Enneagram, Working From Home - June 16, 2021

How to Manage Working From Home by Enneagram Number

A large portion of the world has found themselves suddenly plucked out of their traditional work environment and spending more time at home. A quick scroll through Facebook or Instagram will tell you a lot of people are not coping well. Like with any stressful situation, understanding your own Enneagram number and the numbers of the people you work with can shed light on people’s true feelings and motivations, and ease some tension in the process.

Here are my tips on how to adjust your own habits and find grace for the habits of others while working from home, based on the Enneagram!

ENNEAGRAM 1

An Enneagram 1 working from home may seem like they are:

Reacting calmly, intellectually, and balanced.
Frustrated that other people aren’t doing what needs done.
Feeling anxiety about not doing “enough.”
Afraid their managers will think they are doing things wrong.
Trying hard to do things the best way possible
Making logical adjustments to their home office to make it more workable.
Quietly trying to stay in control of unstable situations.

In the new work environment, a 1 may feel more pressure than usual to prove they can do it all, especially if they have an inkling their job is on the line. In extreme stress, they push toward the negative characteristics of an Enneagram 4, dropping into apathy and a lot of negative/melancholic emotions.

If you’re an Enneagram 1: Be proud of yourself for staying the course and being determined to do the right thing. Remember, everyone is in the same boat. Expectations cannot and should not be the same as they are in a normal world. There is nothing normal about this. Keep doing your best. That’s the best you can do. If you work with an Enneagram 1: Encourage them and thank them for a job well done. Show them that you see their hard work and appreciate it. If you have insight pertaining to their job (whether it’s good news or bad news), be transparent. A 1 wants to know what they’re dealing with so they can work through it. You’re not doing them any favors by sugarcoating anything.

ENNEAGRAM 2

An Enneagram 2 working from home may seem like they are:

Checking in on other people often.
Caring for family members at home.
Volunteering to help with jobs and tasks they aren’t usually involved in.
Taking on a lot of responsibility at home.
Scattered during conference calls or meetings because someone else requires their attention.
Having difficulty working in a home environment that requires them to keep up with other needs like household chores.

In the new work environment, a 2 may feel more pressure to help everyone at work, at home, and in other places they are needed. In extreme stress, they don’t take care of their own needs, which eventually leads to the negative characteristics of an Enneagram 8, causing them to be more resentful, angry, and demanding.

If you’re an Enneagram 2: Understand that you are one person, and even though your traditional routine changed, the number of hours in a day did not. You can only serve so many people. Give yourself a break and make sure you’re taking time to focus on yourself to keep from being burned out.If you work with an Enneagram 2: Show them they are loved. Tell them you see all of their hard work and appreciate it. Help them find balance when they try to overcommit by delegating responsibilities elsewhere or politely suggest they take a break. If you can, do something special to serve them so they feel seen and cared for.

ENNEAGRAM 3

An Enneagram 3 working from home may seem like they are:

Going into hyper-productivity mode.
Not taking care of themselves properly.
Taking on extra responsibilities to prove their worth.
Trying to appear as if they are handling everything extremely well.
Avoiding negative conversations and sadness
Creating backgrounds for video calls that make their office look impressive

In the new work environment, a 3 may feel more pressure to do, do, do, do, do, and keep doing. In extreme stress, they push toward the negative characteristics of an Enneagram 9 and may freeze or collapse because they have over-exerted themselves.

If you’re an Enneagram 3: Remember, this crisis comes with sadness. It’s okay to feel negative emotions and express them. Pace yourself on the “doing.” Taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally will keep you stronger for the long haul. Trying to appear impressive gets tiring and will eventually burn you out. Those that love and value you will always love and value you, even if you aren’t productive. If you work with an Enneagram 3: Say the words, “You’re doing a great job.” Verbal affirmation goes a long way. Encourage them to share their emotions, even the negative ones, and then be a shoulder to lean on if they cry. Try to avoid loading them up with tasks, they will accept them, but they may not complete them well.

ENNEAGRAM 4

An Enneagram 4 working from home may seem like they are:

Feeling a lot of emotions at once.
Feeling guilty that they enjoy some aspects of this new normal in the world.
Creating a beautiful workspace and compiling work-from-home playlists.
Spending time trying to find new inspiration.
Feeling especially detached, isolated, and left out of the group.
Withdrawing into their own minds/feelings.
Self-conscious to show other people what they’ve been working on.

In the new work environment, a 4 may feel more pressure to find a new normal, even though they don’t want to. In extreme stress, they push toward the negative characteristics of an Enneagram 2 and may throw themselves into focusing on other people.

If you’re an Enneagram 4: Don’t feel bad for feeling multiple emotions at once. It’s okay to be sad and frustrated at the same time you’re enjoying things like extra time or working in your pajamas. Try to stay connected to people even when you want to isolate yourself. You probably have more in common with others than you realize. If you work with an Enneagram 4: Keep them involved, but allow them space when they need it. They may not always seem like they want to join the virtual happy hour or team building event, but they need to feel included. Make sure they feel comfortable and understood and avoid forcing them into social situations that make them feel awkward.

ENNEAGRAM 5

An Enneagram 5 working from home may seem like they are:

Spending a lot of time watching and listening to the news.
Researching every detail about the virus.
Withdrawing into their own books or projects and avoiding people.
Learning about something completely new and different to occupy their mind.
Digging into unusual sources, knowledge, or theories.
Trying to solve all of their problems with information.

In the new work environment, a 5 may feel more pressure to learn and understand everything about the virus and the things the virus affects. In extreme stress, they push toward the negative characteristics of an Enneagram 7 and may become scattered and feel like they can’t do everything they want or need.

If you’re an Enneagram 5: Give yourself a break on the information overload. Scientists, researchers, and doctors are still learning how to deal with this disease. You can’t know everything right away. Be proud of yourself for staying informed and on top of the news, it’s valuable and would be helpful if more people acted this way. If you work with an Enneagram 5: Understand that to them, knowledge is power. Anything you can do to fuel their desire to learn and understand what’s going on around them, is good. If they come to you with anxious thoughts because of something they read in the news, listen and empathize with them to make them feel heard.

ENNEAGRAM 6

An Enneagram 6 working from home may seem like they are:

Extremely cautious about doing things the right way.
Foreseeing and solving problems before other people see them.
Preparing for the worst case scenario (or all case scenarios).
Seeking comfort and security from management
Committed to stepping up where they’re needed for the sake of the team.
Anxious that things could get worse, any second.

In the new work environment, a 6 may feel more pressure to prepare for scenarios they didn’t even see coming. In extreme stress, they push toward the negative characteristics of an Enneagram 3 and may try to over-perform at the expense of their own well-being or those around them.

If you’re an Enneagram 6: Rest in knowing that you have done everything you can to prepare for this moment. Your ability to see problems before they arise is valuable. Remember, this crisis comes with many curveballs. It is not your responsibility to see them all coming or to prepare other people for what could happen. If you work with an Enneagram 6: Know that they may be feeling even more anxious than the average person. Their basic desire is to have security and support, and the current world doesn’t provide ANY of that. If there is anything you can offer them, offer them some form of stability and reassurance.

ENNEAGRAM 7

An Enneagram 7 working from home may seem like they are:

BORED!
Going stir crazy at home.
Looking for ways to make their work-from-home environment exciting.
Keeping a positive and joyous attitude
Becoming the life of the virtual party, spearheading efforts to keep others happy and engaged.
Starting a new hobby or taking on new tasks at work.
Feeling difficult to stay focused.

In the new work environment, a 7 may feel more pressure to focus on work when they want to turn their attention to other things. In extreme stress, they push toward the negative characteristics of an Enneagram 1 and may become overly critical of how they or others are handling the situation.

If you’re an Enneagram 7: Take a deep breath. These new working environments are likely not an easy adjustment. Your creativity and positivity is a gift that you should lean on! People need your happy spirit. But, don’t forget that it’s okay to feel the pain and negativity, too. If you work with an Enneagram 7: Listen to their ideas about how to make the situation better. Thank them for their positive outlook and empathize with them when they’re frustrated that others aren’t handling things well. If you can help direct their energy into something that feels good and productive, they will appreciate that!

ENNEAGRAM 8

An Enneagram 8 working from home may seem like they are:

Remaining calm, cool, and collected even in chaos.
Refusing to show fear.
Working really hard but trying to appear like it’s easy.
Assuming a leadership position.
Micromanaging team projects for fear someone else will cause a failure but finding it difficult to be micromanaged.
Challenging other people to do better

In the new work environment, a 8 may feel more pressure to protect the team and ensure everyone is successful. In extreme stress, they push toward the negative characteristics of an Enneagram 5 and may try to detach from those around them to conserve the energy they need to push and work so hard.

If you’re an Enneagram 8: Remember, the world does not rest on your shoulders. You are not expected to be strong for everyone. Find one thing you can confidently control, and focus on that. Realize that other people can handle themselves, and if they don’t, the responsibility does not fall on you. If you work with an Enneagram 8: Try to be slow to be offended if they challenge you or step on your toes. At their core, they want what’s best for everyone. Encourage them to delegate and trust in their teammates, and then show them that you can be trusted.

ENNEAGRAM 9

An Enneagram 9 working from home may seem like they are:

Handling new rules and norms, exceptionally well.
Optimistic that things will work out, no matter what.
Minimizing their own problems or concerns.
Trying to make sure everyone else feels comfortable and cared for.
Ignoring or resisting the uncomfortable parts of their new environment.
Napping a lot.
Trying to inspire their teammates and bring people together.

In the new work environment, a 9 may feel more pressure to make sure everyone they work with is doing well, even if they themselves are not. In extreme stress, they push toward the negative characteristics of an Enneagram 6 and may become extremely anxious and overwhelmed with every bad possibility.

If you’re an Enneagram 9: Listen to what your gut is telling you. If something uncomfortable arises, sit with it, explore it, and try to find ways to deal with it rather than run from it. And, if you feel the need to disconnect, take a nap! There’s nothing wrong with stepping back. If you work with an Enneagram 9: Know that they may very well be having a more difficult time than they’re willing to show. Make sure they know they can trust you with their emotions, even if those emotions feel uncomfortable.

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