Do you consider yourself to be relationship-focused with a streak of ambition? Do you seek to be loved and viewed as important to those you care about? Are you often looking for ways to attract those you feel are smart or attractive as friends? If you answered yes to a majority or all of these questions, chances are that you are an enneagram 2 wing 3. We’ll just call you 2w3.
In-depth Description of Enneagram 2w3
For every enneagram type, there is one type on either side. These types are referred to as the wings of the main type.
They add a certain flavor or spice to the main type. Thus, wings can influence how the main type behaves.
In every one, one of these wings is dominant. Enneagram 2w3 is the type where type 3 is the dominant wing.
2w3s are very purposeful people. Just like core type 2s, they care about creating relationships and keeping them.
They also want to help others reach their goals and potential. However, because they have type 3 as a wing, they will be more success-driven and ambitious.
Thus, they will set long-term goals and strive to achieve them. Their need to be successful will make them more assertive and purposeful.
While their counterparts 2w1 are very people-oriented, 2w3s will be more capable of finding the balance between serving the needs of others and their own needs.
2w3s are interested in developing relationships. Thus, they are one of the best types when it comes to networking.
Because they are success-driven, they will often look to attract successful people, people who are focused, and seemingly on their level. They often can get into the good books of such people because they are always ready to help others.
2w3s want to be liked by the majority of people. However, they will pay more attention to people who they perceive as smarter than them.
In the end, 2w3s are still type 2s. This means that they often prioritize people’s feelings over theirs. Thus, upsetting people is the last thing they want to do.
Overall, 2w3s are lovely people with a lot of ambitions.
2w3 in Stages
While 2w3s often have a lot of common traits, there will be one or two differences. These differences are usually dependent on the strength of their wings.
Their wing can either be strong, average, or weak.
2w3 (Strong)
This personality type is going to show strong traits of their wing. They will be very ambitious and look out for their own needs more.
While they will still look to have good relationships with others, being seen as successful will matter more to them.
Because of this, they may attach themselves to people who they feel are also successful. This type is the most likely to resemble 3w2.
They are also less likely to be people-pleasers.
2w3 (Average)
This personality type will have moderate traits of their wing. Thus, they will seem to be fairly balanced in the need to please others and to focus on their own targets.
So, this personality type is often liked for the help they rendered and respected for their achievements.
2w3 (Weak)
This personality type is going to look a lot like the core type 2. They are going to put the needs of others first.
This does not necessarily mean that they do not have their goals. However, they often focus too much on people and have little time to carry out what they really want to do.
This can prove to be a big hindrance.
What is the Core Desire of the Enneagram 2w3?
The core desire of enneagram 2w3 is to be desirable. Thus, they tend to achieve this by being seen as successful.
While they want to be desirable to everyone, this is particularly geared towards those they actually admire.
These people might not necessarily be friends with 2w3s.
What is the Core Fear of the Enneagram 2w3?
The core fear of enneagram 2w3 is to be rejected or undesirable. This fear is one of their motivating factors to help others.
To 2w3s, being loved involves helping others reach their own goals.
Strengths of Enneagram 2w3
1. Reliable and Hard Working
2w3s are very reliable people. Their need to help others and to be seen as successful ensures that they have two good reasons to work harder.
Thus, 2w3s will usually get the job done on time. This makes them very reliable people. People often feel like they can depend on them to get the job done.
2. Optimistic and Positive
2w3s are cheerful people. They are usually always smiling even when they are hurt or worried.
They also like to focus on the good side of situations or hope for the best. For this reason, 2w3s are often mistyped as type 7s and vice versa.
However, the difference between both types is the motive. Type 7 are optimistic people who want to assert their independence. Type 2w3s, on the other hand, are more interested in helping people.
Regardless, their positive nature can light up the room and put a smile on people’s faces.
3. Experts at Networking and Friendships
2w3s are experts at building personal and professional relationships. Their ability to talk to people without being awkward often makes them fun to be around.
Thus, 2w3s can become very extremely popular among people. They also have some of the best networking systems.
Thus, 2w3s will often have people who are ready to help them out in tough situations.
4. Ambitious
The presence of their wing makes them an ambitious type. Thus, 2w3s have their own lofty goals and targets which they work towards.
Their ambitious streak and ability to help others often see them become successful.
2w3s will often make great leaders and political leaders.
5. Flexible and Adaptable
2w3s are every flexible and adaptable people. This makes it easy for them to flow with many people. They also do not try to push their values on others.
Thus, people that are close to 2w3s often feel understood when they come to them with their problems. 2w3s make excellent therapists and psychologists.
6. They have Just the Right balance
Unlike core type 2s who simply want to give a lot and core type 3s who are career-driven, 2w3s often have just the right balance.
They are happy to serve and be of help to others. Yet, they also have their own targets and goals which they pursue.
Thus, this type often has a good share of both worlds. However, the extent to which they pursue their goals is largely dependent on the strength of their wing.
Weaknesses of Enneagram 2w3
1. Putting Others First
While this type is more ambitious than other type 2s, they are still type 2s in the end. Thus, they put others first.
While this can be very honorable, 2w3s can take it to the extreme. When they do this, they start to neglect themselves and their own needs.
Thus, 2w3s might never actually accomplish the things they really need or want to do.
2. Constant Validation
This is a personality type that is made up of two types that are image-focused. Type 2s want to be seen as helpful while type 3 wants to be seen as successful.
This makes constant validation by others important to them. Thus, 2w3s might build their entire self-esteem on how others see them.
So, they are very careful about their self-image and want to be seen in a favorable light.
3. Criticisms don’t go well with them
2w3s have a hard time dealing with criticisms. This goes against everything they hope to achieve. Like the 2w1s, they see criticism as a sign that they are not as desirable as they hoped.
Thus, 2w3’s reaction to criticism can range from being defensive to a complete withdrawal.
4. Sugarcoating
While using tact and being polite is important, 2w3 can go overboard. Thus, they sugarcoat the truth and tell white lies just to make people comfortable.
To them, simply telling others the truth or saying how they feel might lead to rejection. So, avoiding that kind of situation is more important to them.
Enneagram 2w3 and Stress
Just like other enneagram types, certain things can stress 2w3s out. Here are some of the more common ones.
· Constant criticism
The last thing they need is criticism. After all, the basic desire of this type is to be loved and seen as desirable.
Thus, when they receive constant criticism for the work they do, this can lead to a stressed-out 2w3.
It can also lead to other issues such as a constant need to help others to show them how worthy they are.
· No Appreciation
2w3s want to be appreciated by others. However, don’t expect them to tell you this. To make this validation come naturally, they’ll go out of their way to make you comfortable.
However, when it does not come, 2w3s can get really stressed. Unhealthy 2w3s might resort to manipulative means or fishing for comments to get what they want.
· Not Meeting their Targets
2w3s can easily take on more tasks than they can handle. This is often because of their desire to help others.
However, not meeting up to these tasks and their own personal goals can be really stressful to 2w3s. They often feel like they are failures or that their self-image has been damaged.
To reduce this feeling, 2w3s have to balance out handling the needs of others and their own.
Enneagram 2w3 and Finances
When it comes to finances, the two types that form this blend have different views on money. For type 2s, money is meant for their personal needs. Thus, they do often look to have a lot of money.
For type 3s, money is often a motivating factor. It makes them look successful. Thus, 2w3s will often need money to make them look desirable and to help others.
However, it will never be as big a motivator for them as core 3s.
2w3 vs 2w1
Wondering if you are a 2w1 or 2w3? Here are some common differences between these two types.
| 2w1 | 2w3 |
| 2w1s are more introverted | 2w3 are more extroverted |
| 2w1s are more interested in being helpful. They tend to achieve this through humanitarian causes | 2w3s desire to be helpful by being an inspiration to others. This might see them excel in their profession. |
| 2w1s are more people-oriented | 2w3s are more ambitious |
Click here for an in-depth description of enneagram 2 wing 1.
2w3 vs 3w2
Wondering if you are 2w3 or 3w2? Here are some common differences between the two types
| 3w2 | 2w3 |
| Basic desire to be successful | Basic desire is to be helpful |
| More career driven | More People-oriented |
| More Competitive | More of a Team Player |
Click here for an in-depth description of enneagram 3 wing 2.
Enneagram 2w3 and Compatibility
The natural partners of 2w3s are type 8 and type 3. However, they can also be compatible with type 6 and type 9.
However, any two mature people can make a relationship work.
Fictional or Famous People who are 2w3
- Michael Moore
- Drew Barrymore
- Mother Theresa
- Goldie Hawn
- Kris Jenner
- Sarah Palin
- Dolly Parton
Best Careers for Enneagram 2w3
- Social worker
- Lawyer
- Writer
- Psychologist
- Therapists
- Nurse
- Physician
- Clergy
- Missionary
- Politician
- Actor
Careers to avoid as an Enneagram 2w3
- Receptionist
- Secretary
- Morgue worker
Growth Tips for Enneagram 2w3
- Try to balance the needs of others with yours. Make sure you carve out enough time for yourself.
- The fact that people criticize you does not make you less desirable.
- Try to build your self-esteem around yourself. This is more genuine and long-lasting.
