A recent search on Wikipedia lists a Type A personality as “impatient, excessively time-conscious, insecure about their status, highly competitive, hostile and aggressive, and incapable of relaxation”.
A Type B personality is “patient, relaxed, and easy-going”.
This week, I am working with a person who is Type A…all the way. And she knows it. And she accepts this part of herself. Now, I can’t knock my co-worker (who I also consider to be a friend), because she knows this about herself and she realizes that its just how she is. When someone else is talking, she can’t stop herself from talking. When something needs to be done, she wants to do it (even if it’s not her place or her job). And when it comes to our job, no one is more competitive than she. Oh…and one time she beat me up because I took the last cookie at lunch…(JUST KIDDING!)
I, on the other hand, am an AB personality. I am a combination of BOTH. I definitely have the traits of the A…I’m time-conscious to a fault, can be impatient at times and I have a hard time relaxing. But on the other hand, I think I’m pretty easy going and I don’t feel the need to be getting into everyone else’s way because…well…THEY are paid to do their jobs. It’s not my responsibility and, for the most part, I have found that too many cooks spoil the stew (if you know what I’m talking about). If they ask my opinion, I give it. If they need my help, I help. But otherwise, I feel I am in the way when someone doesn’t actually ask me for one or the other.
So this week has been interesting. My co-worker is definitely at the top of the heap of Type A personalities that I have met in this industry. But the good thing about her is that she doesn’t seem to have a huge ego…and that makes her better than the rest. I can tell her when she is driving me crazy and she backs off a bit. But you have to wonder what it is that makes a person a Type A or B. Is it competitiveness? A need to feel accepted? Is it just complete insecurity? Or is it purely genetic? Whatever it is, I hope I keep my A in check because sometimes it’s just annoying. But I’m pretty sure it rears its ugly head more often than I’d like. Just ask my wife…
So…which personality are you? Type A or Type B or both? And if you are a Type A…why? And what can you do to learn to relax a little? And if you are a Type B…GET OFF YOUR ASS ALREADY AND WASH THE DISHES!!!
A Round World Through Square Glasses 
I am a combo but with definite B leanings. Vol Fan is A all the way.
For him, everything is about efficiency. Years ago, he worked in a factory. The head honchos wanted their plant to have “Japanese” efficiency of movements. So they paid a zillion dollars to have a team of Japanese experts come and lay out exactly how a certain task should be done.
Vol Fan was in that department one shift – ONE shift!! – when they were shorthanded. He rearranged his workstation and his output was double of the others workers. The bosses did not believe that it wasn’t just him working his ass off. So they put another worker at the station. Same thing. So they rearranged all the stations like Vol Fan had said.
Unfortunately we did not get a zillion dollars!
I’m a combination of both. I think I was more A-ish when I was starting out in my career. Since the car accident I’ve had to learn to let go of a lot of the perfectionism and high expectations that come with being type A.
I am a combo for sure…
A at work and B at home. I work so hard all week by the time I get home I’m pooped!Luckily it’s the other way around for Chris:)