Which Personality type are you?

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Which personality type are you? Recently, I had been described by a friend that I’m a “typical Type A” as I can’t seem to sit still and I’m always out and about. Typical Type A? Hmmm, I’m not sure if I like to be placed in that bucket. So for the fun of it, here’s my own analysis based on this article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/13/are-you-a-type-a-or-type-_n_4549312.html

  1. Waiting in long lines kills you a little bit inside – Yes it does but it is also partially because I know things can be improved in this situation. I tend to put on my HPI (Human Performance Improvement) hat on: Does the person behind the counter knows how to do the job? Are the right tools and systems in place to help him to perform better? Has the organisation given enough planning and resources to better manage this process? Etc.
  2. You’ve been described as a perfectionist, overachiever, workaholic or all of the above –Not all the time. Perhaps been described twice as an overachiever and maybe less than 10 people told me that I’m a workaholic, which I think comes from my Chinese Singaporean mentality.
  3. You bite your nails or grind your teeth – No. I have lovely nails and I listen to my Osteo who advised me to avoid having my teeth touching each other all the time whenever I have my mouth closed.
  4. You have a serious phobia of wasting time – Yes but I won’t say it’s a serious phobia. I don’t break out in cold sweat.
  5. You’re highly conscientious – Yes. I call it being very organised or a more positive term being “proactive”. I like being effective and efficient. Like the saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”.
  6. You’ve always been a bit of a catastrophist – This is definitely a big fat No. I always believe in making the best out of the time I have and the decisions I make each day. No regrets.
  7. You frequently talk over and interrupt people – Not all the time. I do have moments when I hardly talk and just listen. Or perhaps totally zone out if I got too bored. I only tend to talk over and interrupt when the individual is stuck or going about the same thing. It’s a way to facilitate the meeting / conversation. I do apologise for interrupting.
  8. You have a hard time falling asleep at night – No. I sleep real well. My sleep patterns from my Jawbone Up reports make a lot of my friends jealous.
  9. People can’t keep up with you – in conversation or on the sidewalk – Yes I admit so. I’m a fast walker (but not in heels) and talker, especially if I’m really excited about the topic.
  10. You put more energy into your career than your relationships – No. This may be true when I was younger. Now, work-life balance and relationships with people I care about are more important.
  11. Relaxing can be hard work for you – No, not at all. Bring on beach vacations, massages, spas, food, culture, sight-seeing, etc. Did I mention I’m a sucker for massages?
  12. You have a low tolerance for incompetence – Yes. I also get irritated with people who doesn’t use common sense or have basic manners or courtesy. As Billy Connolly says it best, “As my years grow longer, my tolerance of fools grows shorter.”
  13. You’d be lost without your to-do list – Yes, I have a to-do list. But I won’t be lost.
  14. At work, everything is urgent – No. I strive to be in Quadrant II (Important & Not Urgent of Stephen Covey’s Four Quadrants for time management) most times.
  15. You’re sensitive to stress – No. I deal with stress well and I know which are the best ways for me to de-stress.
  16. You make it happen – Yes! Things will not happen if there’s action associated with it, isn’t it? What’s the use of intentions when there’s no action?

So, how did I score? That makes Yes = 7, No = 7 and Not all the time = 2.

Somewhat in the middle? Well, at least I’m not a “typical Type A” … I just have a little more of Type A and there is nothing wrong with that.

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