The Enneagram

Point Three:  The Performer

THE NINE TYPES
1  Perfectionist
2  Giver
3  Performer
4  Tragic Romantic
5  Observer
6  Devil's Advocate
7  Epicure
8  Boss
9  Mediator

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Deceit

The deceit is of one's self through the unconscious adptation to, and an identification with, a role that is deemed by the Three to be the epitome of success in a given situation.

Image

Looking good is important. Image fits the context of a situation. The Three alters to fit the situation and may appear slippery and deceptive through image.

THREEs can be "used car salespersons" in whatever field--and there's a part of me that loves to sell ideas and feel the approval and flow from the crowd as I respond to their interests using their language and experiences. It's great!

Approval

The Three primarily wants others to respect the Three's ability to get things done. But the three also is keenly aware of the approving or disapproving demeanor of the other in almost any situation.

Doing

The Three looks for what to do. Attention goes to doing for approval from others. The Three is doing rather than being, and doing to fill time. The Three can accomplish a lot in a short time and often expects non-stop performance for self.

Tasks

The focus is on tasks, getting things done, accomplishment. The Three takes charge to move things along. This orientation to tasks and getting things done also applies to leisure time, and the Three learns to control through tasks.

Success

One must succeed, almost at all costs. There is no reward for not winning. Goals, and the accomplishment thereof, is what is important. Achievements and the resulting earned rewards including both material and status is what is valued.

 

I have always been a workaholic--unfortunately for my bank account it's been in education fields, not commerce. I drove myself through master's and doctoral programs before I was 30 while working full time and raising a young family. Succeeding has always been a given, not an option--and it came easily and naturally for me.

Efficient

Cuts corners to accomplish goals, without sacrificing doing a task well. The three becomes hostile and displays anger at inefficiency or obstacles to tasks. The anger comes up with the task or goal when there is interferernce with the goal.

 

I pride myself on efficiency and get a lot of pleasure from it, especially if there is elegance that I can also bring to the task.

 

At work, I am often secretive about a difficult project, not wanting anyone to see my work until I have figured it out and have something presentable to show. Also, to produce something on time, I may choose cutting corners (if it isn't that noticeable) to admitting that I'm in trouble and asking for a time extension. I will wait until almost the end to admit such a thing. I feel that because I don't know the job perfectly (otherwise I wouldn't be behind) my client won't think I'm worth my pay. I usually avoid these fears by being highly efficient! I've been "getting off" on my skills, whether they be figuring out a new computer program or figuring out how to appear "together" in a new situation. But the motivation for all this efficiency has been to keep my fears at bay. I genuinely like being efficient, but it's like being in service to the devil for me to continue using efficiency to keep feelings repressed.

Competitive

Emphasis can be upon competing and winning. "No one remembers who comes in second." The competitive posture induces pressure and impatience.

 

Feelings

There is inattention to feelings. The Three often is too busy to deal with feelings and sets feelings aside. Feelings "aren't there", can be set aside. Sticking with feelings is hard work.

 

Getting mad or telling people off is a huge waste of time and energy and does not move the project forward. So I put the feelings on the back burner and keep the project on track--and experience the feelings later when I have time to work it through.

Marketing Orientation

There often is a marketing orientation in the languaging of the three that can be recognized through references to self, to accomplishments, to success, to performance to image to name dropping.

FOUR