Enneagram Type 8
Your Path to Leadership Maturity
Type Talks with Leadership Coach Heidi Kraft
In this 10 part series, I’ll be exploring the path to Leadership Maturity for each Enneagram type.
Read on to learn more about the Enneagram Eight’s type tendencies including: Enneagram strengths, Enneagram likely blindspots, Enneagram Eight’s likely impact on others. And most importantly, understand the Leadership Coaching that can help this type on their Path to Leadership Maturity.
The Enneagram 8: Active Controller
Eights have really strong, commanding, direct, intense and powerful energy. They have a natural leader-like energy and have likely been selected for leadership positions throughout their life. They are focused on strength and actively being in control.
Leadership Impact on Others
- “I always know where I stand with you.”
- “I feel very confident and certain about your leadership abilities.”
- “I know you have my back.”
An Eight who has blind spots about their big energy, may steamroll people and turn people off because of their confrontational nature. They might not have any time for people that appear less direct than they are. People may leave interactions with them thinking that they will only interact with them in certain situations because their energy is too intense. The thing is, Eights tend to be focused on being strong and think everyone else should be too–they tend to have little tolerance for weakness (in themselves and others). Their directness can often appear aggressive.
Path to Leadership Maturity
NOW, imagine you are an Eight that is aware of that strong impact and your leader-like executive presence that some find intimidating.
For Eights, the leadership maturity path to growth is about softening: taking a step back, reading the room, and recognizing the appropriate time to bring in that big energy. As an Eight, when you share more about yourself (dare I say, “bring in vulnerability…?”) you help people connect to who you are behind the strong guard you tend to wear to protect yourself. Eights that leverage their immense energetic capacity at the right moments, are the Eights that are on the path to becoming extraordinary leaders.
If this Enneagram type doesn’t feel like you, you’d like to confirm your type or your just curious, take the 1 minute Enneagram quiz!
Or if you’d like to learn more, I invite you to subscribe to the blog, and download my free E-Book, “Type Talks: Your Path to Leadership Maturity.”
Your ebook includes:
- Top leadership traits for each Enneagram type
- Each Enneagram type’s impact on others
- A distinct growth path to Leadership Maturity for each Enneagram type
- Clear next steps for those who are serious about transforming their Leadership Skill and Executive Presence
