Many different teams are dominated by a specific personality type. If you have multiple Enneagram Sevens on your team, this article is for you!
So how do you know if you have a bunch of Sevens on your team? If your team hasn't looked into the enneagram and you don't know for sure, here are a few questions to help you determine for yourself:
Is your team highly energetic?
Would you say a big part of your team is just having fun?
Do the people on your team value adventure and spontaneity?
Does your team usually have a positive outlook on things?
Does your team sometimes have trouble sticking with commitments?
Does your team come up with lots of new ideas?
If you answered yes to 4 or more of those questions, odds are you've got several Sevens on your team.
Sevens can really be a gift to a team. Their joy and energy are almost contagious. They can often help others "see the bright side" of a difficult circumstance. They love to create stories and to help others find their place in them.
On the other hand, though, Sevens can be flaky and non-commital. When things get difficult, Sevens can be known to "jump ship" and leave others hanging. They can have trouble focusing and actually getting things done, especially things that are challenging or boring.
Here are a couple of great tips about what to do with the Sevens on your team in order to succeed together.
First, Sevens need room to dream. They are idea factories and can usually come up with new ideas every day. This is great for them, but it can be tiring for others. Encourage your Sevens to write down their ideas in their own notebook, then share those ideas as a designated time/meeting each week.
Second, Sevens should do something boring or difficult every day. While this sounds like torture for them, it is actually a way to "manage the menial" by doing small bits of it each day rather than having to wade through several hours of it after they've let it pile up.
Finally, don't act on every single idea that a Seven has. If we're honest about it, many of their ideas today will change by tomorrow. Besides, Sevens don't actually expect you to act on every idea they have! So, wait it out. If a Seven's idea sticks around for more than a few days, then see what it would look like to act on it.
Leading Sevens, like any number, can be challenging. But when done well, they are a critical and impactful part of any team. A healthy Seven can help your team thrive in every season!
Are you an Enneagram Seven? Or do you have several Sevens on your team? We would love to hear your thoughts on this article. Reach out to us on social media or email us directly at hello@evrgrnteams.com