Sutherland Shire Libraries Staff News

A while ago I posted a blog describing the enneagram tool. Just for fun, I have created a short description of how these personality types behave as library staff members based on a couple of journal articles I came across. Do you recognise yourself in one of these?

1. The Perfectionist.
They are very attracted to working in the library profession, as the perceived orderliness and defined systems of the library are very appealing. They are generally effective bibliographic instructors, due to their technical competence and patience with others. When you give them a task to do, it will be completed to a high standard.

2. The Giver
These people develop very good rapport with both co workers and customers. They are great on the circulation desk, are hard workers and strive to meet the needs of others. They have the ability to serve people and anticipate their needs. Relationships are very important to 2’s and they often view their co workers as like family.

3. The Achiever
As a member of staff, they are optimistic and likely to see alternative ways to solve problems which arise in the library. They are efficient and have great communication and promotional skills. They are the most likely to rise to the top of the library administrative structure. As they seek status, 3’s may join committees, or become active in library associations at all levels. They can be valuable public relations boosts to the library.

4. The Individual
Fours can bring their artistic talent to the library as they enjoy creating displays and exhibitions. They have innovative ideas about how to capture the imagination of patrons, through use of public areas, both physical and virtual. These people think laterally, coming up with alternative (and often unique) means of solving problems. They often have special activities and areas of interest.

5.The analyst
Many library staff are 5’s. This because this profession brings them close to the data they enjoy. The library environment attracts them as a neat orderly place, with technical services of particular interest. Fives are interested in everything, read a lot of information over a wide range of subject areas, and often have innovative ideas. They pay great attention to detail and like to spend time on research.

6. The Questioner
Sixes are very diligent, loyal workers, and they enjoy being involved in staff wide activities. They are team players. Sixes like the consistency of the library organisation, and dislike change. They have an awareness of possible problems that may arise in the library environment. They love written routines and rules, and are very good writing clear procedures and guidelines.

7. The Optimists
These are the fun people. They have a good time in life, and are full of energy and optimism. They are not often found working in libraries as they do not perceive libraries as a fun challenging place to work. When they are found in the library, they are natural multitaskers, are adaptable and fit into new situations easily. Sevens are aware of the latest trends and are constantly looking for new possibilities and available options. They are the most likely to move jobs without thought for the consequences.

8. The Leader
Eights are rarely found in the library. They like to be in charge. When they are in the library, they like to try new things, and will meet with the supervisor as little as possible. They are efficient, have high standards, visions of what they want to achieve and the willpower and confidence to do so. They are able to make difficult decisions and see serious problems as challenges to be overcome.


9.The Peacemaker
Nothing bothers these easy going people. Everyone likes them. They will make the most of the work situation they are in, without complaints. Nines work at their own speed but always complete tasks given to them. They have the ability to bring people together and listen to them. Nines create harmony in the work environment, emphasising the positive so that conflict and tension is minimised. Being supportive and inclusive, they make them great team members.

These are very general descriptions and in order to be accurate in your assessment of yours (and others) personality type, undertaking an enneagram questionnaire would be recommended. Versions of the enneagram test, without copyright restrictions, are available on the internet. Just remember, casual observation of an individual may lead to wrong conclusions about their personality type. Just because someone acts in a particular way on a particular occasion does not automatically place them as a particular enneagram number.

I recently attended a very interesting workshop called “Conscious Leadership of Self and Others”. It uses the Enneagram as basis for the study of personality types.

The enneagram categorises people into one of nine basic personality types. Although everyone is unique, with their own personality, we each have a primary personality type, which is what motivates us to behave in certain ways. None of the personality types are better than the other, they are simply indicators of what motivates you to behave in the way you do. Each of the personality types expresses a distinctive and habitual way of thinking and emotions.

The nine personality types are outlined as follows, with identifying key personality traits.
Each of the personality types are equally useful and valid. They all help create to a balanced work environment, with each contributing different points of view and ways of seeing the world.

The Perfectionist: The Rational, Idealistic Type
Strive for perfection, are principled, purposeful, self controlled, ethical systematic, neat and methodical.

The Giver: The caring interpersonal type.
Very friendly, generous, people pleasing, sincere, warm hearted and have a wide circle of friends. Also compassionate, nurturing and like to help those they perceive as being in trouble.

The Achiever: The success oriented pragmatic type.
Adaptive, competent, excelling, driven, and image-conscious.

The Individual: The sensitive withdraw type.
Creative, expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed, and temperamental.

The Analyst: The intense cerebal type
Perceptive, innovative, secretive, analytical and isolated

The Questioner: The committed security conscious type.
Engaging, responsible, warm, anxious, and suspicious.

The Optimist: The busy fun-loving type.
Spontaneous, versatile, distractible, and scattered.

The Leader: The powerful dominating type.
Self-confident, decisive, willful, and confrontational.

The Peacemaker: The easygoing, self effacing type.
Receptive, reassuring, agreeable, and complacent.


The three centres of intelligence.The nine personalities are further grouped on the enneagram under three centres of intelligence. These are the filters through which personalities prefer to view the world. Each centre includes three personality types which share the assets and liabilities of that centre. Although we all have and can use each of these intelligences, these centres are what our personality types default to.
These are:
The instinctive centre: 8,9,1 Behave based on their gut feelings or instincts about things.
The feeling centre: 2,3,4. The primary consideration is how it makes themselves or others feel.
The thinking centre: 5, 6,7. These are the cerebal types who think things through before acting.

Wings
Each enneagram type may be influenced by the types found on either side of it. These are known as the “wings” and may influence a persons core personality type. Some people have dominant wings that influence their personality and in turn, their behaviour. This is part of what makes each of us unique.

Directions of integration and disintegration
The enneagram also shows how different situations cause personality types to typically react in particular ways. This is demonstrated on the enneagram with each personality being connected to two other personality types, showing how people react at their best and worst. Going with the arrow indicates behaviour when a personality is stressed and under pressure, and going against the arrow shows how a personality reacts when they are at their best. If interested you can link to this diagram which shows a very basic picture of an enneagram and how your behaviour changes to emulate another personality type depending on how you are feeling.

Why use an Enneagram?
Learning about the enneagram can be a useful tool in the library as a self discovery tool.
This is because if we understand ourselves, we are able to recognise the strengths and weaknesses in our personality, building on the strengths and trying to improve our weak points.

In the library work environment, as libraries are becoming more team based, understanding your own personality type, and the fact that different people are motivated by different factors and may see the world from a different perspective will enable us to understand where other people are coming from. We can draw on each others strengths and recognise the potential contributions others can make to produce better results in our work. This in turn can reduce conflict and most importantlyallow us to be happier, healthier people. This understanding can also assist in effective communication, as the enneagram tool helps you to recognise that not everyone thinks the same way, or have the same motivations, values, priorities and reactions. This can be further extended to understanding our different customers and their varying reactions to situations.