The Scientific and Transformational Power of the Mattone Leadership Enneagram Inventory (MLEI)

The enneagram has often been dismissed as pseudoscience, criticized for its lack of empirical validation and subjective nature. These critiques are valid when applied to general enneagram systems, which are often overly broad and lack scientific rigor. However, the Mattone Leadership Enneagram Inventory (MLEI), developed by John Mattone, is fundamentally different. As a leadership-specific tool, it is designed to provide actionable insights into a leader’s inner-core maturity and the behaviors that directly influence leadership effectiveness. While its roots in the enneagram may raise eyebrows, its targeted application and global track record demonstrate its value in executive coaching.

The MLEI was first created in 1997 and has since been refined through years of practical application and feedback. John Mattone himself has stated that while no assessment is perfect, the MLEI has proven to be an accurate measure of inner-core maturity, isolating both strengths and weaknesses. These insights help leaders understand the underlying patterns that shape their behavior, providing a roadmap for personal and professional growth.

As a leadership coach with a PhD and certified assessor in validated tools such as the Hogan Assessment, NEO PI-3 and MRG Individual Directions Inventory, I recognize the importance of credible, evidence-based tools. That said, leadership development is multifaceted, and no single tool can address every challenge or meet every leader’s unique needs. While Hogan excels at providing deep, predictive insights grounded in empirical research, some leaders may find it more abstract, focusing on tendencies and potential rather than immediate, real-life leadership challenges. This is where the MLEI offers a valuable complement. While Hogan provides a robust, empirically grounded view of a leader’s tendencies, the MLEI focuses on actionable behaviors and the inner-core dynamics that drive real-life leadership challenges.

At its core, the MLEI evaluates a leader’s inner-core maturity, which encompasses their values, emotional tendencies, self-concept, and decision-making patterns. These elements, though often intangible, are critical to understanding and addressing leadership challenges. Unlike generic enneagram frameworks that rely on personality typing, the MLEI is designed to uncover actionable insights, isolating strengths that leaders can leverage and weaknesses that need attention to foster growth.

While the MLEI is not positioned as a traditional psychometric tool, its design aligns with validated psychological frameworks, such as the Big Five personality traits. Its exploration of emotional tendencies closely parallels emotional stability, often referred to as low neuroticism. Its emphasis on values and self-discipline reflects dimensions of conscientiousness, while insights related to interpersonal relationships and communication overlap with extraversion and agreeableness. Rather than replicating the Big Five framework, the MLEI complements it by addressing nuanced, leadership-specific dynamics that broader personality models often overlook. This alignment strengthens its scientific foundation and enhances its credibility as a transformational tool.

The MLEI has been used by over 10,000 leaders worldwide, offering game-changing insights that have unlocked personal and professional growth. Its iterative refinement through practical application ensures that it remains relevant and effective across industries and cultural contexts. Leaders who engage with the MLEI often report significant improvements in their ability to understand the underlying dynamics of their behaviors, address blind spots in decision-making, and build stronger, trust-based relationships with colleagues. This extensive track record serves as practical validation, demonstrating the tool’s ability to deliver measurable outcomes.

Critics of the enneagram often dismiss it as a conversation starter, but the MLEI transcends such critiques. It is not about generic personality categorization; it is a catalyst for transformational change, offering targeted strategies to address the root causes of leadership behaviors. By focusing on the why behind behaviors, the MLEI provides clarity for leaders facing challenges such as emotional regulation, interpersonal conflicts, or balancing strategic vision with tactical execution. Its practical application ensures that leaders not only gain insight but also have the tools to implement meaningful changes in their professional lives.

While the MLEI is a powerful tool on its own, its impact is further amplified when combined with complementary resources such as the Strategic-Tactical Leadership Index-360 (STLI-360) and stakeholder feedback. These tools validate and contextualize the MLEI’s findings, providing a broader, real-world perspective on a leader’s behaviors and their impact within their organizational environment. For instance, the MLEI may identify tendencies such as over-controlling behaviors or challenges in interpersonal relationships. The STLI-360 and stakeholder interviews add another layer of insight by showing how these tendencies manifest in both strategic and tactical contexts. Together, these tools create a multi-dimensional approach to leadership development, ensuring that insights are both comprehensive and actionable.

The MLEI bridges the gap between theoretical constructs and practical application. While scientifically validated models like the Big Five provide a robust foundation for understanding personality traits, the MLEI builds on this by addressing the specific, real-life challenges leaders face. Its focus on inner-core maturity offers a depth of insight that not only explains behaviors but also empowers leaders to transform them. The iterative development, global application, and alignment with validated constructs affirm the scientific credibility and practical value of the MLEI. When paired with complementary tools like the STLI-360 and stakeholder feedback, the MLEI becomes part of a multi-dimensional approach to leadership development, ensuring that its insights drive meaningful and measurable growth.

In the fast-paced and complex world of leadership, tools that deliver both actionable insights and measurable results are essential. The Mattone Leadership Enneagram Inventory stands as a proven resource, helping leaders around the globe navigate their challenges, maximize their strengths, and realize their potential. Its unique combination of practical application, scientific alignment, and complementary resources ensures it remains a cornerstone of leadership development. For those seeking to move beyond abstract theories and drive real-world change, the MLEI offers an unparalleled approach to transformational leadership growth.