The 9 Ways of Working

The 9 Ways of Working introduces the nine personality styles of the Enneagram, a classic, highly powerful approach to work and life. Each of the Enneagram’s nine types has a distinct worldview which determines how they think, what they want, and why they act the way they do. You’ll recognize the personality types of the people you work with—colleagues, clients, bosses—as well as your own. And you’ll discover the most effective ways to work with these people:

1. The Perfectionist gets things done right—regardless of the consequences.
   
2. The Helper nurtures others’ careers—and demands to be appreciated for it.
   
3. The Producer works hard to succeed—but can burn out in overwork.
   
4. The Connoisseur explores his or her creativity and deep feelings—but may get lost in them.
   
5. The Sage craves data, theories and insight—but may forget the human element
   
6. The Troubleshooter knows the secrets and who can be trusted—but can get mighty paranoid.
   
7. The Visionary inspires with brilliant, fun, imaginative ideas—but leaves closure to others.
   
8. The Top Dog exercises leadership—but may end up as a vengeful bully.
   
9. The Mediator wants everybody working as a conflict-free team—but may forget his or her own goals.

Drawing on twenty-five years of teaching and consulting, Michael Goldberg’s rich descriptions catch the “aha!” of each style with insightful anecdotes and real-life stories. He shows how each style is likely to connect with or miss the others, what kind of leadership is right for certain situations, and how each style makes important decisions and gets work done. You’ll see the special gifts and talents of each style, their limits and blind spots, and when they will shine and when they will wilt. The 9 Ways of Working is packed with practical tips and cautions for each style and for working with each style.