A Partnership Model

A business executive with point Six Enneagram patterns met with her team to define a leadership model reflecting their values as supporters of abused women. They made explicit the characteristics of a traditional power-based system, contrasted with their own vision of an equality-based system -- a true partnership:

Power-Based Systems (control behavior)* Don't share feelings  Don't take a stand Don't accept criticism Don't listen to others Don't depend on others Don't admit mistakes Cover up skill deficiencies      (or fear of them) Break promises/agreements Withhold information

Equality-Based Systems (resilience, harmony, meaning) Be self-disclosing  State opinions openly Share accountability for problems Acknowledge what others say, feel Give importance to all agendas Admit mistakes, fears, not knowing Be consistent, honor agreements Give time to process:     - Descriptive feedback    - "I" statements

*Control is a form of addiction, used to deny our fears." 

See also Riane Eisler's Partnership Politics ("The partnership and domination systems not only give us names for different ways of relating but also explain what lies behind these differences.")