Things every Type-B person wishes you knew, another list from Travis Bradberry for LinkedIn. Bradberry says Type A’s are the candles that light the room, usually burning at both ends, and Type B’s are merely the mirrors reflecting the same light – and not receiving as much recognition for it. At least Bradberry, himself a Type A, has it half right.
Since Type B’s aren’t as in your face about their contributions, they have a tendency to get mislabeled as lazy or indifferent. Originally Type A personalities were determined as impatient and more prone to heart disease. The traits that Type A’s assume are the products of laziness or indifference are distinct personality characteristics that help Type B’s achieve and prosper.
Unlike Type A’s, Type B’s don’t feel like they have to be perfect. They’re OK with recognizing and admitting their weaknesses. Type B’s are also easier to get along with. They tend to be supportive rather than pushing, rushing, and criticizing others. Type B’s don’t jump to conclusions. Since they’re not in a constant rush they take time to analyze all the facts instead of hurrying to just reach a conclusion as soon as possible. Type B’s won’t keep beating a dead horse. A’s can obsess with making their chosen strategy work, but B’s can easily switch gears when it becomes obvious something isn’t working.
Type B’s deserve a lot more credit than they get. What it means to be a Type B:
We’re not lazy, just laid back. We care just as much about our goals as Type A’s. But the goals are a journey, not a sprint. We may stop and smell the roses along the way, but we’re still focused on where we’re going.
We have a plan. Just because we’re not telling everyone in sight every little thing we do, it doesn’t mean we’re not doing anything. We just keep it to ourselves.
We care. We’re not disengaged or indifferent. We care so much that we work at the pace we’re most effective.
We’re content. And that’s a good thing. Type B’s report a higher level satisfaction with our lives. That lets us enjoy today without worrying so much about what we must achieve tomorrow.
We’re healthier than Type A’s. We suffer less stress, which can lead to insomnia, relationship problems, substance abuse, and the aforementioned heart problems. Our ability to relax paves the way for better decision-making, and helps us avoid cancer, fight off infections, and maintain a healthy weight (ME: most of the time, anyway).
We make great friends. We see the best in everyone – including those insufferable Type A’s. We don’t view life as a competition. Lawd you can tell a Type A wrote this. Robert Lewis Stevenson: “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”
We work best when we’re allowed to color outside the lines. We’d rather have a blank canvas than a color by numbers.
We like group projects (?) B’s focus on the process as well as the outcome, and are happy to share the credit and success. In some of these details Bradberry’s guesses are downright incorrect. These I will leave out.
Type B's admire and respect Type A's – but we wouldn’t trade places. “We’re awed by your drive and breathtaking pace” – what? Bradberry is full of his Type A self. Is he making this crap up? Maybe we don’t, Travis! Bradberry is partially right: We’re wise enough to know that we’re not wired that way. We’re content to hang out in the slow lane and see you at the finish line (don’t forget the story of the tortoise and the hare, Travis!). B's are the ones who are smiling calmly, rather than gasping for breath.
Perhaps Bradberry should stick to writing about the things he knows, rather than trying to be all things to all men.
One he missed: Type B’s aren’t so full of ourselves that we have to list every degree, title, mission statement, and fax number after our names in an effort to impress strangers we’ll never meet - unlike the Type A's screaming for attention by posting comments on Bradberry's posts.
Also insufferable: the screaming for attention titles for all these posts.
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