Objectification is a mental fixation that turns people into objects.
A mental fixation is habitual thinking that reinforces our position or perspective.
Thus, objectification is seeing humans as objects to meet our present needs.
Per the Enneagram, we all have a mental fixation. It's a way we manage our world, often to the detriment of those around us. And without hard work and insight, we remain blind to it. Objectification is point Eight's mental fixation.
Several years ago, I raced a triathlon that didn't go as planned, triggering objectification as a coping strategy. Throughout the entire race—in each discipline; swim, bike, and run—I couldn't breathe, and my bladder was bursting. Yet, no one who knows me was surprised to hear physical annoyances wouldn't stop me. Instead of heeding physical warning signs, I saw my body as an obstacle to overcome, and it would not win.
Did you catch that line of thinking? "It would not win." So, who would win this challenge of physical needs? I had removed all humanity from my own body. I didn't see myself as a who anymore; I had become a what.
Why would anyone remove humanity from a human, thus generating objectification? That's easy; to uncomplicate prioritizing one's agenda while eliminating reason, guilt, or regret. Many, if not all, transgressions, attacks, and abuse occur because the transgressor, attacker, or abuser objectifies their victim. Likewise, racism, marginalization, and othering are toxic, damaging, and all too rampant forms of objectification.
How does objectification fit with coaching, where relationship and humanity are vital? Unfortunately, coaching conversations are often coach-led and focus on the what; what's the problem, what needs fixing, what's missing, and what are the goals—while ignoring the human being, the who.
So, what's the solution? Seeing human beings as beings, including ourselves, rather than whatever meaning we assign them and us.
As coaches, we might begin by asking WHO questions instead of primarily WHAT questions. For example, "How will you be different with more clarity about XYZ, Client?" versus "What's the first thing you need to do to gain clarity about XYZ?"
The significant work comes from noticing how we objectify people, which requires inner witnessing and discomfort. If we can catch ourselves in the act or objectively reflect on our patterns, we can do something different and ask different questions.
Holly Margl is the award-winning author of Witnessing Grief; Inviting Trauma and Loss to Our Coaching Conversations, An Enneagram Perspective, coach, coach mentor, and trainer specializing in grief, trauma, and the Enneagram.
