Understanding your team, one enneagram number at a time

I’ve always been fascinated by how people work and think, and what makes them tick (or spiral). So it’s no surprise I’ve gone down the Enneagram rabbit hole more than once throughout my career. Unlike other personality tests that box you in, the Enneagram tells you what box you keep climbing into… and why.

It’s not just introspective fluff. In a team setting, the Enneagram can help you figure out how someone handles pressure, receives feedback, or reacts to change. Which, for me as a project manager, is pure gold.

I asked various members of the Ample team to take a free Enneagram test for their Enneagram numbers, and the results were… expected. 

Here’s how they show up at work (and why I wasn’t in the least bit surprised). 

Wait… what the heck is the Enneagram?

Glad you asked. The Enneagram is a personality framework made up of nine core types, each shaped by a central fear and desire. Instead of just labeling what you do, it gets to the root of why you do it.

Think of it like this:

• It’s not just that you’re organized, it’s that you need things to feel right (Say hello to Type 1: The Reformer).
  
  
• You’re not just goal-driven, you’re wired to win and be seen as successful (Introducing Type 3: The Achiever).
  
  
• You’re not just helpful, you feel most secure when you’re supporting others (Type 2: The Helper… hey, that’s me!).
  
  

Each type brings a different energy to the table, and understanding how that energy ebbs and flows can change how you work together, give feedback, or even survive a sprint. 

Here’s the quick-and-dirty list:

1. The Reformer – Principled, perfectionistic, wants to do what’s right
   
   
2. The Helper – Caring, people-pleasing, thrives on being needed
   
   
3. The Achiever – Success-oriented, adaptable, image-conscious
   
   
4. The Individualist – Creative, emotionally honest, focused on identity
   
   
5. The Investigator – Analytical, private, values knowledge and autonomy
   
   
6. The Loyalist – Responsible, cautious, seeks safety and support
   
   
7. The Enthusiast – Energetic, spontaneous, avoids pain through fun
   
   
8. The Challenger – Decisive, strong, values control and independence
   
   
9. The Peacemaker – Easygoing, supportive, avoids conflict
   
   

Most people find themselves most aligned with one number, but there are also “wings,” which is one of the numbers next to yours on the circle. Wings flavor your core type with some spicy nuance (because you’re more than just a number).

The Project Manager (Me) - Type 2: The Helper

Core drive: To be needed.

Work vibe: The “I’ll take care of it” energy… ALL. THE. TIME. 

If something breaks, I’m already halfway through fixing it. If someone looks overwhelmed, I’m offering to jump in. I’m at my best when I’m supporting the team, and at my worst when I’m over-functioning because I’m low-key panicking about being unnecessary.

In project management, this shows up as:

• Client empathy mode: I can often anticipate what a client needs before they even say it.
  
  
• Team caretaker mode: I’ll advocate for my devs like it’s my full-time job (because it kind of is).
  
  
• Chaos sponge mode: I absorb tension, smooth things over, and try not to lose myself in the process.
  
  

Remember those nuances I mentioned called “wings”? Here’s some more context (that we’ll cover in-depth in a future post): I sit between 2w1 (The Servant) and 2w3 (The Hostess), which basically means I toggle between “let me way overdeliver, and hope you don’t hate it” and “let me dazzle by preparing a six-course gourmet meal, and remembering to include a pup-friendly dessert to celebrate your dog’s birthday.”

The challenge? Boundary setting is a work in progress.

2/3 Developers - Type 7: The Enthusiasts

Core drive: To experience it all and avoid being stuck.
Work vibe: “This is fun! Let’s try it this way instead!”

Two of our developers are Type 7s, which honestly explains a lot. They bring curiosity, high energy, and an aversion to soul-crushing monotony. If they’re not learning something new or tackling a challenge that excites them, they’ll start to drift—or start their own side quests.

How this plays out:

• Solution energy: They don’t just code… they riff, experiment, and build cool super things.
  
  
• Big-picture thinkers: They’d rather brainstorm new approaches than grind through busywork.
  
  
• Momentum > monotony: Repetitive tasks are kryptonite, but toss them something new and interesting, and they’ll be back to saving the world–one PR at a time.
  

Extra flavor? Wings again. One of them leans 7w6, which adds loyalty, caution, and a little more structure to their “let’s go!” energy. The other is a 7w8, which adds assertiveness, independence, and a boldness that pushes the team forward.

The challenge? Focusing on one thing long enough to get it across the finish line (without jumping to the next shiny idea).

PM Tip: Keep things fresh. Break projects into milestones. Let them run (just make sure someone’s holding the map).

Developer #3 - Type 6: The Loyalist

Core drive: To feel safe and supported.
Work vibe: “Let’s think this through—twice.”

While the Type 7s are chasing ideas like golden retrievers in a field, our Type 6 brings the grounding energy that keeps things safe, strategic, and... well, realistic. Type 6s are loyal, detail-oriented, and wired to anticipate what could go wrong (so it doesn’t).

How this plays out:

• Risk radar on: They’re asking the hard questions early, like “What happens if this breaks?” and “Do we have a rollback plan?”
  
  
• Process-minded: 6s thrive in systems they trust. If the plan’s clear, they’ll execute it with precision.
  
  
• Team-first loyalty: Once they trust you, they’re all in. Protective, committed, and surprisingly funny under pressure.
  

The challenge? Anxiety. 6s can loop on worst-case scenarios, second-guess themselves, or hesitate without validation.

PM Tip: Show your work. Be clear, be steady, and loop them into decisions. Their questions are rarely “doubt,” but rather strategy in disguise.

Our CEO - Type 8: The Challenger

Core drive: To be strong, independent, and never controlled.
Work vibe: “Let’s cut through the noise and get it done.”

Our CEO is a textbook Type 8 in all the best ways. She leads with confidence, has zero tolerance for BS, and brings main character energy to everything from strategy to Slack threads. Type 8s don’t tiptoe, and they don’t wait for permission. Which makes them powerful vision-setters (and sometimes unintentionally intimidating).

How it shows up:

• Clarity and conviction: She says the thing no one else will. It moves conversations forward, fast.
  
  
• Bias toward action: She’s not here to overanalyze, she’s here to do.
  
  
• Protective leader energy: She’s got your back. Just don’t mistake bluntness for lack of care.
  

The challenge? Vulnerability. Type 8s don’t love slowing down to process feelings, or ask for help

PM Tip: Be direct, be confident, and don’t bring half-baked updates. She respects competence and clarity.

Our Copywriter - Type 4: The Individualist

Core drive: To be authentic and deeply understood.
Work vibe: “Let’s make this meaningful. Or else, why bother?”

Our copywriter is a Type 4, which adds a crucial layer of creative depth to everything she touches. She’s introspective, emotionally attuned, and allergic to anything that feels inauthentic. When our 4 is invested in the work, she’ll deliver something fresh, human, and real. When she’s not… well, you’ll know.

What this looks like:

• Creative integrity: She’s not just checking boxes, she’s telling stories that actually resonate.
  
  
• Emotion-forward communication: She brings warmth and humanity into brand voice, tone, and content.
  
  
• Uniqueness radar: If something feels copy-paste, she’ll call it (and probably rewrite it better).
  

The challenge? 4s can feel misunderstood or disengaged if they’re creatively boxed in or rushed too hard.

PM Tip: Build space for exploration. Invite her in early. And yes, make room for the occasional poetic spiral (which usually leads to something great).

S0… what’s the point?

Understanding your team’s Enneagram types isn’t about labeling people or turning work into therapy (though it can be good for that too). It’s about creating space for better communication, more efficient collaboration, and less unnecessary tension.

When you know what drives someone, you can:

• Tailor how you give feedback
• Set realistic expectations
• Spot stress behaviors early, and respond with empathy instead of frustration
  

And if nothing else, it’s a great excuse to talk about something more interesting than burn reports and tasks for once.

The TL;DR Version

The Enneagram gives you a shortcut to understanding the why behind the how. And when you’re working with creative, driven, wildly different humans every day, that shortcut matters!

Wings add even more depth, and I’ll be unpacking those in a future post. (Spoiler: My wings are multitasking with snacks and spreadsheets.)

So yeah, I’m probably going to keep asking people for their Enneagram type. Not just because I’m curious, but because it actually makes me a better project manager and teammate.