High Performance Team: The Role of Leaders, How to motivate employees from the Enneagram wisdom and Maslow’s model

While taking a shower, I came up with the following idea about actualization of building a high performance team.  Before forgetting this idea, I’d like to write down my idea.

The definition of a high performance team is that all employees work spontaneously and energetically based on their own self-actualization needs.  Thus, the key factor is how leaders satisfy with employees’ self-actualization needs.  However, before satisfying self-actualization needs, it is significant to satisfy with the lower level needs step by step.  Remind that higher level needs never be satisfied if lower level needs are not satisfied. 

This is my assumption, but usual business people are already satisfied with psychological needs and safety needs, because they would earn enough money to meet those needs. 

Here, I’ll show some examples how leaders motivate subordinates in each Enneagram type by words.  The following is common words for all types to satisfy with their belongingness needs (or + esteem needs).  “You’re an indispensable person in this company!  You’re an important member of this company.”

 Next, leaders have to select appropriate words for each type.  For instance, if leaders motivate type 2 (helper), leaders may be good to say like this “I really appreciate your help.  All employees are grateful your dedicated help!”

In addition, for type 3 (achiever), it is effective for leaders to tell type 3 like this “I really acknowledge your value and attainment for this company!”

In a word, leaders need to know basic desire and fear in each type, and then leaders need to satisfy with subordinates’ unique needs. 

Self Reflection: Enneagram Type Three (Achiever, Performer)

My second highest score in the Enneagram test is type three (same score in type eight), so I think that I have strong characteristics of type three.  In fact, I have felt the great joy of accomplishing something since I was a kid.  Also, I have always sought for “success” in my life, but at the same time, I have been struggling with pursuing success in my life.  That is because the word “success” is a very ambiguous word for me. 

In that sense, I have had an excessive craving for something in my future, so I tend not to enjoy present moment (this is also the characteristic of type seven).  Regarding this point, Riso and Hudson (1999) point out that “They want success because they are afraid of disappearing into a chasm of emptiness and worthlessness: without the increased attention and feeling of accomplishment that success usually brings, Threes fear that they are nobody and have no value” (p. 154).  This was an insightful sentence for me.  That was because I could find my basic fear; I’m fear of being worthless and being nobody who don’t achieve anything. 

However, the positive side of type seven has beneficial impacts on me.  For example, my attitude is goal oriented, so fortunately, I have been able to achieve success in many fields in my life.  In addition, such my goal oriented thinking and behavior have motivated others a lot.  Therefore, I’d like to make full use of this characteristic for others in the field of coaching or consulting.  Riso and Hudson (1999) explain that “They also enjoy motivating others to greater personal achievements that others thought they were capable of” (p. 153).  Actually, my friends used to tell me “I was so motivated by you!” and I was happy to hear that.  In this sense, I may like motivating others, so I’d like to engage in motivating others as my vocation (a coach, consultant and teacher).

Reference

1 The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types

2 The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships

Bay Area Integral Party @Berkeley Sea Salt

I went to a fantastic BAI party today, and it was really exciting and enjoyable to me.  There were about 50 people who were interested in Integral Philosophy, so I could talk with various participants in different fields.  By virtue of this party, I was able to create new wonderful networks and got new beneficial insights and information.  Conversations with those people seemed to drive my ideas and polish my visions.  I’m really grateful for organizers and staffs.  BAI is an amazing community. 

I can’t forget to say this.  The dinner was so "yummy" (I learnt this word from my friend)!