Enneagram Type 3: The Achiever - Coach Foundation

Enneagram Type 3: The Achiever

January 26, 20247 min read

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Enneagram Type 3: The Achiever

Are you the type of person who loves to be praised for your work? Always striving to succeed and reach their goals? Do you pride yourself on your achievements? If so, then it’s likely that you fall under the Enneagram Type 3: The Achiever. Let's first check out my formerly covered comprehensive guide on Enneagram to get a fundamental idea of the topic.

Read on to learn more about this unique personality type. How its traits shape an individual's life choices and decisions. As well as what implications these tendencies have for relationships with others. 

You will receive insights on 

1. How does the Enneagram figure explain type 3

2. Who are Enneagram type 3

3. If you are an Enneagram type 3

4. Enneagram type 3 wing

5. Enneagram type 3 level of development

6. How to identify your Enneagram type

Let’s get started!

How does the Enneagram figure explain type 3?

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The Enneagram figure is a nine-pointed symbol that is used to understand the psychological and emotional makeup of people. Type 3 on the figure, also known as the Achiever, reflects an individual who is success-oriented and highly motivated by personal achievement. 

They are confident and supportive, driven to succeed in their work and relationships. People belonging to this type prefer to be in charge and be respected for their leadership skills. Type 3s enjoy being admired for their accomplishments and strive to better themselves through hard work. 

The Achiever is characterized by ambition, goal orientation, and eagerness to show their best self to the world. They strive for success and often find motivation from an external acknowledgment of their accomplishments. 

These individuals are self-assured and are rarely afraid to take risks or be courageous to reach their goals. Type 3s aim for excellence, but can sometimes become too focused on results and overlook the importance of relationships or processes needed to get there.

Who are Enneagram type 3

Enneagram Type 3 - Coach Foundation

Enneagram type 3, also known as "The Achiever," is the most ambitious and success-oriented of all the Enneagram types. People with this type are focused on achievement and efficiency. They strive for excellence and always seek recognition from those around them. 

These individuals typically have strong organizational skills and a vision for progress. They often take on leadership roles and enjoy being in the spotlight.

Enneagram type 3 have an extroverted personality style, they are confident and competitive when around others.

They have a knack for seeing potential opportunities and seizing them quickly to gain success faster. They have an adaptable approach to life and tend to look toward the future rather than dwell on the past. 

Type 3s value their image and use charisma to get what they want while avoiding difficult emotions. They respond well to feedback that is not judgmental and enjoy achieving tangible results such as awards or promotions. 

You're probably Enneagram Type 3 if…

If you find yourself to be highly ambitious, results-oriented, and successful at accomplishments, you may be an Enneagram type 3. Those with this personality have an exceptionally strong drive for accomplishment; they focus on goal setting and have confidence in their ability to meet those goals. 

They enjoy working hard as it allows them to show off their talents and reinforce their success-based identities. Furthermore, they often produce high-quality work and take pride in the recognition achieved by their achievements.

Below are some keen traits to help you identify if you're an Enneagram type 3.

Industrious

You might be an Enneagram type 3 if you possess an industrious, accomplished, and effective demeanor. Always striving to be the best at what you do! Type 3 individuals are highly motivated by success and are often goal-oriented to achieve that success. 

Ambitious and eager to prove themselves capable of achieving the highest level of performance in whatever they set out to do. Type 3s embodies a proactive "work hard, play hard" attitude. Consistency is key for these personalities as they aim for excellence in every endeavor. 

They thrive in environments where there is a clear purpose and tangible benchmarks to measure their progress and take great pride in what they create. They are driven by a deep need to impress those around them and always strive for the best possible results.

Confident

If you're often found exhibiting confidence and optimism in the face of any situation, odds are you could be an Enneagram type 3. They have a unique ability to direct their energy towards ambitious goals. They tend to prize their reputation and seek recognition for their accomplishments.

This penchant for ambition is usually borne out of an inner need for esteem or self-approval from both themselves and other sources. Type 3 individuals enjoy excelling in creative fields or being competitive when needed. 

Type 3s strive to be the best in everything they do and strive to excel at all costs. You're probably type 3 if your goals include success in both your professional and personal resumés and if you feel a great source of pride when achieving something noteworthy. 

Narcissistic

Those who are Enneagram type 3s may come across as needing recognition and narcissism. They may show this need for validation by engaging in superficial behaviors that give them short-term benefits. These short-term gains can be reflected in their desire to be attractive, ambitious, and successful. 

Type 3s tend to hold themselves to impossibly high standards, yet have an inner belief that they will achieve these goals despite facing a challenge. However, because they crave admiration from those around them so strongly, it’s easy for them to convince themselves they have a false sense of security in their identity.

Type 3s tend to appear put together and project a robust image of perfection and accomplishment. This can also lead to some misunderstanding about their motivations. To others, it may look like showing off, but for true type 3s, this behavior is to seek validation from outside sources.

Impatient

People with an Enneagram type 3 personality could relate feelings of impatience as they are characterized by their need to excel and be admired. Endeavoring to reach their goals quickly and frustrated when things do not go as planned, they tend to want immediate gratification. 

As such, type 3 individuals are driven towards productivity and know what they want before anyone else does. However, all of this striving can leave them feeling quite strained if not managed properly.

Additionally, even in completing small chores, regardless of how simple they are, 3 often looks for more efficient and fast ways to tackle them. Type 3’s needs to recognize the value of taking time for tasks.

Enneagram type 3 wings

Type 3 falls under the feeling triad and has Two (2) and Four (4) as its wing options. 

Individuals with a 3w2 wing combination may be effusive, amiable, and extraverted in social interactions but also struggle with feelings of inadequacy or insecurity rather than doubling down on their achievements. The influence of 3w2 results in an energetic conduct-oriented kind of person who values generosity and service over recognition.

Those with a 3w4 wing may express additional attributes such as creative expression and ideas, an inwardly-focused outlook on life, as well as an insatiable desire for authenticity in themselves and others. They often seek deeper meanings behind their actions.

Knowing which set of wings one belongs to can provide further clarity on how the Enneagram is expressed in their personality. Also by exploring these wings of type 3, individuals can gain valuable self-awareness and insight into how they function in relationships with others.

Enneagram type 3 levels of Development

As Enneagram type 3 progresses through development, type 3s can move through three different levels - Healthy, Average, and Unhealthy - with each having its characteristics. 

At their Healthiest level, 3s are confident in their abilities and nurture their internal lives more than before; at their Average level they strive for recognition from external sources; and at their Unhealthy level, they become overly competitive, lose empathy for others, nitpick themselves and others, and become emotionally unstable. Truly understanding one's self is critical on the path toward greater awareness of our inner world!

Healthy

In healthy development, these Type 3s strive for excellence, using their highly developed social skills and determination to create tangible successes. Type 3s are confident in their abilities and nurture their internal lives more than before. Not only do they make impressive strides toward their goals, but learn to accept compliments and gratitude wholeheartedly. 

Healthy Type 3s also embrace failure

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