Lead Your Team with The Repeating Questions Process Using the Enneagram Types
The Enneagram assessment is a helpful tool that gives insight into many domains of how we are wired. There are many thought leaders, voices, podcasts, and books that you can explore. This particular process I find helpful to help leaders get unstuck when they are in an emotional cycle.
The primary idea behind the questions below is to sit with another person and create a safe place for the questions to be asked. For example, I am an Enneagram Nine.
Recently I asked my wife to check in with me a couple of times a week with the simple question “What am I avoiding?” This question pierces straight into my heart and allows me to take action on what is mine to do.
If you want to dive deeper with someone sit together in a posture that allows one question to be explored in deep and meaningful ways. The one asking the questions would simply ask one question three times. The one responding answers the questions and then the leader asks the same question again. You repeat this process in a thoughtful and safe way to help one explore the unrealized emotions that need to be explored.
Chris Heuertz who developed the questions would describe the process this way.
The Repeating Questions Process Using the Enneagram Types
Unless otherwise specified, participants should pair off, sitting 1-2 feet from each other face-to-face, and ask/answer each repeating question for 5 minutes. Each answer should receive the response,
“Thank you” before the question is asked again.
The person asking the questions should avoid offering any type (even positive) of emotional response to the answers.
Avoid any type of “emotional” discharge after the session.
Questions developed by Chris Heuertz
Type One:
How are you critical?
How are you peaceful?
Tell me a way you judge yourself.
What is beautiful about your flaws?
Type Two:
What are you afraid to ask for?
How do you want to be loved?
What are your unmet needs?
How are you strong?
Type Three:
What did your parent(s) need you to be?
What do you do to avoid failing?
What are you afraid you’re failing in/at?
How do you experience your heart?
What drives your motivation?
Type Four:
What breaks your heart?
What is beautiful about your pain?
What is missing in your life?
How do you stay stuck in your pain?
Type Five:
What is hard for you to give away?
How do you experience emotions?
How do you engage in life?
Tell me something you need to know.
Type Six:
What fear have you overcome?
How do you trust yourself?
How do you doubt yourself?
How do you need to be supported?
Type Seven:
What do you do to avoid pain?
What anchors you in the present moment?
What do you do with your pain?
How are you free?
Type Eight:
What is out of control in your life?
How do you protect yourself?
What opens your heart?
How are you vulnerable?
How are you tender?
Type Nine:
How do you advocate for yourself?
What is something you’re not dealing with?
How do you get distracted?
What do you need to follow through on?
How you love yourself?
