EP252: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work - Team Dynamics and Leadership Using the Enneagram

Welcome to the Leadership Formula Podcast, where you will learn the secret sauce behind achieving massive success. I'm your host, Tracy o', Malley, multimillion dollar entrepreneur, your Enneagram expert, master performance coach, and mom to millennials. Do you want deep, meaningful relationships? To wake up every day with purpose and make money doing something you love? Well, you've landed in the right place. Every week, I will teach you how to get exactly what you want in life by strengthening your emotional intelligence. Using a combination of the Enneagram framework, live life coaching sessions, and real talk from yours truly, it's time to transform yourself into the ultimate leader of your life. Let's do this thing.

Hey. Hey. And welcome back to another episode of the Leadership Formula podcast. I'm your host, Tracy o', Malley, and today we're talking about, you know, teamwork makes the dream work, right? And there's no I in team. And if you're kind of like me, you like to be a lone wolf, or you, you know, if it's to be, it's up to me. Now, that being said, I've always played, like, team sports. I was a collegiate athlete. I love, love, love being part of a team. I loved being married, even though it didn't work out well for me. I loved being part of a marital team. And today, you know, even though I'm not married or living with anybody but my kids, who are in their 20s, I love the teamwork that my kids and I have in our unit, in our home. And today, I'm gonna talk to you about, like, team dynamics and the Enneagram and how this has become so powerful, right? It started with my home team. My love for the Enneagram started with my home team, which is my two kids. It first started with me, right? In order to be part of a good team, you have to, like, take responsibility for yourself. And that's where the Enneagram started with me. And I encourage that for you to start it with you, right? To be an effective leader, you have to know how to lead yourself and how others might receive you. That was the first step. Second step was in my own home team. And then I brought it into my business life, and, holy crap, did magic happen. When I started integrating the Enneagram within all of my business doings and all my relationships, friendships and otherwise. And when we can understand that together, we can move mountains. And when we aren't facing so much resistance and conflict within each other, I mean, there's a good thing, like, conflict is a beautiful catalyst for change. I'm not Saying that known conflict is good because it isn't. I think conflict is actually what helps us grow. But unnecessary conflict, right, when it's just a miscommunication rather than the healthy conflict I'm talking about. But it's pretty cool to see how the Enneagram is working its way into leadership in business. I freaking love it. I'm not sure if I've told you on recent podcasts, this is what I spend a lot of my time doing, is helping teams and organizations, businesses and corporations, make sense of the puzzle pieces within their teams. Right? Whether it's the executive team, interdepartment teams. Even if you're an entrepreneur and have a small team, maybe it's you, a va, an ops manager, you know, whatever, or it's your home team, right? When you understand what gifts each teammate brings to the table and also what trips them up, you are able to navigate how you guys move together as a team better. And when you're moving together better, productivity increases, confidence is built, turnover decreases, you have more energy than you will know what to do with, right? And it's been pretty cool. I've been working with large teams, like at Google, large mortgage companies, real estate firms, accounting firms, solopreneurs within their organizations. I do a lot with masterminds. You can imagine if you're facilitating a group or a mastermind, or do some kind of high level group coaching, knowing who you're leading will allow you to give them more of a transformation. Right? I know. I work also with several business coaches, high level business coaches, because not everybody works the same way. Right. It's just like parenting, you know, I have two kids that could not be more different than each other. And how I communicate and lead, one, I can't do it the same way with the other. Now the message is the same. The delivery of it absolutely changes depending on who I'm talking to. And in business, that is no different. And the cool thing is, and this is why I have become a leading expert in the integration of the Enneagram, especially in teams, leadership and organizations. Five years I was using this as an integration tool and nobody ever knew I was using it. Because a lot of you are like, well, I want to type my whole people. And that's good. Like, it's really cool to know for sure. Especially with an expert like me that can help you nail this down. Because I've been at this for a decade. My skill set in figuring out who's in front of me very, very quickly is at warp speed. You can imagine when you're doing something day in and day out, you're going to be pretty freaking good at it. So I want you all that are maybe newer to the Enneagram or even love the Enneagram to know, like, you shouldn't go around typing people. But my skill set is I can figure it out pretty damn quickly. Why I became so passionate about helping you integrate it into your businesses, your own personal leadership, your homes, your teams, is because about six years ago, I saw the Enneagram becoming mainstream and not being used in a way that is as powerful as it is. It's very cutesy. People were lumping it into fun memes, which I do. And I do the fun tiktoks and reels and all of that. I have fun with it. But you're missing the miracle if you don't understand the beauty and the power in it. And I also saw it being used out of integrity, being used more as, like, a weapon or a wall or to justify crappy behavior or to judge people. No, no, no, no. We don't do that here. But it's been pretty cool as I have stepped into this role in this space of being the master integration of the Enneagram in all areas and especially in team dynamics, helping more of you really get to the root of things faster so that you can do what you're called here to do, so your team can perform at its highest level, so that you can empower and build confidence in those that are like, yes, I believe in your vision. I'm here to be led by you. Right? That's half the battle, right? Trusting. Having people trust your leadership. And when you can communicate with them in a way where they feel seen, heard, understood and valued, you won't get the turnover. You will get them willing to go to the ends of the earth for the bigger mission. It's been cool. I've always been a girl that loves doing puzzles. I am a puzzle queen. I love it when the pandemic started, I mean, I probably did, oh, my gosh, at least 25 puzzles in the first two months. I just love it. I love it. And, you know, growing up, I wanted to be like a trauma surgeon. I really, really did. I love triaged. And then when I realized how much school you needed to do that, and I didn't want to be inside all the time. Then I wanted to be a paramedic, firefighter, also triage. Like something new every day, putting pieces together, trying to figure shit out. And then I got married and got pregnant. And that kind of Put that to the side. And, you know, for the next 15 years, I wasn't doing anything that really lit me up. I did stuff that was cool, paid the bills, but it wasn't in this puzzle. Putting together kind of space that I love so much. And when I went to rehab 10 years ago and was introduced to the Enneagram 10 years ago by my therapist, I realized that this was like putting soul puzzles together. First my own. Right? Making sense of my own soul puzzle, and then helping others do the same. So you might be asking, what are some of the benefits of, you know, team dynamics and bringing the Enneagram into that? Well, it helps reduce judgment, criticism of others, while building understanding and tolerance. Right. We all kind of operate a little bit differently. When you have, you know, a template and a system and a framework for, you know, nine, it makes things a lot easier. And when you understand the motive behind each of your teammates, the fear of each of your teammate, you're going to actually have a lot more compassion and a lot less judgment, criticism, or hurt feelings. It provides framework for making sense of team conflict and challenges. So you can get to the root of why some feathers are getting ruffled a little bit. It really helps in understanding and getting to the root of the conflict. Like I said, healthy conflict is a beautiful catalyst for growth. The Enneagram can help the team move beyond a pattern of blaming conflict on personality differences. Right. And make, oh, he's just an asshole, or that's just the way they are. Like, really understanding why they are the way they are will help you more effectively communicate with each other. The Enneagram can help repolarize teams while dismantling more traditional fault lines in the team. Right. So you can also assign certain tasks to certain teammates that, you know, it's like their wheelhouse. It's pretty cool to see that. The Enneagram can help you improve working relationships and team productivity. It can also enhance business procedures. You will waste a lot less time trying to figure crap out. And it improves communication while also developing a new language framework for team dynamics. It is so cool when I kind of get into the thick of a team and like I said, I do a lot of this within corporate teams and executive teams and department teams. It's really, really awesome when I get in there and do, like it workshop style with the entire team and you see all the, oh, that's why she's, you know, insert whatever it is, or that's why he's like that. Or maybe it's really cool when the leader brings me into this and all the co workers or teammates or peers all of a sudden understand, you know, the lead a little bit more and they're willing to go to bat instead of, you know, push against and resist the leadership Sometimes how this can help your organization, like I said, it can decrease the behind the scenes politics. There's a lot less gossip. It can improve change management. You know, a lot of people that work with you don't love change. And so this will help decrease the fear of that. And especially when you understand which of your teammates maybe are driven by more certainty or independence or autonomy. Like you can kind of communicate in a way that they aren't so resistant to change because the world's ever changing. My goodness. My dad used to tell me there's two things you can always count on, taxes and change. So when you can communicate that changes are happening to your team more effectively, you're going to get them on board. Also, the Enneagram, when people are operating in their zone, this can unleash organizational creativity and having individuals integrate into their sweet spots. You might find like, oh, I can shift some people around or maybe I'm going to. You have these two work together. Absolutely powerful. Creates framework which enables greater project leadership. The biggest thing I see within teams and leadership is maybe the leadership at the highest level is great, but their secondary and third level leadership isn't built. And so there's a lot more micromanaging going on. The Enneagram will allow you to empower second and third level leadership so that you know, you have more flexibility within your teams, which is amazing, especially if, you know, somebody has to leave or somebody decides their part of the story's over. It's pretty cool. This also will contribute to development of talent. You are going to see shining stars within your organizations and teams that maybe you never saw before. And one of the number one reasons why people will stay somewhere is because of the culture, even more so than the money they're making. I mean, money is really important, but it's usually second or third or fourth on the list. Culture and being valued and opportunity for personal growth within teams and organizations is the number one reason why people are happy at their place of work. So if you can bring something like the Enneagram into the workplace, you can understand how this will be pretty powerful. I love it now with the home team too. Like, I mean, households run like a team and when somebody in the team isn't pulling their weight or there's a breakdown in communication, I'm telling you, the home team can be the hardest one to deal with. You know, there's a lot of ego and resentment. Sometimes that builds up, and when you can break through that as well, you're going to have your household running more effectively and more, more harmoniously. Yes, there will be conflict because living with people is challenging, but you can find harmony even in the conflict. So I know many of you are hearing me and you're like, okay, I really, really am intrigued by this. And I am getting busier by the moment because people are understanding the power in this. It is priceless. So maybe why should you arrange a team workshop if you aren't moving and the team isn't moving as fast as you would like it to? Clearly, there's a breakdown in communication. If there is conflict consistent and the same thing keeps coming up and you're not sure how to maybe navigate that, this might be a good time, right? If you feel like people aren't using their voice with you, maybe they're intimidated by you. I used to get off on that. It is not effective leadership. Let me tell you, if you want to bring out the best in your people, this is a beautiful opportunity to utilize this. And why is it so powerful? You can imagine back in the day, you know, I spoke my only, only my eight way. And although it could get the job done sometimes, it wasn't always the right tool for the toolbox, right? And yes, I could get things done, but that wasn't leadership. Most of the time I could. I could get people to do what I wanted them to do because they were afraid, they were fearful, they didn't want to deal with the wrath of me. That is not effective leadership. That is not a culture that keeps people happy and around and empowered and growing and willing and accepting change. Right? When I realized that there were eight other kind of people and that if I learned how to effectively communicate with those people, that this, this would move a lot more effectively and I would be a lot happier. I had no idea how happy I could be with a lot less words, with a lot, a lot less of the flex. Right? The real flex, let me tell you, is emotional, intelligent intelligence, emotional management, and the ability to communicate and lead anyone. That is the real flex. The real flex isn't coming in hot with your type A rigid perfectionism, overbearing, domineering, intellectually arrogant ways. It really isn't, I'm telling you right now. And I used to operate in all of those areas, so I can say this with so much transparency and compassion for you. That might be the only way you know how to operate and it's not going to work for the long game. And if there is a calling on your heart, there is no way for you to make the impact that you want in that calling by yourself. Trust me, I've tried. It is not possible. It isn't. So arranging a team workshop with me is something that might be what you need. I also help people realize where the gaps are in their team. And when you're looking for new people, what kind of personality might suit your team best? Right. I've worked with teams before where you know, the leader is one type and I had one organization, every single person in the organization was the same enneagram type. And although it was beautiful and harmonious for client and patient care, it was terrible for systems and structure for the office. And so I was helping that leader fill the gaps within that organization. Also understanding, you know, the subtypes within your organization, it's one thing to just know the types, but understanding the self preservation, the one on one and the social types and how that works within a team, that has been next level stuff that brings a deeper understanding of all your people. And when there is a breakdown in communication, it doesn't have to take you out and it doesn't have to energetically bankrupt the whole organization and it doesn't have to lead to turnover. It really, really doesn't. So if you are somebody that is in charge of a team or you know somebody that is in charge of a team and you want them or you want to bring this to your organization or even your home team, please reach out to me. You can go to tracyomalley.com the work with me section. You can send me an email. I do have some customizations that I can do. I have like the good, better and best kind of thing. Like the good is me typing your organization and doing like a two hour workshop where there's like really no consulting with the leader other than like hey, this is who you've got and this is how you're all gonna work together. That's good and that's great. Like that's amazing. That's a huge headway into like what you're doing. This is also really good for people that run group coaching or masterminds. Especially if you want the group or the mastermind participants to work together to collaborate them. Knowing who's in the group is equally as important to you knowing who's in the group. So that's why it's beneficial for things like that. That is like your amazing good workshop the better is me typing your entire organization or your team and then consulting you as the leader. And this is where you get me in your back pocket, basically saying, okay, this is how you communicate in real time with this person. And not so general like I do in the workshop, but this is, like, in real time. This is what's happening in your organization. I get insight into all your people, and you'd be surprised at how fast I can make a movement. When I was working with the team at Google, I was working with the leader, and I had never met anybody, but I had already typed everyone properly. And 65 to 70% of you are mistyped, by the way, just so you know, with these online assessments. So my. My typing process is a little bit different, but it was pretty cool. Before I'd even done the workshop with the team at Google, I was talking to the leader and I was like, saying, let me guess, you probably struggle with this person because of this. She's like, oh, my gosh, are you like a fly on the wal? Like, that's how powerful when you understand this. And again, I've been doing this a long time, y', all, but I can teach you. Like, I learned a lot of this on my own just by, you know, integrating it myself. So you have, like, the fast pass here with me, but doing consulting with the leader, that is the better and then the best, which is what I do with a lot of my executive coaching and success and corporate coaching is I actually do one on one with each teammate. One on one work with each teammate and consulting with the leader. So you can see where that would be super beneficial. Holy crap. Like, I have seen one of the executive teams, there's a team of nine where I work with the CEO and the presidents of every department in the company, and I work one on one with each of them every month. And, you know, they've got big things and big hurdles to jump, and them all moving together with their own divine gifts is proving to be very, very profitable and productive. And they're having a hell of a lot of fun with each other, a lot more than they used to. So you can see where this would benefit you if that is something that you want to bring into your team. There is something for every budget, but it is the most priceless, valuable information and integration you can bring into your teams, organizations, and even your home teams. I'm going to do a separate episode about the home team because I'm doing a lot of those, too, which is amazing. Like families and children and all of that. That's a story for a different day. But I would love and be honored to do this. It is my favorite thing to do. Seriously. I am full of adrenaline helping you and your teams make sense of each other and empower each other so that you can all do what you're here to do, what you are divinely called, what you are made for. It's pretty cool. It's pretty cool. If you want more information on that, go to tracyomalley.com the work with me section. There's an email there. If you don't see what you're looking for, we can hop on a quick call to see what you're looking for, what might fit into your budget, your timeframe, so that you can bring the gift of the Enneagram and integration of it into your team so that you can work a lot smarter instead of harder. And it is one of the greatest gifts you can give the people that work with you too. It's pretty cool. If you love this, if you've been part of a team that is like wanting more of this, you can hit me up on Instagram also. Traceyomalley, if you're loving this podcast, I would love if you shared it with your communities. If you feel called to, if it's on your heart. The more people that are really understanding the beauty and elegance and power of the Enneagram and using it for good and for amazing leadership, this is how we get in front of more people. The more people that know about our podcast here at the Leadership Formula, the more that I can bring to you. You guys, as always, I'm here to help you become the ultimate leader in your life. I'm grateful that you trust me with your journey and I look forward to seeing you along the way. Until next time, you guys.

I'm so happy you enjoyed the Leadership of Formula podcast. Please help us spread the word about this show by sharing it with a friend and leaving a written Apple podcast review. If you have any follow up questions to this episode, you can DM me directly on Instagram at tracyomalley. You can also find additional resources on my website@tracyomalley.com I'm excited to lead you into the next level of your life.

Sam.