Efficiency rules- I like efficiency.  I believe that people deserve fair pay for a fair day’s work and that most people go to work every day to do a good job;      great even.  Having managed a £52million staffing budget, I am really clear that  efficient organisations pay people to deliver  business results and that great talent is worth paying for. That a very small population of staff with overinflated egos can create great short term business results but with long term disastrous effects . There are also some who are plain lazy. But both of these groups are very few in number . I also believe that on the whole structures and norms in organisations create apathy and that too many meetings ought to be retitled Bored meetings.

In my 20s I had a belief that most people really ought to be chained to their desks at work and every fag break minute counted and docked off of their salary or made up but that’s because I spent too much time focused on time and motion studies in my CIPD post grad training.  The whole philosophy of time and motion studies worked on the principle that people are a means of production and as such, like any piece of machinery in a manufacturing plant, the time spent with hands engaged on the job were what mattered most.

Business matters magazine has proposed that British workers cost employers billions in terms of wasted time.  Really?

The folks over at Carnegie Mellon have shown that rapid toggling interruptions slow employees down by around 20%. But at the same time, the brain adapts to interruption and can actually increase productivity because of anticipated interruption. Carnegie Mellon has also shown that 2 minutes of distraction can improve decision taking.  More importantly for business, is the fact that during seeming “down and distracted time” the brain continues to unconsciously process information. It is still dealing with work whilst the physical body appears to be engaged in a different activity.Work really is about engaing the head and the hands.

We spend too much time using only our eyes to judge efficiency in organisations. It’s an old model; the juice is in neuroscience and what is actually happening to our thinking when rapid toggling, fag breaks or Facebook distracts us. It seems we Humans are actually quite clever and can do one thing whilst mentally processing another. This differentiates us from machines and that is why time and motion type comparisons are a waste of time. 

We do need to do something about the length and content  meetings for the perpetually Bored however. Now that’s worth talking about………

Inattentive. Stubborn. Conflict avoidant. Complacent. Short-tempered

“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” Dwight Eisenhower

Calm sometimes to the point of seeming complacent, (they’re not); a Nine could simply be trying to keep the peace. Sometimes, Nines can disappear in a crowd as they have no particular desire to either push themselves forward or be competitive. Nines need to ask themselves what is important to them in these situations and then find ways to communicate it.

A Nine’s desire for calm means that sometimes they can disconnect from the moment. A Nine grows when they realise that being fully present will have the biggest impact on their own peace of mind. However, if a Nine has a very clear view that something is unjust or can be done more effectively and people don’t agree, they can become stubborn and withdraw. This can be a sudden change; it can be helpful for everyone if the Nine is encouraged to voice his or her discontent early on.

Don’t mistake their desire for harmony as a sign that a Nine is a pushover. If you push a Nine too far by not delivering or letting the team down, you will know about it. They can be very assertive and are not averse to expressing their discontent.

To find out more about enneagram types and how to understand yourself and your colleagues better at work, download my book co authored with Jenny Williams.

Our book WHAT IS MY TYPE is available on Amazon kindle.

Open. Agreeable. Understanding. Patient. Connected. Harmonious

“I have no use for people who throw their weight around as celebrities, or for those who fawn over you just because you are famous.” Walt Disney

 Nines are calm, reliable and easy going.  They prefer amiable relationships with little conflict as they consider discord so unnecessary. Nines are great at understanding others and have a natural gift of seeing what is good in every person.  They are great team players, excellent at pulling people together because they know how to influence others to make things happen. Nines are great in a crisis, steady and calm with a focus on the end goal. They take a worldview, seeing the big picture ahead of their own individual agenda. They have little interest in office politics and other people’s egos. They take responsibility to deliver on time and keep things on track. A Nine will ask  ‘How can we move this forward, taking on board everyone’s feedback?’

Their leadership style is collegiate. Nines are great includers and like to involve people to make sure that everyone in the team is able to express their views and use their talents. They’re fantastic leaders to parachute into dysfunctional situations where teams are not functioning properly. Consequently, they make fabulous mediators.

His holiness the Dalai Lama is a nine and so was Mo Mowlam.

To find out more about enneagram types and how to understand yourself and your colleagues better at work, download my book co authored with Jenny Williams.

Our book WHAT IS MY TYPE is available on Amazon kindle.

Excessive. Loud. Risk takers. Insensitive. Bullying. Vindictive

“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done” Lucille Ball

A bull in a china shop’ can be an apt description for an Eight, they can sometimes be impatient and overly authoritarian. In their desire to serve the organisation, they can be provocative and drive others too hard. It can be helpful for an Eight to stop before they speak to ask ‘Is it worth it?’. They don’t like authority being wielded over them and can be fiercely independent. The idea of asking for help and having that request denied can stop the Eight from asking or showing any weakness. Eights need to be encouraged to keep connecting with others as they can become disconnected.

Eights are self-reliant and take control of steering ships that have gone off course. They’re comfortable in their power and can be great at empowering others to act too. If you’re on their team, and they have your loyalty, an Eight will swim through shark-infested waters for you. They want to wake people up and like people around them to have a sense of immediacy, like them.

Piers Morgan is an eight and so was Lucille Ball.

To understand more about the enneagram and those who come from the point of Types One through to Nine, keep reading the blog…

To find out more about enneagram types and how to understand yourself and your colleagues better at work, download my book co authored with Jenny Williams.

Our book WHAT IS MY TYPE is available on Amazon kindle.

Strong. Responsible. Direct. Doers. Fair. Assertive

“I am certainly not one of those who need to be prodded. In fact, if anything, I am the prod.”  Winston Churchill

Eights are strong, inspiring, lively and love immediacy. They’re tenacious and straight talking, they get things delivered.  They’re resourceful, courageous and magnanimous. The passion of an Eight is there for all to see and they firmly believe anything is possible.

An Eight will ask, ‘What makes you come alive? Whatever it is — go achieve that’. They want you to be passionate, alive and engaged.

They have a strong sense of justice and fairness. Eights can be very big-hearted and almost bear-like. They would like others to come with them but they don’t particularly want you to become overly reliant on them. Eights are decisive and have strong gut intelligence. They’re passionate and can be truly inspirational and charismatic in expressing ideas.

Winston Churchill was an eight and so was Martin Luther King.

To find out more about enneagram types and how to understand yourself and your colleagues better at work, download my book co authored with Jenny Williams.

Our book WHAT IS MY TYPE is available on Amazon kindle.

Impulsive. Undisciplined. Workaholic. Difficult to satisfy

“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.”  Richard Branson

Although Sevens  love people and get  their energy  from others, sometimes they need to check that they are really listening to those around them; listening with absolutely nothing else on their minds.

Sevens need to be careful with their energy levels. The constant searching for ideas, alternatives and the next thing can be tiring for themselves and others. Their expectations of others can be disproportionate and Sevens can be hard taskmasters. It can be really helpful for a Seven (and everyone around them) for them to stop and acknowledge their contribution before moving to the next thing. Recognising that not everyone is moving at their speed and that it can be helpful to slow down is a key learning for the seven.

Richard Branson is a seven and so was president Kennedy.

To understand more about the enneagram and those who come from the point of Type Seven through to nine, keep reading the blog…

To find out more about enneagram types and how to understand yourself and your colleagues better at work, download my book co authored with Jenny Williams.

Our book WHAT IS MY TYPE is available on Amazon kindle.

Outgoing. Option seekers. Curious. Spontaneous. High energy. Big picture thinkers

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” Robin Williams

Here comes the gregarious enneagram type seven. Sevens are a bundle of passion and energy. They connect easily with people and are fun and spontaneous to be around. They have a strong sense of spirit and adventure. They will ask, ‘When was the last time you did something for the first time?’, and then encourage you to go for it. Life is never dull with a Seven around.

Sevens are fabulous ideas people, fuelled by their curiosity and creative nature. If you get stuck in your thinking then a Seven will help un-stick it, they can see possibilities where all hope has been extinguished. Sevens are often multi-talented; a combination of their ability to see the possibility in things, high energy and curiosity. They have lots of ideas and will give most things a go.

Goldie Hawn is a seven and Robin Williams is too.

To find out more about enneagram types and how to understand yourself and your colleagues better at work, download my book co authored with Jenny Williams.

Our book  WHAT IS MY TYPE is available  on Amazon kindle.

Suspicious. Cowardly.  Fearful. Guilt-ridden. Anxious. Ambivalent

“The greatest problem in the world today is intolerance. Everyone is so intolerant of each other.” Princess Diana

A six can blow hot and cold sometimes. When stressed, the anxiety of a six can be a problem for others to be around. They like to have their contribution acknowledged and to be encouraged when things are tough even if they look like they don’t want acknowledgement. Type sixes can sometimes feel overly responsible for  the actions of others. When things are not going so well, you may need to help a Six to remember the bigger picture.

A six can be fearful so you may need to gain the trust of a Six. Absolute honesty is important to them.

J Edgar Hoover was a six and Jane Fonda is a six.

To understand more about the enneagram and those who come from the point of Type Seven through to nine, keep reading the blog…

To find out more about enneagram types and how to understand yourself and your colleagues better at work, download my book co authored with Jenny Williams.

Our book WHAT IS MY TYPE is available  on Amazon kindle.

Grounded. Courageous. Independent. Loyal. Prepared. Discreet

“Fortune favours the prepared mind.” Louis Pasteur

If an enneagram Type Six commits to something or someone they will be steadfast in their desire to do well for that person or organisation. They see people as individuals and  like  to see  them  realise  their dreams. A Six is great at creating relationships. They’re likeable, witty and like to get things done with and through others. Sixes bring a thoughtful approach and can be good at sorting problems out when they can see the value in making something work longer term.

Sixes are always prepared; they’re good to travel with or have in a team where someone has to watch that the details are taken care of. They’re reliable and can be almost warrior like in their desire to ensure that people take account of what is important. A Six can be a great trouble shooter.

A Six will ask  ‘Well that’s all well and good, but how can we be sure to get people on board with that?’. They notice what is missing in situations and are great troubleshooters. They ask the questions that start with ‘why?’

Woody Allen is a six, as is Sally Field.

To find out more about enneagram types and how to understand yourself and your colleagues better at work, download my book co authored with Jenny Williams.

Our book WHAT IS MY TYPE is available  on Amazon kindle.

Arrogant. Pedantic. Distant. Unassertive. Negative

“I want to be left alone.” Greta Garbo

We learned about the perceptive self starter that is a type Five yesterday. The Five can also be distant and arrogant sometimes too. Fives tend to let their thinking do the talking and so need to be encouraged them to come out of their cave and express their thinking and feelings out loud sometimes. They can be emotionally contained. You will rarely see a Five cry or get very angry for example.

They  do  not  work  well  with  unexpected confrontation or  requests  for  things when  they  feel unprepared. Fives  like space to explore ideas and ruminate as this  encourages their intellectual curiosity and thirst for information.

One of  the gifts of a Five  is  the ability  to see  things  that others don’t.If you can give  them  the space  to explore  their  thinking on a topic, this can lead to something original and different to add to the debate.

To understand more about the enneagram and  those who come from  the point of Type Six  through to nine, keep reading the  blog…

To find out more about enneagram types and how to understand yourself and your colleagues better at  work, download my book co authored with Jenny Williams.

Our book  WHAT IS MY TYPE is available  on Amazon kindle.