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What’s obvious; what’s not | Type 2

What’s obvious; what’s not | Type 2
Sometimes stating the obvious can be a good reminder about each Enneagram type; sometimes we forget what is most apparent. There are also aspects of each type that are not-as-obvious, yet quite intriguing. This 9-part blog series, one for each Enneagram type, reviews three central and obvious aspects of each Enneagram type. You can also use the YouTube link below to hear and see three non-obvious features of this type.

What’s obvious
Emphasis on relationships
In the world of Twos, many things matter, but relationships matter most. Twos spend a great deal of time in relationships, thinking about relationships, and feeling especially bad and responsible when relationships go awry. Although Twos perceive other people as dependent on them, more realistically, Twos are highly dependent on others and their reactions for the Two’s sense of self-worth.

Focus on others
Many Twos wonder why other people don’t notice the nuances of what is occurring with other people. Twos pay close attention to what others say, how it is being said, voice tone, breathing patterns, and other subtle and not-as-subtle physical cues such as facial animation, changes in facial coloration, and more. Twos also notice what people say they like and dislike, and Twos remember such things. All of this attention to others serves two purposes: (1) Twos can provide resources, understanding, time, energy and even gifts to other people that these others will like and (2) Twos then do not focus very much on themselves and, thus, lose contact with their own needs and deeper feelings.

Pride
Twos often have difficulty accepting that what they do – and what drives or motivates them –  may be related to their pride: pride in being attuned to and being there for others; pride in being important to others, especially important people; and pride in making things happen or manifest, especially behind the scenes. This is self-inflation pride. Twos also experience self-deflation pride when they miscue interpersonally, when they become less important to another person, and when they can’t make something important happen or if something in which they’re involved backfires.

What’s non-obvious
Liking people | Interested in whether Twos like the concept of people in general more than people specifically?

Will | Twos have a deep inner will; do you know what it’s made of?

Guilt | Why is “guilt” the middle name for Twos?

 Learn more about what is non-obvious in Twos on The Enneagram in Business YouTube channel; click here!

Ginger Lapid-Bogda PhD, the author of seven Enneagram-business books, is a speaker, consultant, trainer, and coach. She provides certification programs and training tools for business professionals around the world who want to bring the Enneagram into organizations with high-impact business applications, and is past-president of the International Enneagram Association. Visit: TheEnneagramInBusiness.com | ginger@theenneagraminbusiness.com

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Alice
Alice
4 years ago

Thanks for these insights, Ginger. I am trying to get my head around distinguishing between “liking the concept of people in general more than people specifically.” Would it be the concept of people in relation to institutions such as the state, governments etc, or its more than that?

Ginger Lapid-Bogda
Ginger Lapid-Bogda
4 years ago
Reply to  Alice

Hopefully, this helps clarify what I mean. Twos tend to think of themselves as liking people and they do tend to see the best in them. They may overlook examples of poor behavior, for example, by understanding why the person did this. They would say they generally like people quite a bit. But Twos may not actually like specific individuals, although they may not say so directly. In other words, the Twos’ sense of self is that they are people who like people, but in reality, this may not be the case in many instances.

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