Why being ‘goal-orientated’ might not be such a good thing…

I am sitting down to write this relatively late in the day. Usually I write on a Wednesday and then review and publish on a Thursday. However, this week is a bit unusual as my wife gave birth to our son on Tuesday and we’re all a bit sleep deprived as we get into the new routine.

To that end – this will be a relatively short article!

For as long as I can remember, I have also been a goal-orientated person. I saw this as a path to achievement and success. I was naturally competitive, ambitious and hard-driving. I have always looked at what I needed to do or be and then worked backwards from there to establish what I need to do daily. More often than not, it’s been a great method for getting things done.

When I did the Barefoot Coaching Course earlier this year, I was introduced to the concept of the Type A personality. Having read through the characteristics, I knew immediately that I was one of them.

The following picture is a simple test to tell if you’re a Type A or the more relaxed Type B personality. A score of 26+ indicates that you are leaning towards Type A tendencies. I say ‘leaning’ because none of this is absolute – you can change your own behaviour if you chose to…

What score did you get? A score of 26+ indicates that you are leaning towards Type A tendencies. ‘Leaning’, not fixed as a Type A – you can change your behaviour if you choose to.

But why would a Type A want to change their behaviour?

This is the person that gets things done. These people are typically successful – why wouldn’t you want to be one of them?

At work, the Type A is usually successful. Type A behaviour gets rewarded, people get promoted because they behave like this. That’s understandable, typically these people have a tremendous work ethic, they get things done and they’re accountable. They’re the type of people you want… aren’t they?

Most of the time, they are. But there are some significant disadvantages to being Type A all of the time and/or in the wrong situation.

Type A personalities are typically at risk of burnout. They will hammer themselves to achieve a goal, no matter what the personal cost. They will get things done but it’s often at the expense of their health or their relationships with family and friends.

These are the types of people who never have time to read or exercise.

Type A personalities also struggle when they find themselves in a circumstance that they cannot control. What happens if a Type A gets slow service in a restaurant? What happens if they’re late for a job interview due to unforeseen circumstances? This is when the Type A personality doesn’t work well and they feel that ‘friction’ build up inside themselves.

Type B personalities by contrast are typically laid back people. They’re typically more tolerant and more relaxed about things outside of their control. They can be very successful but have a tendency to go with the flow. They live longer and are less susceptible to heart disease.

Type A’s struggle with ‘being present’.  They’re always looking for the next job/task.  They’re constantly looking for projects to do.

If like me, you’re one of these, accept it. But at the same time, take ownership for your behaviour. Think about times when being a Type A is not appropriate.

When you’re with your children or partner, should you be checking your phone for that latest client email? Or should you be focussing on them and enjoying the moment?

The point here is to ‘know yourself and accept it, but be aware of your behaviour’.

Make it a choice – you don’t have to be in Type A mode all the time. If you are – you might just miss some of the most important moments in your life – and with that in mind, I am off to go and spend some time with my son.

What type of personality are you? Does this make sense and is it useful – please feel free to share and comment below.

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