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Beatrice Chestnut

The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge

Ones and Threes have some strong similarities. Both are highly task-focused and have a deep desire to excel and to be perceived as highly competent individuals. However, Ones’ drive to excel comes from an internal sense of satisfaction that they have accomplished a specific task to the very best of their ability. Threes, on the other hand, are driven by a need to feel they have succeeded in the eyes of others. In other words, Ones seek self-respect through their accomplishments by evaluating their own behaviors according to their own internal standards, and Threes seek the respect and admiration of other people, using external factors as their reference points. For example, Threes pay close attention to how important people respond to them, or their salaries, pay raises, and office trappings.

Both Ones and Threes emphasize tasks over relationships, and both styles focus on their objectives, then organize the work accordingly. However, for Threes, objectives are typically one more item on their “to-do” lists they can check off, while Ones like to organize their work at a refined level of detail; structuring work gives them pleasure and satisfaction. Threes, by contrast, focus far more on goals because goal accomplishment is precisely what makes them feel competent and successful, and they then organize the most efficient plan they can conceive to accomplish each goal. Their plans, while effective and efficient, are rarely as structured or systematic as those of Ones. Not viewing the end goal as the most important piece of the task process, Ones can tend to procrastinate for fear of making a mistake, where Threes, in contrast, tend to want to find the fastest, most efficient path to the goal and do not place as much attention on the possibility of making a mistake.

The difference between Ones and Threes is most obvious in the way each defines quality. While both would say they are quality oriented, Ones define quality as doing the best job they are capable of doing, with no errors or mistakes if humanly possible. Threes define quality as meeting customer expectations, then going slightly beyond that so that the customer is more than satisfied. However, from the Three point of view (with the exception of the Self-Preservation Three), doing every project and task as perfectly as possible is a poor use of time and resources and “good enough” is good enough. From the One perspective, if there are mistakes or they know it could have been better—even if the customer is not aware of this or concerned about it—quality has not been achieved. For Ones, “good enough” is rarely good enough.

The Enneagram Institute

Misidentifications

Average Ones and average Threes are sometimes mistaken because both types are efficient and highly organized. If an isolated behavior is the only thing being considered (chairing a business meeting or planning a vacation, for instance), their organizational abilities are similar–hence the confusion between them. Both are highly task-oriented and tend to put their feelings on the back burner to get things done. Also, both share a desire to improve themselves and to meet high standards, although the basis of their standards and their key motivations are quite different in nature.

Average Ones are idealists, striving for perfection and order in every area of their lives, especially their emotional lives, in an effort to control both themselves and their environment so that errors and failures of all sorts will not be introduced. Inner-motivated by strong consciences, they are organized and efficient so as not to waste time and other resources or allow themselves to be in a position for their consciences to rebuke them for being imperfect, for not trying hard enough, or for being guilty of some form of selfishness.

Average Threes, by contrast, are efficient pragmatists, not idealists. Threes are driven more by their goals than by standards–they care more about getting the job done than about the particulars of how it gets done. Ones tend to be attached to particular methods or procedures ("This is the best way to do this.") Threes are more adaptable, and will change tactics quickly if they feel they are not getting the desired result. Average Threes are primarily interested in success, prestige, and advancing their careers, and the efficiency we see in them is a way of attaining those goals.

While both types tend to put their feelings aside for the sake of efficiency, average Threes are more able to mask whatever is bothering them. On the surface, they rarely appear emotionally disturbed for long by anything (although they may become momentarily discouraged or even depressed by setbacks), nor are they generally ever distracted by their feelings. They are able to invest most of their energy into achieving their goals and in staying focused on them single-mindedly. Ones are far less able to conceal their irritations and disappointments. Others are almost immediately aware of their agitation.

Both types can be cool and impersonal, although they are usually polite and well mannered. With average Ones, we get the impression of deeper feelings being held in check or sublimated elsewhere, say into organizing and maintaining their office space, or giving time to a local ecological organization. Even though Ones do not ordinarily allow their passions to be expressed, their emotions remain potentially available should the self-control Ones typically exercise be lifted. (Their most prevalent negative emotions are righteous anger, indignation, irritation, and guilt.) In average Threes, however, the impression of aloofness and of emotional coolness comes more from a detachment from their feelings rather than a suppression of them. At the same time, average Threes tend to present whatever emotion seems appropriate at the time. If seriousness is called for, they tend to project seriousness. If levity is required, they will "do levity," smiling and being chatty, even if inside they are feeling frightened, overwhelmed, or even sad. For better or worse, Threes are more skilled at projecting charm and "personality" than Ones. However, we can discern the underlying detachment from deeper feelings when Threes are "performing" by the abruptness and ease with which they can adjust their affect from situation to situation and from person to person. (In contrast to Ones, their most prevalent negative emotions are hostility, arrogance, and underlying feelings of shame and humiliation.)

In addition, Ones are trying to be perfect to fend off their own superegos, while Threes are trying to excel to overcome feelings of family shame. In effect, Ones say, "Listen to me–I know the right way to do things," whereas Threes say, "Be like me–I have got it together." Ones offer themselves as examples of those who are striving for perfection, particularly moral perfection, they see themselves as those who can meet the highest standards; Threes offer themselves as exemplars of individual perfection, particularly personal desirability, and as those who can accomplish and be the best.

These two types are similar because both types are "thinking" types–the One corresponds to Jung's extroverted thinking type (PT, 381), who attempts to be objective and impersonal, while the Three's thinking is goal-oriented and pragmatic, similar in orientation to the extroverted thinking of the average One, although technically, there is no direct Jungian correlation. Both types have in mind some sort of goal that they want to achieve. The difference is that Ones attempt to discover which objective means will best lead to the desired ideal, whereas Threes are pragmatists who work backward to find the most efficient means to achieve their goal. The differences between these types can be seen by comparing Al Gore (a One) with Bill Clinton (a Three) or between Emma Thompson (a One) and Jane Pauley (a Three).