may not have been particularly great men in and of themselves? They may not have been born with any great skills, talents or abilities. But, each of them did have one special quality that we would all do well to cultivate. Premature Articulation Ask anyone about what makes a good leader and they are sure to put the ability to communicate high on the list of necessary skills. Yet all to often communication is simply seen as the ability to speak. Recommended Books on Leadership and Team Building The single most important thing a leader can do is lead by example, and if you want your team to be dynamic and learn more, you've got to continually innovate and find new ways to encourage, reward, and motivate YOURSELF! That's right, I said you've got to motivate YOU! If you lead by example, and you're motivated, soon your team will be too! Leadership and Change in a Holographic Universe Have you ever noticed that since the early part of the 20th century, nearly every new scientific theory manages to sound more and more like the same sort of metaphysical philosophies science once dismissed? Well, it's happening again and this time our views on the structure of the universe, the power of human consciousness and even the nature of reality itself are being challenged by a startling new finding: that many hard to explain events and scientific puzzles become suddenly clear and easily understood if we consider that everything we see and experience around us is not in fact a physical reality, but rather our own interpretation of an infinitely large, dynamic and multidimensional hologram, constructed by and interpreted through our own consciousness. The Essence of Leadership What is more important, leadership or teamwork? Leadership or consensus management? Today we hear frequently about teams, team-building, and teamwork on the one hand and management by consensus on the other. Although both teamwork and consensus building are critical skills in a leader, neither are substitutes for capable leadership itself. Instead, both, as commonly practiced in business today, are an over reaction to past autocratic management styles. Coaching a Leader One of my favorite memories growing up as a child was making trips with my family to my sister's volleyball tournaments on the weekends. Those memories are filled with being a part of an exciting atmosphere, sitting in the stands and watching the action-packed games. Along with watching my sister play, I recall two other players by the names of Christy and Liz, who stood out to me because of their athletic talent on the court. Over the four years of my sister's high school career, I followed their volleyball careers as well because Christy was my sister's teammate, and Liz was a player from a rival school. Learn How to Lead People "Who rules or guides or inspires others" Take the Road Less Traveled "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference."- Robert Frost The Four Laws Of Leadership (Part Two) In Part One, I described the laws of motivation. In Part Two, I'll examine the laws in more detail. Being an Extraordinary Leader Through Tough and Challenging Times Tough and challenging times will surely come. That is a given. The questionis what kind of leadership we will demonstrate during those time. Those whoare weak leaders will see lasting damage done, if not see the organizationfall apart completely. With Extraordinary Leaders at the helm, however, anorganization can actually become stronger and thrive in spite of the toughand challenging times. That should be our goal so here are some idea on howto be an Extraordinary Leader in tough and challenging times! Stand Out as a Leader, Do 5 Things Better! Number One: Improve the Quality of Your Decision Making! The manager administers, the leader improves;the manager maintains, the leader develops;the manager relies on systems, the leader relies on people;the manager counts on controls, the leader counts on trust;the manager does things right, the leader does the right thing.-Fortune Magazine
|
| © Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |
