EQ vs AI: How the Enneagram Keeps You Ahead of the Machines

If you aren’t thinking about how your job is going to be impacted by artificial intelligence (AI), you need to be. From technology companies to law offices and from design studios to hospitals, AI is proving that in many cases, it can do our jobs better than we can. Consider just a few examples:

• ChatGPT scored a 155 IQ, which is better than 99% of humans!
• AI systems can detect lung nodules, an indicator of lung cancer, with a sensitivity of 70-90%, an accuracy comparable to detection by experienced radiologists.
• AIs spotted legal issues in nondisclosure agreements more accurately than top lawyers and in less time.

You get the idea and so do business leaders. Earlier this year Meta announced it is cutting 5% of its workforce as Mark Zuckerberg replaces mid-level engineers and risk analysts with AI tools. In April 2025, language learning platform Dualingo stoked controversy when it announced its shift to an “AI-first” strategy with plans to integrate AI across its operations. CEO Luis von Ahn describes the company’s shift away from hiring human educators toward AI as a way to scale personalized language learning at low cost. 

The AI wave is becoming a tsunami, but before you give up hope and start researching unemployment benefits, consider the counter trend: the rise of emotional intelligence (EQ) and the growing focus on empathy, resilience, communication and human skills. Because if AI is the wave, EQ is the surfboard that’s going to help you keep your job. 

Why We Need EQ to Succeed in an AI-Focused World

“Technical and human skills are symbiotic,” says Anthony Stephan, Chief Learning Officer for Deloitte US. He emphasizes the importance of a “Yes, AND” approach where leaders actively develop human skills alongside technological advancements. And he’s not alone.

Michael Miller, the Global Director of Marketing Communications at 6 Seconds, a leader in emotional intelligence development, has brought tools like the Enneagram to major organizations including FedEx, Lockheed Martin and Qatar Airways. His message is clear: AI without EQ is a recipe for failure because when people face technological change, their first thoughts aren’t about innovation. Their first thoughts are about their own survival. As Miller puts it, “The brain doesn’t care about facts; it cares about safety and belonging. How will this impact me? What will happen to my job, our department?”

For AI to be successfully implemented, it needs employees who aren’t afraid of it. It needs people who are adaptable, flexible and who can work together well in the face of a changing business landscape. It needs leaders who understand that fear can kill a company. It needs a workforce with high EQ. 

How the Enneagram Helps Usher in the Era of AI

EQ is our ability to understand emotions and connect with others in a healthy, effective and positive way. It’s a big and growing business. The global EQ market is projected to reach $15.44 billion by 2034, up from $7.42 billion today. 

The market is on the rise because business leaders understand that human emotions remain at the heart of every workplace. To fully leverage AI, effective business leaders know they need people who can adapt to change, work collaboratively and thrive in a shifting business environment. They need people with high EQ, and the Enneagram is often their EQ tool of choice.

The Enneagram is a model of human personality that identifies nine core types, each with its own set of motivations, fears and emotional patterns. Unlike other personality frameworks that focus mainly on behaviors, the Enneagram dives beneath the surface to uncover the “why” behind the behavior.  It is a powerful tool to develop EQ in organizations because it directly enhances the core EQ elements of: 

• Self-awareness
• Self-management or self-regulation
• Social-awareness or empathy
• Relationship management. 

Let’s take a closer look at why the Enneagram is one of the best tools to remain relevant in an increasingly AI-focused world.

1) Learning Your Enneagram Type is a Powerful Exercise in Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation

Whether you discover your type through an online assessment, personal reflection or a typing interview, the process itself sharpens your self-awareness. It confirms your natural strengths and shines a light on your blind spots, helping you see elements of your personality that might otherwise remain hidden. The ability to see yourself clearly is foundational to EQ.

A Practical Example: Reducing Fear and Resistance

Imagine you discover you are a Type 6 Skeptic who naturally focuses on what could go wrong. With this new knowledge, you see that your discomfort and suspicion in adopting AI tools isn’t just technological. It is also part of your core psychology and recognizing this pattern means you can work towards a more balanced response. Instead of resisting change reflexively, you can pause, assess the potential benefits of AI, and weigh them thoughtfully against the real risks. 

Knowing your Enneagram type helps you understand your reaction to AI and adjust accordingly.

2) Enneagram Insight Drives Empathy 

When you learn the Enneagram type of your coworkers, you get a glimpse into their inner world including what motivates them, what they fear and how they respond to stress and pressure. This understanding leads to increased empathy, another core pillar of EQ that is also good for the bottom line. According to a study published in the Harvard Business Review, companies with high empathy cultures outperform their peers, reporting up to 50% more earnings per share than those with low empathy company cultures. 

While empathy might seem out of place in an AI environment, it’s not. Empathy is essential if companies want successful adoption of new workflows and processes. AI is a disruptive technology so it is important to understand how people react under stress and change. The Enneagram helps you see the world the way your coworkers do and provides a framework to better understand their behavior.

A Practical Example: Improving Team Alignment Through Empathy

Imagine you learn your direct report is a Type 3 Achiever, highly goal-oriented and with a drive to be the best. Afraid she’ll lose her winning edge, she’s pushing hard to adopt lots of new AI tools to stay competitive. But her speedy pace and demanding style is alienating her colleagues and increasing their resistance to her ideas. With the knowledge of her fears and motivations, you can help her slow down, rebalance and align with the team goals resulting in a more deliberate, but ultimately more successful, AI tool adoption.

Knowing the Enneagram type of your coworkers helps you understand their motivations and priorities in a fast-changing workplace. 

3) The Enneagram Strengthens Your Relationships

As AI reshapes the workplace by automating many repetitive and rules-based tasks, what remains and grows in value is our ability to collaborate, communicate and adapt together. The Enneagram strengthens these human connections by helping teammates understand each other’s core drives, communication styles and blind spots. It gives teams a shared language to navigate differences and turn potential friction into productive synergy. The Enneagram reminds us that each type has unique superpowers and gives us a framework to discuss differences. 

A Practical Example: Turning Differences into Strengths

Imagine two team members who are frequently clashing during an AI project rollout. One is a Type 1 Perfectionist, driven by a need for accuracy, ethics and high standards. The other, a Type 7 Enthusiast, is focused on innovation, speed and flexibility. Without understanding each other's deeper motivations, these differences can create tension, spark disagreements and slow progress.

But through the lens of the Enneagram, both people can recognize the strengths the other brings. The Type 1 sees how the Type 7’s energy fuels creativity and keeps the team from stagnating. The Type 7 learns to value the Type 1’s commitment to quality and thoughtful, deliberate implementation. This mutual understanding shifts the dynamic from conflict to collaboration, helping the team to better navigate change.

Change Offers Opportunity

Charles Darwin famously said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change,” and this has never been more relevant than in our rapidly evolving era of AI.

As technology transforms the way we work, the Enneagram reminds us that our greatest assets are our human ones. Self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy and relationship building are the foundation of resilience and adaptability. They are how you turn change into opportunity. You don’t need to compete with a machine to succeed in an AI-driven world. You need to be more fully yourself, and the Enneagram is a tool to help you do just that.