When I think about communication, I think about more than just talking: it’s how we express ourselves (even silence is a form of self-expression), it’s how we connect (or don’t), it’s how we build relationships and cultivate our lives. It’s everything! And this is one of THE most important ways I think we can use the Enneagram. How do you communicate with yourself? (Yes, it’s a thing!) And how do you communicate with others?

If you’ve been curious about using the Enneagram for growth, improving your relationships, and deepening self-awareness, I have good news for you!

In the last few months, I’ve noticed a trend in books that makes me want to throw them across the room.

See, many of my favorite books published in 2020 or 2021 feature some sort of reflection on the pandemic, and they specifically say something about ✨how beautiful it’s been to slow down✨ or ✨how the world’s consciousness has taken a deep breath and we’re all being righted anew.✨

Um. I don’t know about you, but that is NOT how I feel.

I feel more like my most scatterbrained friend dumped out her purse to find a bobby pin and didn’t quite get everything back in the bag.

I feel like we’ve gone to hell in a handbag — rustling around with loose sticks of gum and random receipts. And some days, the handbag is also on fire.

And yes, some of us have fared better than others, but I have no intention of painting a rosy picture of these last few years.

I find that sometimes the types that we wouldn’t characterize as “natural leaders” become fantastic leaders because they have to do a lot of personal development as they build their skills. The process of learning is often the most important. After all, I’d rather have a boss who has tried and failed and tried again than one who has always skated through life and has nothing of note to offer in the face of adversity.

I stand by the idea that ANY type can be an effective and impactful leader. So whether you are in an official leadership position now, or you’re aspiring to lead your peers, these strengths & skills can help you understand or improve your leadership style.