Out of the Box Coaching and
Breakthroughs with the Enneagram, Mary R. Bast, Ph.D. 
Copyright © 1999. All rights reserved. Revised: July 21, 2010 

Case Description: Style Nine

Beneath his calm exterior, Barry Foster typified the adage that "still waters run deep." He had a sincere, affectionate quality and "wore well" over time. He had a global, complex view of situations -- others liked to bounce around their ideas with Barry because he could understand and appreciate a variety of viewpoints simultaneously. In fact, Barry often played the role of intermediary (or buffer) when colleagues were having difficulty with each other. He was a great consensus builder.

On the down side, Barry's boss said Barry needed to be more assertive. He seemed a little too dependent on seeking others' views before deciding, and would change his mind too easily (to complicate matters, he could also be quite stubborn, once he took a stand). His boss appreciated Barry's collaborative management style, but wished he could be more effective in dealing with a couple of people on his team who weren't producing. Barry's development work gave him the skills to confront performance problems. He also became more confident in his own opinions, spoke up more in meetings and, paradoxically, let go of some of his stubborn behavior.

Teamwork With The Enneagram: A "Seamless Weave"

A Withdrawing Style     "Plain" Vanilla     "Opening Up"        "An Epic Tale"

Coming Home: Nines and Ones in Relationship    A Nine Uses Active Imagination

Quick Views of Nine Personality Patterns      Leadership and the Enneagram 

Poems That Speak to Nines       

Much more in Out of the Box Coaching Book
(Click here for free preview of Nine chapter)