Type 1 · The Reformer
- Energised by
- Clear standards and work done properly.
- Drained by
- Sloppy work, shortcuts and rules that change for no reason.
- Tell your colleagues
- “Tell me clearly what good looks like, and tell me when I've got it right.”
Work · Guide
How to work well with someone very different from you
Good collaboration doesn't need two people who think alike. It needs two people who understand how the other one works. Here is a simple way to get there.
Difference is not the problem. Surprises are.
Collaboration often goes wrong through surprises: one person decides fast while the other wanted time; one person gives direct feedback and the other hears criticism. When you know how your colleague tends to work, the surprises stop and the difference becomes useful.
Four things to agree at the start
- How you decide. Who decides what, and how much time each of you needs.
- How you give feedback. Straight away or later? In writing or face to face?
- How you handle deadlines. Check in along the way, or hand over one finished piece at the end?
- How you handle pressure. What each of you does when things go wrong, and what helps.
What each type brings, and what they'd tell you
Read your own type and your colleague's. A type is a mirror, not a label.
Type 2 · The Giver
- Energised by
- Helping people do well, in a warm team.
- Drained by
- Being taken for granted in a cold, transactional team.
- Tell your colleagues
- “A simple thank-you goes a long way with me. Ask what I need, too.”
Type 3 · The Achiever
- Energised by
- Clear targets and progress people can see.
- Drained by
- Slow decisions and meetings that end with no outcome.
- Tell your colleagues
- “Give me a clear target and room to run. Recognise the win when it comes.”
Type 4 · The Individualist
- Energised by
- Work with meaning, and room to be creative.
- Drained by
- Copy-paste work and being treated as just another headcount.
- Tell your colleagues
- “Show me why this work matters, and give me space to do it my way.”
Type 5 · The Observer
- Energised by
- Time to think, and problems worth solving.
- Drained by
- Back-to-back meetings and being asked to decide on the spot.
- Tell your colleagues
- “Send me the agenda early and give me time to think. You'll get better answers.”
Type 6 · The Loyalist
- Energised by
- A team they can trust and a clear plan.
- Drained by
- Sudden changes with no reason given.
- Tell your colleagues
- “Tell me early when plans change. Once I trust you, I'm all in.”
Type 7 · The Enthusiast
- Energised by
- New projects, variety and fresh ideas.
- Drained by
- The same task every day, long reports and heavy rules.
- Tell your colleagues
- “Give me room for new ideas, and help me finish the best one.”
Type 8 · The Challenger
- Energised by
- Real responsibility and straight talk.
- Drained by
- Office politics, slow approvals and being micromanaged.
- Tell your colleagues
- “Be straight with me and give me ownership. I'll get it done.”
Type 9 · The Peacemaker
- Energised by
- A calm team and a steady rhythm.
- Drained by
- Open conflict, raised voices and last-minute pressure.
- Tell your colleagues
- “Ask me directly what I think. I may not say it unless you ask.”
A simple first conversation
Try this with a colleague you work with often. Each of you says one thing that helps you do your best work, and one thing that drains you. Write both down. Then agree one change each for the next two weeks.
Collaboration across a whole team
With a whole team, the same ideas apply, just with more people. If you lead the team, the free Team Simulator from Business Enneagram Asia shows how the whole group may work together.
See how two people meet.
Take the free work test, then put your type next to your colleague's on the X-Map for Work.
Take the free testOpen the X-Map for WorkQuestions people ask
How can I collaborate better with colleagues?
Learn how each person works best, agree how you'll decide and give feedback, and check in early. Small agreements prevent a lot of friction.
What if a colleague and I keep clashing?
Look at the moments where it happens: making decisions, feedback, deadlines or pressure. Put both types on the X-Map for Work to see where you differ and what to try.
Is this a personality test for hiring?
No. The free test is for your own understanding. For companies, our sister site Business Enneagram Asia offers hiring and team support.
Read next
A type is a mirror, not a label. It shows how someone tends to love, work or train, never who they have to be.