Type 2 – The Helper

Focuses on others’ needs and feelings.

1. Overview

Enneagram Type 2s are known for their need to love, be loved, and be appreciated. Helpers, who give great importance to the concepts of self-devotion, kindness, sincerity, compassion, and generosity, make efforts to support and show interest to those they care about. Type 2s, who are eager to involve themselves in the lives of those around them, do not hesitate to help when they are asked for help.

Type 2s are people who can easily perceive the needs of others and tend to strive to meet the needs. They expect to be accepted and loved by those around them. Not being liked and not being accepted are the biggest fears for them (Reynolds, Waters, & Phifer-ritchie, 2007).

2. Strengths

Type 2s are empathetic and sympathetic people. They are generally known by those around them for their friendly and warm-blooded attitudes. Their motivational behaviors allow to contribute to the development of those around them. Type 2s are pretty good at building relationships. They have a strong point in establishing and developing social relationships with the help of their kind thoughts and the value they give to those around them (Riso & Hudson, 2000).

3. Weaknesses

They tend to manipulate and over-possess the people around them. These attitudes can damage their relationships. Type 2s, who can be very resentful and emotional when their human-oriented approach is exaggerated, may also have difficulties in time management due to this approach. Additionally, Type 2s need to improve themselves in concentration and focus (Riso & Hudson, 2000).

4. Values and Motivations

Type 2s’ desire of to establish a bond with others, to develop relationships and to feel of love and being loved are their core principles. Self-devotion, kindness, and reciprocity are their guiding values for helping others (Grahart, 2018).

Type 2s want to be needed by those around them and this is their main motivation source (Enneagram Institute, 2022). The Helpers are motivated when they feel loved and welcome, help those around them and they reach the goal, and meet new people.

5. At Work

Type 2s, who enjoy being in environments where they can meet new people and help others, tend to be successful in jobs where they serve those around them by using these strengths (Riso & Hudson, 1999).

Type 2s feel good in workplace where people with a problem are asked to help, appreciated, listened to, and mostly approved (Baron & Wagele, 1994).

References

Baron, R., & Wagele, E. (1994). The Enneagram Made Easy. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Enneagram Institute. (2022, 12 05). Retrieved from https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-1

Grahart, O. (2018). Enneagram: The Secret Way to Find Your Personality Type and Strengthen Relationships to Achieve Spiritual Growth and Self-Discovery (Bonus: A Test on How to Find Your Personality Type).

Leary, R. (2020). Enneagram: The Scientific Guide to Self-Discovery and Personality Types, The Road to Increase Spirituality and Empathy. Build Healthy Relationships and Stop Overthinking. Go back to Being Yourself.

Reynolds, S., Waters, J. K., & Phifer-ritchie, R. (2007). The Everything Enneagram Book: Identify Your Type, Gain Insight Into Your Personality and Find Success in Life, Love, and Business. Simon and Schuster.

Riso, D. R., & Hudson, R. (1999). The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types.

Riso, D. R., & Hudson, R. (2000). Understanding the enneagram: The practical guide to personality types. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.