I get to
work and interact with amazing people. Recently I was having a conversation
with one of them who just so happens to be the “poster child” for the “Type A”
personality type. I will honor their confidentiality and not state their name
but you know exactly who you are! Now
I am more of a “Type B” so during the course of the recent interaction, the inevitable
and humorous clash got us laughing to the point where we realized the lens by
which we view and interact with the world sometimes creates interpersonal
hiccups. This got me thinking out loud if it were possible to tame the Type A
and bring them to the light of Type B! But then upon later reflection, which us
Type B’s are prone to do, Type A’s know they are Type A and it is even a point
of pride for them; thus why the idea of taming Type A is just plausible
as the existence of Bigfoot, the lost continent of Atlantis, and other such
things you see on the History Channel.
For those
not familiar with the theory of Type A and B personalities, it was first
developed by two cardiologists, Friedman and Rosenman. In their research, they
determined the following characteristics of each style:
Type A’s
- Rigidly organized (my associate has a merit badge in this!)
- Impatient
- Overextended
- High Achieving
Type B’s
- Work Steadily
- Creative
- Reflective
- Like to achieve too, but do not stress over it
Now each
Type has value, and we need both in any organization. You probably thought I
was going to suggest we have a 12 Step Program for recovering Type A’s but I
really do value Type A’s and besides, I know you would find a way to make it a
6 Step program anyway! Seriously, the issue becomes when we lack the awareness
to determine when our predominant type is an asset or is becoming a liability. John
Maxwell in his 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership tracks levels of awareness in
the following order:
I Don’t
Know What I Don’t Know
I Know
that I Need to Know
I Know what I Don’t Know
I Know and
Grow
I Go
Simply Because of What I Know
I favor
this progression because even when we become aware, people usually react in two
ways – they either don’t care or they get better (and I always vote to “get
better”!). So, what type are you? What is your level of awareness as to your
personality Type and how that impacts how you view the world, people, and
situations? When does your style give you an advantage? When does it become an asset or liability in your leadership life?
As always, if I can
help you and the people you associate with Get Better, Be
Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I would invite you to visit my website below and see
if any of the training or coaching experiences I offer can provide an impact!
Also, as a bonus, if you go to my Out Loud Strategies website (www.outloudinc.com) and enter your contact information, I will
send you a FREE guide to establishing a mentoring initiative program in your
organization! Such an initiative would be critical in order to add value to
your organization!
Yours in Leadership,
Bill Faulkner
Co-Founder – Out Loud
Strategies
Independent Coach,
Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM
Email = bill@outloudinc.com
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