Identifying the High
Performers
by Pat Craig
From the Winter 1998 issue of the Complexity Management Chronicles
We recently discovered a theory of personality types, the Enneagram, that we think can
help project managers find just the right people to create high performance teams. Don R.
Riso with Russ Hudson wrote a terrific book on the subject, Personality Types - Using
the Enneagram for Self-Discovery.
Our spring 1995 newsletter discussed another personality system, The Myers-Briggs
Personality Type Indicator. Although the Myers-Briggs is valuable, we believe the
Enneagram offers richer insights. Also, the Enneagram is easier to use.
According to the Enneagram, each personality type is prone to one overriding sin. For
example, the type 1's sin is anger. In the list which follows, we list each of the nine
personality types with its sign right beside it: 1) Anger; 2) Pride; 3) Deceit; 4)
Envy; 5) Avarice; 6) Fear; 7) Gluttony; 8) Lust; and 9) Sloth.
How can you determine your personality type or those of others? Read the Riso-Hudson
book. Theshort titles in the diagram below and knowing someone's "sin" are also
excellent ways to rapidly determine someone's personality type
Ennea means nine in Greek, so the Enneagram is nine-point diagram. Note that the
diagram has nine onts that touch the edgeof the circle with titles off each point. The
very top of the circle starts with the number 9. Then you read down and around just as you
would when reading a clock.
Sub-Types and Wings:
Most people "inherit" personality traits from one of the neighboring points on
the Enneagram circle. The neighboring numbers, the personality's "wings," are
abbreviated as a "w" on the diagram below. For example, someone who is a
personality type 4, can take on aspects of either the personality type 3 or the
personality type 5. Therefore, they would be a personality type 4 with a 3 wing, called
"the Aristocrat," or a personality type 3 with a 5 wing, called "the
Bohemian." These finer dinstinctions in personality types lead to the 18 sub-types
listed on the diagram.
DIAGRAM TO BE INSERTED HERE
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The Ideal Software Developer:
People possessing a personality type 5, either Iconoclasts or Problem Solvers, make the
best developers. Also, extremely good developers are those people who have a 5 wing, the
Defender (a type 6) and the Bohemian (a type 4). (This Bohemian group is why many
developers seem just a bit wierd)
Good Software Managers:
People possessing a personality type 8, either Mavericks or Bears, make good managers.
People possessing a personality type 1 with a 2 wing, an Advocate, can also be good
software managers. Finally, people possessing type 3 with a 4 wing, a Professional, can be
tremendous at motivating staff. Remember, the Professional's "sin" is deceit.
The Ideal Software Tester:
Someone possessing personality type 2 with a 1 wing, the Servant, makes a tremendous
support person. We prefer the short title of "Good Soldier" for this personality
type. The two best testers we have ever worked with have this personality type.
Good Team Players:
Every team needs a personality type 6 with a 7 wing, a Buddy. Buddy types do an
outstanding job fostering team spirit.
Space does not allow us to provide more than the briefest of introductions to this
important theory. Please refer to the Riso-Hudson book for a well-written discussion of
the topic. By utilizing the Enneagram to select staff, you should become more successsful
at building high performance teams.
©Complexity Management 1998
Somerville, Massachusetts
Located in Metropolitan Boston
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