You don’t have to be a Superman super fan to know that kryptonite robs the hero of his powers. But did you know that all leaders, no matter the strength of their superpowers, also must guard against kryptonite?
Trilogy Effect experts use the Enneagram framework to help leaders explore their unique gifts and challenges — aka superpowers and kryptonite.
There are nine Enneagram Types with nine different world views. Each Type will engage his or her preferred center of intelligence (head, heart, belly/gut) first when leading others, and will draw on the other two centers for superpower strength:
Heart center types tend to be empathetic and attuned to people and dynamics
Head center types will focus on facts, analysis, planning, possibility, innovation
Belly center types like autonomy and are oriented towards balance, pragmatism and action
But each Enneagram Type is susceptible to kryptonite’s strength-sapping power. When things heat up, the two other centers can go offline and their trusted center takes over the controls.
Emotionally intelligent leaders
Types Three, Seven and Eight, for example, lose connection with their heart center first when they are starting to feel triggered and overwhelmed. Although motivated differently, all these Types try to think and act quickly and are assertive in their leadership approach. As a result, they can fail to connect with their feelings, and relationships become a means to an end — or just get out of the way!
“This group shares common kryptonite effects; they lose emotional intelligence as they get stressed,” says Trilogy Effect Managing Partner Heather Marasse. “They can run right over people!”
Types Four, Five and Nine leaders have kryptonite that makes them ignore their instincts when the going gets tough.
These Enneagram Types will pull in, pull away or go into denial. Under pressure, they can fail to act. And importantly, they might not even realize they’re stuck!
“For example, an Enneagram type Five, the Detached Observer, is a head center Type,” explains Trilogy Partner Wendy Appel. “These leaders need to be fully informed of the facts before taking action. And, they can forget to account for other people’s feelings when making decisions.”
Clear thinking leaders
Types One, Two and Six leaders lose their sense of clarity and guidance when under strain. “This doesn't mean that they're not thinking. Far from it,” explains Trilogy Effect Partner Mary Beth Sawicki. “They have a thought loop going on. ‘How do I feel about this? What am I going to do about it?’.”
She says that kryptonite for these leaders drains their clarity of thought. They need to take a step back, re-engage their intellect and trust themselves so they can make wise decisions.
The first step in shielding yourself from power-draining kryptonite is developing self-awareness. Most people are not awake to what is driving and shaping their choices and actions. When leaders start to identify their automatic patterns, they can start to make a shift — a move sometimes referred to as “going above the line”.
Heather Marasse explains, “It’s the moment when a leader can connect with all three centers of intelligence. It’s how the Enneagram helps us discover our superpowers so we can be measured, deliberate and more sensitive in how we lead.”
To learn more, check out the Being Human is Good for Business Podcast Episode 2: Do you lead with your head, heart or gut? Subscribe here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Help your leadership team discover their own superpowers and kryptonite risks by setting up a call with Trilogy Effect.