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Combining 5 Voices and the Enneagram for Peak Team Performance

Writer's picture: Ryan MayfieldRyan Mayfield
TLDR: Combine GiANT's 5 Voices (Nurturer, Creative, Guardian, Connector, Pioneer) and the Enneagram to unlock deeper self-awareness for leaders. This powerful combo enhances communication, improves team dynamics, and enables more effective coaching, driving organizational growth. Assessments, workshops, and personalized development plans bring these frameworks to life.

Combining 5 Voices and the Enneagram for Peak Team Performance


As a C-level executive, business owner, or HR director, you're constantly seeking ways to optimize performance, enhance team dynamics, and drive results. You understand the power of self-awareness in leadership, but finding the right tools to cultivate it can be a challenge. This post explores the powerful synergy between two proven frameworks: GiANT's 5 Voices and the Enneagram, demonstrating how combining them can unlock deeper self-understanding and transform your leadership and organization.


Why Self-Awareness Matters (More Than Ever)

In today's complex business landscape, effective leadership hinges on understanding not only your strengths but also your blind spots. Self-awareness allows you to:

  • Communicate more effectively: Tailor your message to resonate with different personality types.

  • Build stronger teams: Leverage individual talents and minimize conflict.

  • Make better decisions: Recognize your biases and consider diverse perspectives.

  • Increase employee engagement: Foster a culture of understanding and appreciation.

  • Drive organizational growth: Align individual strengths with strategic goals.


Introducing the Power Duo: 5 Voices and the Enneagram

Both 5 Voices and the Enneagram offer valuable insights into personality and communication styles, but they approach it from different angles. Combining them provides a more holistic and nuanced understanding of yourself and your team.

  • 5 Voices: Focuses on communication styles, categorizing individuals into five distinct "voices": Nurturer, Creative, Guardian, Connector, and Pioneer. This framework helps you understand how you communicate and how to best interact with others who have different communication preferences.

  • Enneagram: Explores core motivations and fears, categorizing individuals into nine interconnected personality types. This system delves deeper into the "why" behind our behaviors and provides insights into our strengths, weaknesses, and potential for growth.


The Synergy: Unlocking Deeper Understanding

Combining these frameworks provides a powerful lens for leadership development. Here's how:

  • Enhanced Communication: Imagine a Pioneer (5 Voices) who is also an Enneagram Type 8 (The Challenger). Understanding both frameworks helps them realize their direct communication style, while effective, can be perceived as aggressive by some. This awareness allows them to temper their delivery while still maintaining their assertiveness. Conversely, a Connector (5 Voices) who is an Enneagram Type 2 (The Helper) can recognize their tendency to prioritize others' needs over their own and learn to set healthy boundaries. A Nurturer (5 Voices) who is an Enneagram Type 9 (The Peacemaker) can learn to balance their desire for harmony with the need to express their own opinions and advocate for their team. A Creative (5 Voices) who is an Enneagram Type 4 (The Individualist) can understand how their need for unique expression impacts their communication and how to better connect with those who have different communication styles.

  • Improved Team Dynamics: By understanding the 5 Voices and Enneagram types of your team members, you can create a more harmonious and productive work environment. For example, knowing that a team member is a Guardian (5 Voices) and an Enneagram Type 6 (The Loyalist) allows you to provide them with the structure and security they need to thrive. You can also leverage the strengths of different personality types to maximize team performance. A team with a mix of Creatives and Guardians can benefit from the innovative ideas of the former and the practical implementation of the latter.

  • More Effective Coaching: As a leader, understanding these frameworks enables you to coach your team members more effectively. You can tailor your feedback and development plans to their individual needs and motivations. For instance, a Pioneer (5 Voices) who is an Enneagram Type 3 (The Achiever) might be motivated by public recognition, while a Connector (5 Voices) who is an Enneagram Type 9 (The Peacemaker) might respond better to one-on-one coaching and opportunities for collaboration. A Nurturer (5 Voices) who is an Enneagram Type 2 (The Helper) may need coaching on delegating tasks and prioritizing their own needs.


Practical Application: Bringing it to Life

  1. Individual Assessments: Have your leadership team and employees complete both the 5 Voices and Enneagram assessments.

  2. Team Workshops: Facilitate workshops to explore the results and discuss how these frameworks apply to your team dynamics and communication.

  3. Personalized Development Plans: Create individual development plans that leverage the strengths and address the weaknesses identified through the assessments.

  4. Communication Strategies: Develop communication strategies that consider the different 5 Voices and Enneagram types within your organization.

  5. Ongoing Dialogue: Encourage ongoing dialogue and reflection on these frameworks to foster a culture of self-awareness and continuous improvement.


Conclusion:

Investing in self-awareness is an investment in your leadership and your organization's success. By combining the insights of 5 Voices and the Enneagram, you can unlock a deeper understanding of yourself and your team, leading to improved communication, stronger relationships, and enhanced performance. Embrace these powerful tools and unleash the full potential of your leadership.




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