Competency/Efficiency Grouping: "Working to Fix It"

Competency/Efficiency Grouping: "Working to Fix It"

From Nine Lives With Jeff King: Live Your Best One by Jeff King

March 15, 2026 · 1h 13m · Season 9 · Episode 4

About this episode

This episode concludes the exploration of the Enneagram's Harmonic Triads, focusing on the Competency Grouping and how its members address problems and resolve conflict.

This episode concludes our exploration of the Enneagram's Harmonic Triads, which describe common ways people respond to conflict, stress, and disappointment. In previous episodes, we explored the Catalyzer Grouping (Types 4, 6, and 8) and the Positive Outlook Grouping (Types 2, 7, and 9). In this episode, we focus on the Competency (or Efficiency) Grouping—Types 1, 3, and 5. People in this group tend to respond to problems by stepping back, analyzing the situation, and finding the most effective solution. Their goal is to identify what's wrong and fix it so progress can continue. In this process, emotions may be set aside in favor of objectivity and efficiency. This panel discussion explores the goals, motivations, and strategies Competency Types use to address problems and resolve conflict. Panelists include Stephen Garlow (Type 1), Lynda Rands (Type 3), and Eric Woolf (Type 5).

People in this episode

Host: Jeff King

Guests: Stephen Garlow, Lynda Rands, Eric Woolf

Topics covered

  • Enneagram
  • Harmonic Triads
  • conflict resolution
  • Competency Grouping
  • problem-solving
  • emotional intelligence

Keywords

  • Enneagram
  • Competency Grouping
  • Types 1 3 5
  • conflict
  • stress
  • problem-solving
  • objectivity

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Enneagram

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