Matt Schlegel

Online Enneagram Workshops: March 2021

March 11, 2021 by Matt Schlegel Leave a Comment

Conducting two Enneagram workshops this month, a Back-to-Basics workshop on Wed 3/17 and an Intrinsic Motivation workshop for team leaders on Thu 3/25. Details below. Hope to see you there!

Title: Enneagram—Back To Basics

Description: Where did the Enneagram come from? What are the nine Enneagram types? What’s my type? Can I be more than one type? Join us for this back-to-basics Enneagram discussion where we discuss these and many other topics. Those new to the Enneagram are welcome to join. Those familiar with the Enneagram are encouraged to share their perspectives and help those who are just beginning.

Those new to the Enneagram are encouraged to take this Enneagram quiz before the meeting: http://www.enneasurvey.com/

Date: Wed, March 17, 2021

Time: 7:30pm to 9pm Pacific Time

Host: Center for Spiritual Life

Registration Fee: Free

Registration: For Zoom link contact Matt Schlegel at matt@evolutionaryteams.com

More information: https://www.centerforspirituallife.com/events/2021/3/17/enneagram-basics

Title: Learn the Nine Intrinsic Motivations of Teammates

Description: Come prepared to turn on your video and engage with participants in this interactive workshop in which we explore the intrinsic motivations of ourselves and our teammates. One of the biggest challenges for project managers is understanding what motivates team members. Likely, you have a good idea of what motivates yourself, and you may project your own motivation onto others. That strategy may or may not work. Some individuals may have completely different motivations, and project managers may struggle to understand these differences. The Enneagram describes nine distinct motivations and provides a framework to understand the differences and nuances of each. By knowing the primary Enneagram style of team members, project managers can understand each person’s intrinsic motivation and assign work in a motivating way.

Date: Thursday March 25, 2021

Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm Pacific Time

Host: Project Management Institute California Central Coast Chapter

Registration Fee: $20 for non-members

Registration: https://pmi-4c.org/events/event-calendar/monthly-dinner-meeting-template/march-2021-pmi-4c-monthly-meeting-telepresence-only

Other Upcoming Online Workshops

Center for Spiritual Life Workshops –Spring 2021 Lineup

4/21: Enneagram Subtypes: https://www.centerforspirituallife.com/events/2021/4/21/enneagram-subtypes-workshop

5/19: Enneagram and Intrinsic Motivation

6/16: Living the Experiences of Other Types

How does the Roaring 20s’ Speakeasy Influence the Roaring 2020s?

March 9, 2021 by Matt Schlegel Leave a Comment

Themes from the Roaring 20s run right through to our Roaring 2020s. Authors Kimberly Layne, Clare Price, Sam Cibrone and I share our thoughts on the importance of the Speakeasy both then and now, highlighting the importance of staying connected, running a business in adverse times, finding joy and happiness, and making memories.

Meet the Authors

Kimberly Layne is author of Connections Change Everything and principal at the Kimberly Connection Company: https://www.kimberly-layne.com Kimberly coaches and consults with Leaders and Organizations who desire to upskill their leadership and organization with the necessary soft skills that drive positive relationships that increase retention, engagement and profitability in our virtual, disconnected, and dynamic world. It is proven, strong connections build better business results! Find Connections Change Everything here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947480936/ or get your personally signed copy at https://www.kimberly-layne.com/resources

Clare Price is author of Make Remote Work and principal of Octain Growth: www.octaingrowth.com Make Remote Work is for everyone who is looking to reinvent their business for our new remote economy. Find Make Remote Work here: https://www.octaingrowth.com/ebook1/

Sam Cibrone the small business myth-buster debunks these myths about small business startups and growth. His book: Cracking the Startup Code: 5 Myths to Starting or Growing a Small Business focuses on the mindset needed to start or grow a business, the core values needed for growth and he uses real life examples from 5 small businesses he owned in his 23 years of owning small businesses. Free copy of the book on Sam’s website: http://www.samcibronebusinesscoaching.com

Matt Schlegel is author of Teamwork 9.0—Successful Workgroup Problem Solving Using the Enneagram and principal at Schlegel Consulting: www.evolutionaryteams.com Teamwork 9.0 cracks the code for turbo charged team creativity and extraordinary team effectiveness. Find Teamwork 9.0 here: https://www.amazon.com/Teamwork-9-0-Successful-Workgroup-Enneagram/dp/1733478809

Video Transcript

[Kimberly Layne]

I like the sultry secretive nature of the Speakeasy. They defied the law, had unlimited hours, and proliferated anywhere and everywhere… including covert locations such as stank basements, intimate back rooms, and unofficial store locations.

Interestingly enough, people flocked to these hideaways. Why? because as natural human beings we seek pleasure, enjoyment, celebration, and community! (especially during hard times). Most likely the Speakeasy and its alcohol was fortified by a wealthy owner, and its party goers were the poor. For the first time in American history, rich and poor patrons illegally drank together. It did not stop there, in some cases even racial barriers were broken down, and African Americans and whites in unison indulged outside of the law, and celebrated life and community.

I believe when natural ability is to come together in community and in celebration especially in challenging times, is denied, we will find avenues even, if illegal, in order to meet our huma needs for human connection. We will dissolve differences, and absolve judgment of race, and socio and economic status. Why? Because At the end of the day we are all humans craving connection.

As we move forward in our celebration of our roaring 20’s I challenge you to dissolve manufactured barriers of interaction and to establish easy pathways to human connection. WE all are craving connection! It is something we all are craving!.

[Matt Schlegel]

That’s fantastic, Kimberly.

Let me share a story.

It was towards the end of the day, and a co-worker came into my office completely exasperated. She started listing off all the challenges that she was facing on her project. After listening a while, I suggested that we head over to a bar, have beer, and talk things through. She stared at me in amazement before saying, “okay.” We got over there and had a long conversation about all the issues.

That was twenty years ago, and my co-worker, now friend, still brings up this story. For her, it was exactly the thing that she needed at that moment, to disconnect from the problems for a while and reflect on them objectively. For me, it highlights the value of building relationships with co-workers both inside and out of the workplace. A change of scenery broadens our perspectives. And a drink can certainly help us into more open conversations. It does help us to Speak. Easily.

What do you think, Sam?

[Sam Cibrone]

Thank you, Matt.

The Roaring 20s Speakeasys teach us many lessons about business to apply to the Roaring 2020s. The interesting thing is that they demonstrate many characteristics on Entrepreneurship. For example, Speakeasys were places that understood the concept of taking risks. As you know Alcohol was prohibited so selling a was dangerous. As businesses we must take risks to be successful. Secondly, Speakeasys demonstrate the ability to meet a want or need of the consumer. In those days, it provided alcohol and more importantly socialization. Currently, businesses must focus on the constantly changing needs of customers. The Speakeasys teach us many lessons about the culture of the Roaring 20s which correlate to the Roaring 2020s. We learned that taking risks is vital for progress. In addition, we learned that you must solve a want or need of the customer. So, when we reflect back on the Speakeasys, let’s remember those lessons, so that we can have a great Roaring 2021!!!

[Clare Price]

When I see pictures of the Speakeasys of the Roaring 20s, I see joy, exuberance and just plain fun. Ok. Maybe a little bit too much fun. Speakeasies have something to say to business owners today as we start to recover from our pandemic prohibitions. That is, how can you do more for your customers? How can you bring them joy? For one of my manufacturing clients it was literally searching the globe to source materials a vendor needed to make custom packaging for a virtual trade show event. In true Speakeasy fashion, let’s all find ways to bring joy into the lives of our customers and employees.

Teamwork 9.0 #1 Best Seller on Amazon!

March 8, 2021 by Matt Schlegel Leave a Comment

Celebrating the first anniversary of the Teamwork 9.0 book launch, I am running a promotion which launched the book to a #1 Best Seller in the multiple categories!

#1 Best Seller in IT Project Management

#1 Best Seller in Software Project Management

#1 Best Seller in Business Project Management

#1 Best Seller in Strategic Management

I’m delighted that the book is receiving recognition among project management professionals. I had project managers in mind as I wrote the book, wanting to bring the Teamwork 9.0 principles to their attention and into their practice.

If you have not yet grabbed a copy of Teamwork 9.0, please do so while the Kindle is on promotional pricing:

https://www.amazon.com/Teamwork-9-0-Successful-Workgroup-Enneagram-ebook/dp/B089PTJ59X/

My next goal is to get to 100 honest reviews. Please help me reach this goal by leaving an honest review here:

https://www.amazon.com/Teamwork-9-0-Successful-Workgroup-Enneagram-ebook/dp/B089PTJ59X/#customerReviews

Thanks to everyone for supporting me on this journey!

Celebrating Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

March 6, 2021 by Matt Schlegel Leave a Comment

For Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, I am celebrating the amazing lives of Helen Keller and her teacher and lifelong companion Anne Sullivan.

[Transcript]

When I was in grade school, Helen Keller fascinated me. I can’t tell you how many times I read my Scholastic book of her story. Reflecting back on that fascination, I am sure it has to do with my being an Enneagram Type 6. I could imagine and empathize with how it must have been for her to navigate the world in complete darkness… in complete silence… with the two senses I most rely on being completely inaccessible. These thoughts truly terrified my young self…. And yet, her story is so inspiring… even obligating. Everything that she was able to overcome, everything that she was able to accomplish. If young Helen Keller could do all that, then certainly my privileged, able self is obligated to put in the effort to be my best. Helen Keller gave me courage to be my best self.

March is Developmental Disability Awareness month.

And here I would like to acknowledge another important person in Helen Keller’s journey, Anne Sullivan, her teacher and life-long companion. Sullivan patiently nurtured Keller to become a prolific author and activist touring the world to help those with disabilities. Both Sullivan and Keller recognized the potential of all humans to fully contribute given right support.

The movie Crip Camp was released last year telling the story of the fight for the American’s with Disabilities Act. I strongly recommend you watch this inspirational story. I hope that you, like I, come away feeling a sense of pride for how that law has extended civil rights to those with disabilities. And I close with the words of one of Helen Keller’s inspirational figures, Mahatma Gandhi who said, “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”

Thanks for listening.

Crip Camp Documentary:

https://www.netflix.com/title/81001496

Helen Keller essay on Mahatma Gandhi:

https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK02-B224-F05-008

Creativity Gift of Enneagram Type 9 :: But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. – Martin Luther King Jr.

March 1, 2021 by Matt Schlegel Leave a Comment

Enneagram Type 9 has an innate understanding of others’ perspectives, and their intuition informs this understanding. Stepping into others’ viewpoints forms the basis for Type 9 creativity.

But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. – Martin Luther King Jr.

Inspiration—Action

Situated at the very top of the Enneagram diagram, this position symbolizes the 9’s ability to understand the perspectives of all other types. Whenever in doubt, their mind turns to imagining the many possible forces influencing a person—their likes and dislikes, what is going on in their personal and professional lives, and any current events that may factor. This behavior resembles the Type 6 questioner, along the 9’s path of disintegration and serves as the spark for ideation and inspiration. As doubts subside, the 9 can turn to action and start to proactively create an environment that is harmonious for the objects of their attention. Being proactive in this way can resemble behaviors of the Type 3 achiever along the 9’s path of integration.

Direction of arrow is path of integration; opposite of arrow is path of disintegration

Creativity Seesaw

In problem solving, the Type 9 dynamic ensures that all stakeholder perspectives are considered. In fact, the 9 is so adept at this role that they can often stand in for absent stakeholders, which requires a great deal of creativity. Chapter 5 of my book Teamwork 9.0—Successful Workgroup Problem Solving Using the Enneagram shows the 9 moving back and forth on their Creativity Seesaw between Type 6 and Type 3 behaviors in their creative process. The underlying motivation for the 9’s creative drive is represented by the seesaw’s fulcrum, the height of which dictates the depth of swing between Type 6 and Type 3 dynamics. The Type 9 is in the Enneagram’s Gut or Intuitive Center, the underlying issue for which is anger. For the 9, they suppress anger which motivates them to eliminate discord in the environment.

Enneagram Type 9 Motivation: Eliminating Discord

When the 9 awakes in the morning, they are already envisioning the needs of the people in their life and anticipating how to ameliorate any conflicts that may arise as those needs are fulfilled. This continuous focus on possible future conflict resembles the Type 6 behavior of scanning the future for possible risks and danger. For the 9, this imaginative process arises from their intuition as they seek to understand the cause and nature of any possible discord.

Enneagram Type 9 Inspiration: Understanding the Cause and Nature of Discord

Enneagram Type 9 Action: Actively Creating Harmonious Environments

As they grow confident in their understanding of others’ needs and a plan to mitigate conflict emerges, they proactively seek to realize that plan. They can take on a self-righteous determination in this pursuit, behavior which can resemble the determined Type 3 in pursuit of success. And, as the 9 realizes their vision, they create a harmonious environment for all, ideally with needs met and conflict avoided.

Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way. – Edward de Bono

Physician and author of Six Thinking Hats, Edward do Bono highlights the importance of proactively putting yourself into different thinking states in order to better understand the perspectives of all stakeholders. What he describes is a dynamic that comes naturally and instinctively to Type 9 as they navigate their relationships each and every day.

Do the Enneagram Type 9s in your life express their creativity through the viewpoints of others? What motivates them to action? How do they respond when discord arises?