The Key to Working with Enneagram Threes

Explore the dynamics of working with an Enneagram 3 and discover their strengths, challenges, and growth strategies in the workplace.

What It’s Like Working With an Enneagram Three

These are some signs that you’re working with an Enneagram Three:

• They are the office cheerleader, always willing to lift you and offer encouragement.
• They can struggle with workaholism: working excessive hours, having trouble delegating, and constantly thinking about work.
• They LOVE goals. Seriously. Give them something to work towards, and it’s like watching a corgi run toward peanut butter. (Speaking from personal experience as a Three with a corgi 😂)

But their biggest workplace superpower?

They don’t stay down for long.

When something fails, they don’t miss a beat. They pivot. Fast.

And that’s why Threes have zero tolerance for fatalistic attitudes.

I’m not saying that they want to be surrounded by Pollyannas, but their mindset is:

Solve the problem and move forward.

Freaking out about what DIDN’T work?

SO not productive!

The “Cannonball” Approach to Life

I like to explain it like this:

Imagine all the Enneagram types learning how to swim.

Type Ones sign up for lessons with a qualified instructor so they can do it correctly.

Type Fives research for weeks before they ever get in the water.

But Type Threes?

They cannonball straight into the deep end.

Are they good swimmers yet? Absolutely not.

Are they already figuring it out faster than everyone else? Yep.

This trait can be admirable when you want to accomplish something as quickly as possible…

But, it can also be SUPER frustrating.

Because Threes will often lead projects they’re not actually skilled at, yet… just because they’re confident, they’ll figure it out.

Can you imagine how disheartening that would feel for a One or a Five?

The Blind Spot Threes Don’t See Coming

We have to talk about feelings.

(Yes, Threes. Really.)

It is a Three’s biggest blind spot.

In their drive to achieve, they often prioritize getting things done over how people feel.

On the surface, this can look like efficiency.

But the reality is, ignoring emotions at work actually costs you in the long run.
Addressing what’s beneath the surface can boost teamwork, build trust between managers and staff, and keep people motivated.

Which makes everyone happier and more productive.

(AKA: great for the bottom line.)

So when Threes ask me, “How do I grow?”

My answer is almost always the same:

Stop focusing on yourself. Start focusing on others.

What’s the mood of the room?
Who’s feeling overlooked?
Where do you need to slow down and actually listen?

And maybe the hardest one:

Can you stay patient with someone who doesn’t move at your pace?

Because when Threes learn how to pair their drive with real emotional awareness…

They become incredible leaders.

The kind people actually want to follow.

Growth for Type Threes

This is backed up by how Threes grow on the Enneagram.

Each type has “arrows” connecting them to other types—basically showing where they go under stress and where they grow.

(You might hear this called integration/disintegration, stress/growth, etc.)

For Threes, growth points toward Type Six.

And one of a (healthy) Sixes’ biggest strengths is community.

They don’t try to do everything alone. They lean into community. They play for the team. They don’t pretend to have it all together. They let people in.

Which is… not exactly a Three’s default setting.

So if you’re a Three, growth might look like:

• Opening up when something’s hard
• Letting people support you
• Admitting you don’t have all the answers

Because you don’t actually have to earn your worth by performing all the time.

Something that, when I first learned it, felt like the biggest weight off my shoulders. (If you didn’t know, I’m a Type Three!)

If You Want This to Actually Change Your Team…

This is the kind of work I bring into teams through Enneagram workshops and keynotes.

We take these patterns and apply them directly to real workplace dynamics: communication issues, team tension, burnout, and leadership challenges.

Teams walk away with:

• A shared language for how they work
• Tools to communicate more effectively
• A clearer understanding of each other’s strengths and blind spots

And yes… It’s actually fun.

Through funny skits, interactive exercises, and guided conversation, this hands-on experience is guaranteed to make the Slack channel light up with: “OMG, that was so fun and actually helpful!!”

If you want to bring this into your team, you can learn more or get in touch here:

Learn More About Workshops