Has anyone on your team ever accused you of being an absent-minded professor? You could be an Enneagram Type 5 leader. Also known as The Detached Observer, these leaders are often revered as visionary innovators.
It’s because their world is governed by the head center of intelligence. They love ideas and problem solving and tend to be excellent researchers. They always have a well thought out plan of action.
“Head-centred Types rely on their intellect. They are analytical and spend a lot of time thinking about future eventualities; whether fun or dire. They do this through research, analyzing, planning, preparing and thinking,” says Trilogy Effect Partner Wendy Appel. “Often all the planning is a way to ease fear and due to a lack of trust. The Enneagram 5 has difficulty in trusting in the fundamental goodness of the universe. They lack trust in others and even in themselves. To cope, they try to plan, prepare and think their way through life.”
Trilogy Effect uses the Enneagram framework as a tool for boosting the self-awareness of leaders. The Enneagram has nine distinct personality Types. It allows people to understand how their worldviews and patterns of behavior can influence their work lives.
Observant leaders
Heather Marasse, Trilogy Effect’s managing partner explains, “Enneagram Type 5 leaders are deeply observant. They are brilliant at making connections that sometimes others wouldn't see. The reason they are so good at this is that the Enneagram 5 can detach emotionally, even physically from what they're examining. They can see situations and challenges from multiple perspectives.”
Enneagram 5s seek out trustworthiness to build up their sense of security. The Type 5 Enneagram trusts only what they know. They are masterful at taking the complex and turning it into an elegant, cogent theory of what they are observing. Their innovative way of looking at things is often pioneering. These are the leaders who don't worry about the conventional, they're looking for what has yet to be discovered. That’s why Type 5s are drawn to careers in science, technology and academia.
Enneagram 5 in Stress
“These leaders can master a level of complexity that most of us may not have the aptitude for. They can be patient in their pursuits and single-minded,” says Heather. “However, this detachment can lead to problems when Type 5s fail to notice they are disengaged from whatever's going on around them. This can be their Achilles Heel.”
Although their people usually love Type 5 leaders for their brilliant and innovative minds, they can sometimes get annoyed by the lack of contact with the leader.
Trilogy Effect Partner Mary Beth Sawicki says, “A good exemplar for a Type 5 leader is Mark Zuckerberg. When he was creating Facebook, he didn’t know what it would be useful for, but it was a fascinating intellectual pursuit for him. And it's also a way of connecting without really connecting! He presents as one of our Enneagram Type 5 friends.”
Creating a physical connection
Besides detaching from the very people that they're trying to be in service to, Type 5 Enneagram can also become detached from their bodies. They can get lost inside their own minds, and that’s where the absent-minded professor analogy originates.
One development strategy for Type 5 leaders is to become more embodied and to learn how to connect physically.
“This can mean putting your attention on your own body,” explains Wendy. “Are your feet on the ground? Can you feel your thighs in your chair? Put your hand on your belly to connect to your physical self.
“Additionally, learn to go do something physical to get out of your head. Go for a run for example. Stop thinking about it and have an actual experience.”
Trilogy Effect Managing Partner Heather Marasse explains the Enneagram Type 5 leader.
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