The Enneagram in Business: Real-World Use Demonstrate its Transformational Power

Jim McPartlin is the Senior Vice President of Operations and Administration at Andre Balazs Properties, the boutique hotelier, with luxury properties in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. McPartlin, a 20 year veteran of the hotel and hospitality industry, and a Certified Enneagram Teacher since 2000, knows the benefits of Enneagram use in the workplace. For 15 years, he has instructed and utilized the Enneagram to build successful sales and management teams for high profile hotel corporations across the U.S.

McPartlin's introduction to the Enneagram In 1993, I was hired as the General Manager of the Hotel Vintage Court in San Francisco, a Kimpton Hotel. The CEO, Bill Kimpton, had enjoyed personal and professional success in his discovery of the Enneagram and intro duced all of his property managers to it. Helen Palmer led the seminar. The Enneagram's many truths resonated with me. As a Style 6, I learned how to look at myself differently, how to stop overthinking things, and ultimately spare myself much needless anxiety - both at work and at home. The Enneagram doesn't define you in the way that other profiling systems do and allows you room to grow. Because the Kimpton Group brought the Enneagram into the organization in a dedicated way, it became a cultural cornerstone. This immersion allowed me to further my own knowledge of the Enneagram in the years that would follow. In 2000, after increasing revenue growth as General Manager at two Kimpton properties, and a successful two year stint as City Manager, overseeing all of Kimpton's five San Francisco hotels, McPartlin was named Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development. During this time he endeavored to transform HR from a functional department to a "business partner," integral to the financial success of what had become a 35 hotel, 34 restaurant, 6,000-employee organization. McPartlin called on the Enneagram to accomplish this. As part of my HR functions, I started teaching management teams an Enneagram course using materials created by Helen Palmer and David Daniels. It's uncanny, but a lot of the Palmer scenarios are right on. I found that the Enneagram was a great way to create a safe environment, and to get managers on the same page with one another. By explaining the motivations of each style and the "go to places" in times of stress and security, the staff grew more comfortable and communicative with one another. Ultimately, this helped result in increasing levels of employee satisfaction. In 2003, McPartlin was named General Manager of W San Francisco where he held full accountability for the 423-room hotel with a 45-member management team and 296 employees. He was later named Director of Brand Operations for W West Coast. In my 10 years at Kimpton, I became a functional expert in Enneagram instruction and introduced it to my management team with the intention of improving service and management while creating a leaner operating structure. So powerful were its results on that I had David Daniels teach and coach it to the executive management team. In less than a year, revenues increased by $1.44MM. While there was some initial resistance, participants soon embraced it. All have gone onto bigger and better engagements. In 2006, McPartlin joined Andre Balazs Properties where he is second in command and in charge of overseeing the company's eight hotels. McPartlin believes that over the past 15 years he has introduced the Enneagram to more than 250 hotel management and staff. I still talk to people I introduced the Enneagram to 3-5 years ago, many of whom are still using it or have gone onto become Certified Enneagram Teachers. It's so rewarding to work with groups and see people's eyes light up in recognition of their own style. Through this entire process I've realized that I am a teacher. David Daniels gave me some good advice recently when I was questioning whether my chosen profession was the right path. In essence, he told me that maybe my life path was teaching those in business the elements of heart-principled leadership via the Enneagram. That has stuck with me - I realize now that I am indeed a teacher, and my path to soul management and peace is through the Enneagram. It is a profound gift that I want to share with others. In Closing... On the Enneagram's workplace benefits It establishes more humanity in a business setting. The Enneagram provides a basis for self disclosure on a personal level - and gives the larger group an insight as to how you internalize stress and security. It has provided a valuable tool in communication and understanding how we sometimes judge others - solely because we do not understand their internal process. Learn how the Enneagram can radically improve your business world by joining Jim McPartlin and other business professionals this September at Every Leader's Challenge: The Art of Greatness NOW.

Business Leaders talk about how using the Enneagram in Business has increased leadership and organizational effectiveness

Listen to what business leaders say about using the Enneagram for leadership development and organizational effectiveness.

A CEO's Perspective on Using the Enneagram in Business

When surveyed on satisfaction with work, their company, opportunities for growth, and interaction with their managers – our team members had their highest employment engagement scores at Intuit.”
Scott K. Wilder
Group Manager of Intuit's QuickBooks Online
Small Business Community and Collaboration website

Scott K. Wilder is currently the Group Manager of Intuit's QuickBooks Online Small Business Community and Collaboration website. Before working at Intuit, he was the Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at KBtoys.com and eToys. He has held numerous senior management positions at America Online, Apple Computer, Silicon Graphics, Borders.com and American Express. When Scott worked at America Online and its subsidiary, GNN.com, Scott was involved in creating the first online advertisement and commercial website. Scott received master's degrees from The Johns Hopkins University and New York University. He also holds a degree in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University. Scott is an advocate for use of the Enneagram – in one’s personal and professional life. He recently shared his thoughts on the Enneagram and its use at Intuit.

His Introduction to the Enneagram
“I’ve always been interested in personal development and team dynamics. When I moved to California from the East Coast in 1991, I was given the name of person who might be helpful with my intuitive studies – who turned out to be Helen Palmer. I’d studied Myers Briggs and initially viewed the Enneagram as another type of profiling tool. However, I discovered with time that the Enneagram brings a lot more to the table – in terms of both career and personal growth.”

Use as a Profiling Tool
“The Enneagram resonates with me more than other profiling tools. It is deeper and more complex in terms of the information it reveals, offering insights into people’s strengths as well as when outside in their comfort zones. It also focuses on ones behavior when interacting with others. The narrative tradition provides an approach that allows you to see yourself in the mirror. I participated in a panel of other Style 7 people and saw other people so much like me.”

In the Workplace
“I was intrigued that the Enneagram was used very little in the business environment. Intuit has a strong learning culture and embraces the “learn, teach, learn” philosophy. The company has its own profiling methodology called “Colors.” Everyone at Intuit is trained in it. However, I also introduced the Enneagram to my team which is dispersed in various parts of the country and made up of people of all cultures and backgrounds. We used it when we were forming our team and it helped create an open environment and accelerated our understanding of each other.”

Employee Satisfaction
“When surveyed on their satisfaction with work, their company, opportunities for growth, and interaction with their managers – our team members had their highest employment engagement scores at Intuit. I believe use of the Enneagram had a lot to do with this by creating an open environment. When asked by other managers about these high scores, I attributed it to our work with the Enneagram.”
Scott Wilder

Every Leader's Challenge:
The Art of Greatness NOW
The Enneagram Leadership Conference for Executives, Owners, and Managers
SEPTEMBER 10-12, 2008 • ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
Facilitated by: David Daniels, M.D.• Theresa Gale, CET • Peter O’Hanrahan, CET • Mary Anne Wampler, CET
To learn more: www.transforminc.com/tlc.htm

CEO says "The Enneagram is the Most Powerful Self-Development Tool we've ever used."

The Enneagram in Business: Real-World Applications Demonstrate its Transformational Power
by Theresa Gale
Mary Anne and I have made a career of introducing the Enneagram in the workplace to improve operations and promote growth. However, I thought you might benefit from reading how the Enneagram has served national business leaders. In this and upcoming editions of our newsletter, we'll give business corporate professionals center stage, allowing them to share their individual and practical applications of Enneagram use in their individuals worlds.

Scott Jamieson is the former President and CEO of The Care of Trees, an award-winning, tree preservation firm with 500 employees and 24 locations nationwide. Scott describes the Enneagram as being "the most powerful self development tool" he has ever used. During the nine years in which Scott oversaw The Care of Trees, it became the second largest commercial and residential tree preservation firm in the world; it increased in sales by 112%; reduced sales outstandings from 45 to 31 days; increased in company stock value by 130%; was the recipient of the Arthur Andersen Best Practices award for Motivating and Retaining Employees; and was the subject of magazine, radio and television interviews.

"The issues that curtail business success aren't so much about products, services, or pricing structures. They are about people," says Scott, who will soon become a Certified Enneagram Teacher. "When employees are growing, the organization grows exponentially." Scott left The Care of Trees earlier this year when it was sold. He reflects on the many ways in which the Enneagram helped him in his leadership efforts.

Jamieson on Corporate Culture
"The Enneagram was introduced as a sale training tool at The Care of Trees, but soon became indoctrinated into virtually every aspect of our corporate culture. It really helped our leadership become aware of their management styles and break down the barriers that impeded communication and efficiency. For example, one of our regional managers was awakened to his defensive communication approach and the effect it had on others. Ultimately, we all achieved greater awareness of ourselves and our peers, resulting in greater productivity."

On Corporate Behaviors
"While the Care of Trees had one of the best safety records in the industry, the company still had its share of on-the-job injuries. Collectively, our management team decided to improve upon this status by adopting a "no one in our family gets hurt" philosophy which translated to an advance analysis of potential dangers at work sites. The mutual trust developed through the Enneagram self discovery process resulted in an environment of approachability that encouraged our male dominated staff to 'watch each other's back.' In the first year of implementation, the new safety behaviors resulted in a 20-30% decrease in accidents and a $100,000 reduction in worker's compensation claims."

On Sales Growth
"Use of the Enneagram had a huge impact on sales, revealing to our staff how their presentation of themselves was perceived by those of other Enneagram styles. Staff members who were a Style 9 learned how to bounce back from rejection. Those who were Style 2 discovered their pre-disposition of "giving away the store." Another sales person who had repeatedly attempted to reach the million dollar mark was able to do so following his self discovery. Following Enneagram training, company sales consistently increased by 10% a year."

On Personal Leadership Style
"As a Style 9, I discovered that my work approach of soliciting ideas and consensus was often perceived as being indecisive. While I will always value and solicit input when making a decision, I began gathering information in a less obvious manner. Accordingly, I began to be perceived as a strong leader among our company of 500 employees and enjoyed greater leadership success."

Learn how the Enneagram can radically improve your business world by joining Scott Jamieson and other business professionals this September at the Every Leader's Challenge: The Art of Greatness NOW. To learn more, go to www.transforminc.com.