Case StudY
From Perfectionism to Presence
A Mid-Level Leader’s Growth Journey
Enneagram Overview
This teammate leads with Type Six energy, driven by a need for safety, preparation, and reliability. Strong Type One and Type Eight influences add precision, high standards, and directness, making them a courageous truth-teller who’s unafraid to speak up when others stay silent. In their feeling center, they lead with Type Four, valuing authenticity, emotional clarity, and real connection, though this can sometimes lead to skepticism toward surface-level friendliness.
Their low Type Nine energy means they’re less inclined to keep the peace and more likely to push into hard conversations — a strength that can also feel intense to others. A low Type Seven score suggests they may approach new ideas with caution and a focus on potential risks, making it important to balance their realism with openness to possibility. Growth for this teammate lies in shifting from judgment to curiosity, delegating to build trust, and matching their delivery to their audience so their high standards and advocacy inspire rather than intimidate.
Background:
This leader entered coaching as a high performer with strong Enneagram Type 1 patterns—driven to “get it right,” quick to shoulder responsibility, and prone to taking work interactions personally. Initial goals included:
Taking things less personally and reducing spiral-thinking
Bringing more joy and playfulness to work
Releasing control and trusting others
Building deeper relationships through curiosity rather than judgment
Her profile: Type 1 core with notable Type 8 (decisive, action-oriented) and Type 6 (strategic, vigilant) influences. Early practices focused on pausing before reacting, presence over perfection, and shifting from proving value to trusting value.
AFTER THREE MONTHS OF EXECUTIVE COACHING
By the end of the engagement, her tone, mindset, and behaviors had measurably shifted:
“Everyone on my team’s been in agreement that I’ve just been bringing the vibes. I’m more lighthearted. I’m not going to the worst-case scenario anymore—I’m doing the best I can with the information I have right now.”
Instead of reacting defensively to questions, she led with collaboration:
“Instead of getting defensive, it was like, how can we collaborate a bit better? It was more curiosity versus judgment.”
She detached identity from outcomes:
“Previously, I would have spiraled—wondering if I was a bad partner. Now, I can accept it, pivot, and not tie it to my value.”
KEY BREAKTHROUGHS
“I am valuable as I am. I don’t have to be the one with all the ideas or the perfect meeting structure.”
Trusting HER inherent value
“I’ve been very different—more fun, more positive—and I can feel the ripple effect. I don’t think people would have described me that way before.”
SHIFTED From control to partnership
GROWTH:
In four months, this mid-level leader shifted from perfection-driven overcontrol to confident presence and collaborative influence. Pairing Enneagram insight with targeted coaching translated into tangible, day-to-day leadership changes her team could feel—lighter energy, stronger partnerships, and a healthier relationship to her own value.Trusting HER inherent value
“I’ve noticed that I’ve enjoyed being at work—and then I can let the conversations and background chatter at work when I leave.”
GAINED Boundaries & presence
GROwth:
In four months, this mid-level leader shifted from perfection-driven overcontrol to confident presence and collaborative influence. Pairing Enneagram insight with targeted coaching translated into tangible, day-to-day leadership changes her team could feel—lighter energy, stronger partnerships, and a healthier relationship to her own value.
About Coaching:
“It has been so great, honestly. I really appreciate your assistance and the safe space you provided—challenging me, but in a soft and approachable way. It’s really resonated.”
“This teammate’s blend of Six, One, and Eight energy makes them both a high performer and a natural advocate for doing things the right way. Their willingness to speak the unsaid is a rare asset in a team that tends toward conflict avoidance. However, their low Seven and Nine scores mean they may default to caution over possibility and directness over diplomacy, which can unintentionally create tension. When they intentionally slow down to match their audience’s pace, lead with curiosity, and open space for others to contribute, their influence shifts from being perceived as intimidating to being recognized as a steady, courageous leader who elevates team performance..”