Getting Your Boss's Number: And Many Other Ways to Use the Enneagram at Work

by Michael J. Goldberg

Book Overview

Practical, easy, and smart, this dynamic new method on how to reap the rewards of positive business relationships and increase power and success in the workplace--through the ingenious system of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062512986
• ISBN13: 9780062512987
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 279 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

useful guide for applying principles of the enneagram to understand the workplace

Sometimes it is difficult to understand the hows and whys of the workplace -- why we invariably expect and meet resistance from our bosses to certain initiatives, why some actions are met by praise, others by criticism or even indifference, why one boss wants you to critique his ideas, while another is offended by anything remotely challenging. When we view the rest of the world through our own self-created, self-biased lens and are unable to imagine the view from the eyes of another, we will always be limited in our ability to make sense of it all. I've found the enneagram to be extremely useful in understanding myself, others, and interaction between people. The enneagram posits that folks fall into one of nine basic personality types (or styles or worldviews), each with its own natural gifts and limitations (ennea= nine in Greek). A person typically acts in a manner consistent with her personality type, interpreting information and dealing with obstacles in a manner consistent with the personality type. When you come to understand a person's enneagram type, you can better anticipate their actions and understand the why's behind their actions. Trying to make sense of others' behavior without understanding their worldview often leads to frustration and rarely leads to an accurate understanding. Realizing that others don't approach the world in the same way makes it easier to understand and ultimately work productively with others. The nine enneagram types as labeled by the author are: 1. Perfectionist (rule-follower, goody two shoes, wants to get things right) 2. Helper (care-taker, derives great self-worth from helping others) 3. Producer (achiever, wants to be "successful" as traditionally defined) 4. Connoisseur (artist, romantic, free spirit, want to be authentic and express their true feelings) 5. Sage (professor, know-it-all, likes to hoard objective information) 6. Troubleshooter (skeptic, worry-wart) 7. Visionary (fun-seeker, adventurer, wants a range of possibilities, excitement) 8. Top Dog (dictator, general) 9. Mediator (peacemaker) In a work environment, for example, a seven visionary boss may be big on brainstorming, tossing out many ideas without first thinking them through, will start many projects but not always follow through. As fast as the seven visionary can put ideas on the table and create possibilities, the six troubleshooter will counter with objections, detailing every possible problem that might arise. The one perfectionist will be focused on whether the ideas conform to the rules -- is this idea consistent with our SOP? Does this align with the company's mission statement? Can we run this by the proper channels before discussing further? The four connoisseur will reject the mundane, and will wonder how others will feel if the idea is implemented. The five won't care so much how others feel about implementation, but will want to collect as much objective data as possible about the idea. The

Although out of print, this is still a superb catch

For years this title of Goldberg's was the single most popular Enneagram title among professionals I spoke with. Very effectively organized and engagingly written, it's quite accessible to complete Enneagram newbies - and yet offers a lot of depth for those who want to keep referring back and mulling over the countless applications and implications of this fascinating study of human behavior.Please note that the material is now available in substantially the same form in Goldberg's newer "The 9 Ways of Working" ( ISBN 1569246882). However, if you find a good used copy of this book (it's hardback), snatch it up -- you'll be returning to study it many times and the newer edition does not add that much.

One of the best practical introductions on the enneagram

If you are new to the enneagram, or have extensive knowledge of it, Mr. Goldberg's book is an excellent resource. Charts which give a quick & accurate overview; in-depth descriptions of each types work, decision making, and leadership styles; excellent distinctions on differentiating types which appear similar. Very practical and usefull, especially in the office setting.