The Perfectionist-Enneagram #1
How many times have you heard the phrase “we are our own worst enemies”?
Do you need for things to be perfect, correct, and right? If so, you have some definite strengths. But you may sabotage yourself, at times.
Most of you by now have either taken the Enneagram or have heard of it. The Enneagram shows us exactly how we’re getting in our own (and other’s) way at work. This tool is a personality typing system that categorizes people into nine distinct types based on their core motivations and fears.
Typology systems like Myers-Briggs® can tell you how your mind is wired and what information you prioritize. The Enneagram can show you more about your traumas, coping mechanisms, and unconscious fears and desires. Understanding your type (and the types of those around you) can help you to grasp the underlying reasons why you do what you do.
Understanding the “why” of people is crucial in leadership.
There are nine types. Let’s start with #1. Here is how Ones sabotage themselves.
Ones strive for excellence in all that they do, ensuring that their output is of the highest quality. In the workplace, they are the employees who complete each task by themselves. They believe in their ability to do it better than anyone else. But while this sense of responsibility makes them proactive, it can ultimately stress them out.
When average to unhealthy Ones are in a position of authority, they try to do everything themselves. Either they don’t trust the people under them to do their jobs right or the act of delegating makes them anxious. Burn out and stressed out is the ultimate outcome.
Sometimes Ones wonder why they can’t trust other people? or why others don’t help them?
A One’s perfectionism sometimes brings an overly critical demeanor which causes others to feel as though they can’t match the One’s expectations. Also, many One’s just end up doing it themselves anyway. As a result, people just give up on helping Ones. This method doesn’t give employees room to grow and become better at their jobs. They sometimes stay at the same level of competency. Thus, Ones feel they are being forced to do everything themselves to ensure the job “gets done right”.
Ones can improve this by learning to trust other people to take on some of the tasks. If you are a One, don’t think of it as throwing a task into the unknown and hoping it gets done — think of it as managing your workload intelligently.
Remember, it will usually take time to train someone to take on tasks that you’ve thus far handled diligently. They may not do it perfect the first time, but you can use the experience to help them learn and grow. Ultimately, it will make your life easier in the long run!