u/Tchoqyaleh

Hello community!

I've got a period of workplace challenge ahead, that has also been going on for the last couple of months. I feel I'm handling the situation well: I've stayed quite self-regulated and resilient, not emotionally wound up and my behaviour doesn't look like someone with high levels of adrenaline or cortisol. But I've got symptoms like eyelid twitching, and on FitBit my "health metrics" data over time shows decreasing heart rate variability and increasing resting heart rate, which it says is a stress signal. So even though I feel emotionally calm and am behaving in a measured way, I think my sympathetic nervous system (SNS) - responsible for the "fight-or-flight" response - has been activated.

I would appreciate practical tips and hacks for activating my parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) - aka "rest-and-digest" system. I'm especially keen for things I can discreetly incorporate while at work, or build into my general routine without a lot expense or time commitment. For example, some of the online articles I found had tips like getting a massage or going to acupuncture, which wouldn't be practical for my current life/work situation...

I'd also be interested in any practical tips and hacks for de-activating my SNS, if that's an easier or more sensible starting place.

I'd also be interested in recommendations of any foods or supplements that might help with either.

TIA!

Question to 8s and 5s or anyone who has insight into them: how do these types relate to / worth with strategy and tactics as toolkits or mindsets? And how might they fare in the military?

I assumed that 5s might excel in strategy but not so much tactics, and might not flourish in an environment like the military / navy / airforce because of its physicality and proximity to violence. But I've since seen a couple of references to historically significant high-ranking military officers being typed as 5s. And when I was recently re-watching "Gladiator", I realised that I had assumed the Russell Crowe character of Maximus was an 8 because of his physicality, but actually he is extremely self-controlled and calm and focussed throughout and only once in the entire film raises his voice. So he might actually be a 5?

On the flipside, I assumed that 8s might excel in tactics but not so much strategy because of their impulsiveness and connection to physical instincts/signals. And that they might be drawn to an environment like the military because of its culture of directness and no-BS and actions speaking louder than words etc. But that they might not climb to senior officer ranks - which I thought might be more likely to be 3s for the political savvy or 6s for the analytical trouble-shooting. But a while ago someone on here said that 8s can be masterminds or master strategists too.

And of course each has a line to the other. So I'm curious to learn more!

ETA: On reflection I think this would apply most to 5w6s and 8w9. I think it'd be very hard for a 5w4 to conform or an 8w7 to stay sufficiently disciplined and focussed.

Hello recruiters! I'm keen to understand the perspective of executive search firms.

I saw a vacancy for a senior management role in my field on LinkedIn, being handled by an executive search firm. I applied and have got through to the first interview round with the firm's partner leading the recruitment campaign.

Q 1: is it a bad sign that I applied cold, rather than being approached by them? For other roles in the past, I have been approached by search firms shortly before they announce the vacancy publicly (because I was recommended by the client) or while the posting is live.

Q 2: they've said this round of interviews is with candidates co-selected with the client, and that anyone who gets through will have 1-2 interview rounds with the client. Typically how many candidates might be being screened in this round? And what might be the rejection rate through to the next round? Eg do they screen a wide pool at the start expecting to eliminate c50%+? Do they interview everyone who meets the minimum criteria and then use this round to score/rank for the top c5 who go forward to the client? Or do they identify c5 who are good matches and use the screening round to sense-check before putting them in front of the client?

TIA!

Hello! I'm an external candidate and I'd estimate my equivalent CS grade level would be G6. I realise trying to come in at G6 is very competitive, so I'm also open to applying to G7 roles as a way in and then seeking promotion opportunities. But I must admit, when I look at G7 role descriptions, it's hard to feel motivated as they're often things I was doing 5-8yrs ago and even then were not sufficiently rewarding/challenging for me. But maybe I am just not "hungry"/desperate enough yet? So I'd be curious to hear from people who dropped a grade or more to enter the Civil Service. At what point in your job-hunting journey did you decide to target earlier career stages? Was the trade-off worth it or did you have any regrets? Once you were in, how hard was it to get promotion opportunities to build up your CV again?

I also wonder how the recruiters/hiring managers feel about sifting applications for over-qualified candidates. Do you ever worry/wonder about the motivation/commitment of over-qualified candidates vs candidates for whom the role might be a longer-term growth opportunity? At my current workplace, when we're assessing applications, candidates' cover letters are an opportunity for them to explain their motivations for applying, and so that's where over-qualified candidates can explain their career pivot and what they want from the role. But CS application forms don't seem to have the same opportunity.

TIA!

Hello community! I think that humour can be a really great tool for raising energy levels or defusing a situation. Humour can be cathartic and constructive. Also, who doesn't love a good pun or a silly dad joke??

So I thought it might be fun to come with versions of classic jokes, but about being managed by someone apparently with untreated NPD, to help give ourselves something to smile about the next time we are navigating one of these interactions 😄

Let's keep it light - not mean. I feel that it's better to highlight behaviours or systems rather than persons. Starters for 10 below, if anyone fancies having a go!

1. How many narc bosses does it take to change a lightbulb?

2. Why did the narc boss cross the road?

3. Knock knock! Who's there? [...]

4. A narc boss and [?} walk into a bar. [...]

5. What do you call a narc boss [who/with/doing....]?

6. What's the difference between a narc boss and [....]?

Hello 6s! I hope it's ok that I'm posting this here as I'm not a 6.... ICYMI someone has started a new sub focussed on Enneagram for growth - r/enneagrowing https://www.reddit.com/r/enneagrowing/

I'm not the mod of the new sub, I'm just someone who is enjoying the discussions so far and keen to learn from other perspectives :-)