Jackie: On the web | On Instagram

Courtney: On the web | On Instagram

Workplace conflict rarely stays “professional” in the body. What looks like a communication issue on the surface often activates deeper nervous-system needs around safety, respect, belonging, control, and value.

In this episode, Courtney Bareman and I explore how conflict shows up at work through the Enneagram and why small moments—an email tone, a missed deadline, a rushed decision—can escalate so quickly.

Together, we unpack how each Enneagram type communicates under stress, what tends to trigger frustration or shutdown, and how repair builds trust on teams without avoiding hard conversations.

This episode is educational and practical—not therapy and not HR advice—but it offers language you can actually use to navigate real workplace relationships.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why workplace conflict is often a nervous-system issue, not a personality flaw
• How pressure, power, and visibility amplify emotional reactions at work
• The connection between pet peeves and unmet needs
• How each Enneagram type communicates under stress
• Why secure teams aren’t conflict-free, but repair-rich
• What effective repair sounds like when impact doesn’t match intent

Enneagram Triggers & Needs at Work

Each Enneagram type brings specific needs into work relationships—and predictable stress responses when those needs go unmet:

• Type 1 – Triggered by sloppy standards; needs clarity, responsibility, and appreciation for quality
• Type 2 – Triggered by exclusion or one-way giving; needs inclusion and reciprocity
• Type 3 – Triggered by inefficiency; needs concise communication and follow-through
• Type 4 – Triggered by meaninglessness or emotional dismissal; needs respect for people and purpose
• Type 5 – Triggered by time invasion or last-minute demands; needs privacy and clear expectations
• Type 6 – Triggered by rushed decisions or misuse of power; needs integrity, context, and a plan
• Type 7 – Triggered by negativity or micromanagement; needs autonomy and forward motion
• Type 8 – Triggered by gossip or broken promises; needs directness and reliability
• Type 9 – Triggered by being overlooked or unclear expectations; needs invitation, clarity, and calm tone

Repair & Trust in the Workplace

Secure teams aren’t built by avoiding conflict. They’re built by how quickly and clearly repair happens when stress shows up.

Repair in work relationships includes:

• Naming impact without defensiveness
• Clarifying intent without minimizing harm
• Resetting expectations after tension
• Addressing misalignment before resentment sets in

When repair becomes normal, trust strengthens—and teams can hold pressure without breaking.

Reflection Questions

Take these into your next work week:

• What does my stress pattern sound like in communication—do I correct, rescue, perform, withdraw, question, distract, confront, or disappear?
• What’s one sentence I can use to repair when I’ve come in too hot or too distant?