In late April and early May, I was in Hong Kong for the IEA China conference and then for my "Coaching with the Enneagram" certificate program of 5 days.  I had a wonderful time at the conference (keynote, sessions) and the coaching program was as vibrant and effective as ever. Several coaching pairs or trios from the program are continuing with their peer coaching even after the program, and groups of participants from Hong Kong are meeting monthly to practice. This is a rewarding outcome.

What was also very moving was getting some good quality time with Andrea Isaacs, a dear and old friend, and also experiencing the warmth of the receptivity David Daniels received at the China IEA conference. David's joy, warmth, integrity, true humility, and competence were so appreciated. Also great was the Hong Kong food (I ate too much) and the shopping (I just love the Vivienne Tam stores they have in every major shopping mall). Eating and shopping are national pastimes there, so I got in the flow!

This month, I also had an experience of doing what I really love best. I like most of what I do - writing, speaking, conducting programs for professionals, organizing, etc. ­- but... what I really love best is doing emergent working with intact teams, using the Enneagram and all my OD theoretical and process consulting knowledge and skills to help teams deals with real issues in real time. I have two more of these scheduled for two other clients in July, so this was a message to me to create more of this in my work life!  

The other exciting thing is my trip to South Africa in September for the "Coaching with the Enneagram" certificate program in Johannesburg. Here's a picture of the exact building where the program will be held. My thanks to Neil Harper, Senior Member of the Enneagram in Business Network, for arranging all this, plus a 3-day program in Capetown on the business applications of the Enneagram. And I plan to go on a 3-day safari in between these two events.

Tonight I'm leaving for Prague, seeing the city for the very first time, and working with Nestle's leaders. But because I am doing the work early next week, I'll write about my experiences in the June Message!

I thought this was a wonderful quote about "Know Your Type":   

"Our friends who are marginally interested in the Enneagram say that it has gotten them fascinated with the system like no book has."  

It's from Tom Condon's email newsletter and came as a surprise in my inbox. "Know Your Type" has so many moving parts, and because I designed it for newcomers as well as old timers (it has many features for everyone), I was delighted to read Tom's remarks.  

We're currently working on a free upgrade (just some fun, cool items) and getting a bit closer to an Android version.  

Keep spreading the word!! EnneagramApp.com

 

Based on Bringing Out the Best in Everyone You Coach, this program (worth 35.5 ICF credits) is being offered in the following locations in 2011:

Minnesota (spaces still available): June 20-24 Click here to register

South Africa: September 19-23 Contact Neil Harper to register 

Italy: November 19-23 In Italian - Contact Marta Montemezzani to register 

 

"Train-the-Trainer" Certificate Programs in Florida | July 22-27 and August 1-6, 2011

1st Train-the-Trainer | July 22-27  

The Train-the-Trainer program based on Bringing Out the Best in Yourself at Work is highly experiential and comes with a robust Trainer's Guide, participant worksheets, training tools, and more. This program is for people who want to bring the Enneagram into organizations of all kinds or to offer public programs that focus on organizational applications such as communication, feedback, conflict, teams, leadership, and personal transformation.  

Complete program description

Register for program

2nd Train-the-Trainer | August 1-6 

The Train-the-Trainer program based on What Type of Leader Are You? offers theory and practice and comes with a detailed Trainer's Guide, participant worksheets, training tools, cloth banners, and an original simulation kit. This program is for people who want to bring the Enneagram into organizations to offer public programs with a focus on leadership development and leadership competencies.  

Complete program description 

Register for program   

The above programs are offered before and after the IEA (International Enneagram Association) Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Here are four May blogs and I hope you enjoy them all!

Enneagram Theory: Fixations (Habits of Mind) - Melancholy

Read about how each of us exhibits "Melancholy," the fixation normally associated with Fours. We're still getting very positive feedback about this blog series, with people saying that they'd never thought about how all types actually exist these habits of mind, just in 9 different ways! Click here to read this blog. 

Should We Be Typing Famous People?

I highly suggest you read this provocative blog. You may not agree with all the ideas in it, but it is likely to elicit a reaction in many people! Click here to read this blog.  

Conflict and the Enneagram: A guest blog by Curt Micka, JD 

Curt is a seasoned Enneagram professional, but also a lawyer of many years and a mediator. Read about his amazing work with the Global Health Fellows Program in South Africa, Uganda, and Kenya. Click here to read this blog. 

Enneagram Styles and Vision

Gayle Hardie, Senior Member of the Enneagram in Business Network, has written a compelling Insight about Vision, and I added a blog discussing how each of us, based on Enneagram Style, can increase our ability to "Vision." This blog is a good read and has already received many positive comments. Click here to read this blog.  

 

These are rather simple development ideas for each Enneagram style, or so they seem if you are not of the Enneagram type for whom it is recommended. Here is the simple activity (but not an easy one) for Enneagram Sevens:

Sevens: Many Sevens whom I coach or know personally, apologize so frequently that I often say, "What are you apologizing for?" Often, they have no answer or if they do, it is about something vaguely stated. As a result, I've learned to give my Seven coaching clients a variety of homework assignments related to apologizing.

The 3 best homework assignments (feel free to use any or all of them):

Make a list of all the times each day you apologize; write down each time, what you apologized for, to whom you apologized, and whether or not you actually believe that you did something wrong, that is worthy of an apology.

Spend time reflecting about the function of your apologizing so frequently. Be really honest with yourself. Any repeated behavior has a function or multiple functions, but these may not be obvious without digging deeper.

Don't do anything for which you will feel the need to apologize later; catch yourself when you are about to do the thing your will feel apologetic about, and don't do it!

Summary: After these homework assignments, many Sevens say that they apologize less often because they are now aware they do it so frequently (awareness can minimize behavior) and that they are catching their behavior before they do something.

Just as interesting is what they report about the function of the apology, so here is a sampling:

Apologizing is...

A way of bridging a conversation if they think the other person might be upset with them for any reason at all (a pain avoidance technique).

A way of rationalizing their less than stellar behavior ("after all, I apologized, so it was OK").

A way of minimizing themselves, reflecting an inner sense that they are constantly doing something not quite right, even if they don't know what that is.

A way of making amends for other times in their lives when they were impulsive or went after what they wanted, perhaps at the expense of other, that has nothing to do with their present circumstances.

 

Upcoming Public Program Schedule

Enneagram iPhone App  
Created by Ginger Lapid-Bogda, this animated, interactive App for home and work includes typing and how to prevent conflict; reduce stress; interact with others; and engage in development activities specific to your type. There are type videos, a way to test your Enneagram knowledge in real-world situations, theory, and more.     

Only $2.99 on the iTunes App Store. Go to EnneagramApp.com