Type A’s are competitive and often have workaholic and abrasive personalities. They are frequently described as being driven, competitive, and unrelenting in their drive for success. But what does it mean to have a Type A personality? How can others learn to live and work with this strong personality type?
The Type A Personality in the Workplace
Type A behaviors have been characterized by a commitment to achieve goals and an intense desire to compete. Type A’s enjoy receiving recognition for their work and they desire to advance in all areas, especially those related to their work. In general, Type A’s are able to work quickly and are often seen as high-achievers holding increasingly high-powered positions.
Some characteristics of this personality type are:
- Competitiveness
- Always in a hurry
- Multi-tasking
- Teeth grinding
- Tendency to interrupt
- Fast eater, talker
- Frequently lose sleep
- Aggressiveness
- Inability to relax
The characteristics of time urgency and easy hostility are considered definitive of a Type A personality. These two traits include some of the others presented above. Time urgency shows up as fast-talking, fast-eating, frustration in waiting in line, and interruption. Those who have time urgency are always aware of time and the feeling that they have little of it.
Easy hostility is often seen as rudeness, impatience, aggressiveness, and having a short fuse. While some of these personality characteristics are useful and can lead to high levels of success, some Type A’s often fall victim to their own strengths.
How Personality Can Cause Problems
Because they are fast workers they tend to emphasize quantity over quality. They work long hours and often make poor decisions because they make them too fast. They are also rarely creative. Their concern for speed leads to their overly relying on past experiences rather than seeking new solutions.
Instead of taking the time to reflect on and appreciate what they have already accomplished, Type A’s are focused mainly on the next task they are faced with and so may be incapable of experiencing joy from their commitment to work.
They tend to get hired more often because in job interviews they come across as having desirable traits such as high drive, aggressiveness, and success motivation.
How Personality Can Influence Success
Type A’s tend to be strong leaders and can work well under pressure. They are independent and are excellent problem solvers. They are also often entrepreneurial and are able to articulate their ideas directly. Because they are good delegators they are able to ensure that all work is accomplished in a timely manner. Finally, Type A’s are very decisive and once a decision is made they are quick to work towards its implementation.
Paul Larson - Paul W. Larson is the founder and President of the Myrddin Group LLC and he brings over thirty years experience as a successful operations ...
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