A Type A personality describes someone who tends to be competitive, driven, impatient and very aware of time. A Type B personality describes someone who tends to be relaxed, patient and easy going, and less bothered by deadlines and competition. Most people are a mix of the two and sit closer to one end than the other. Both styles have real strengths, and neither is better.
If you want to see how a personality questionnaire describes your working style in more detail, try a free personality test. For a closer look at one side, read what a Type A personality is.
Where the Type A and Type B theory came from
The idea started in medical research in the 1950s. Two American cardiologists noticed that many of their patients shared a hurried, competitive and impatient way of living, and they called this the Type A behaviour pattern. People who were calmer and less driven were called Type B.
Later research found the picture more complicated than the original studies suggested. Type A and Type B are not generally treated as a formal personality model today. The terms survive because they are a simple, useful way to describe two different approaches to pace, pressure and ambition.
The differences at a glance
| Type A | Type B | |
|---|---|---|
| Pace | Fast, often doing several things at once | Steady, comfortable taking time |
| Attitude to time | Very aware of the clock, dislikes waiting | Relaxed about time, less troubled by delays |
| Competition | Competitive, likes to win and measure progress | Less competitive, enjoys the activity for itself |
| Goals | Sets ambitious targets and pushes hard | Sets goals but is flexible about how and when |
| Under pressure | Speeds up, can become tense or irritable | Stays calm, can be slow to treat things as urgent |
| Work style | Organised, driven, results focused | Reflective, creative, adaptable |
| Typical strength | Gets a lot done and meets deadlines | Keeps perspective and works well with others |
| Typical watch-out | Impatience and trouble switching off | Procrastination and lower urgency |
Type A personality traits
People with a stronger Type A style often:
- Feel a constant sense of urgency and dislike wasting time.
- Set high standards and get frustrated when others fall short of them.
- Take on a lot and find it hard to say no.
- Find it hard to relax without feeling they should be doing something.
- Measure success by results, targets and progress.
Type B personality characteristics
People with a stronger Type B style often:
- Work at a steady pace and are comfortable with interruptions.
- Enjoy the process of a task, not only the outcome.
- Stay patient when things go wrong or plans change.
- Find it easy to relax and switch off after work.
- Are open to other people’s ideas and tend to avoid conflict.
Type B does not mean lazy or unambitious. Many people with a Type B style are highly capable and successful. They simply tend to get there with less urgency.
A Type A and Type B example at work
A manager tells the team that a client report is now due on Thursday instead of next Monday.
- A colleague with a Type A style reorganises their week straight away, builds a detailed plan, chases everyone for their sections the same afternoon and may feel tense until it is sent.
- A colleague with a Type B style takes a moment to think about what really needs to change, keeps a calm tone with the team and gets the work done, perhaps finishing closer to the deadline.
Both people deliver the report. The Type A colleague brings momentum and makes sure nothing is missed. The Type B colleague keeps the team calm and is more likely to notice if the plan is overcomplicated. Teams tend to work best with a mix of both.
Are you Type A or Type B?
Read these statements and note which group sounds more like you on an ordinary working day.
Group 1
- I feel uncomfortable when I am not being productive.
- I get impatient in queues or slow meetings.
- I like to know how I am doing compared with others.
Group 2
- I can relax without feeling guilty.
- I rarely feel rushed, even when I am busy.
- I enjoy a task even when nobody is measuring it.
If you agree with more of Group 1, you lean towards Type A. If you agree with more of Group 2, you lean towards Type B. If it is even, you probably sit in the middle, which is where many people are. This is a quick reflection, not a formal test.
Type A and Type B in workplace personality tests
Employers do not usually test for Type A or Type B by name. Workplace personality questionnaires measure related traits instead, such as achievement drive, competitiveness, patience, how you handle pressure and how organised you are. Many of these map onto the Big Five personality traits, particularly conscientiousness and how you respond to stress.
As with any personality test, the best approach is to answer honestly about how you actually work. What a personality test is explains the main types of test you might meet, and our practice personality test lets you try the format.
