Individuals who are discovered to have Type A personality are typically thought of as hardworking, driven, and determined to succeed (Raypole, 2019). In a work environment, these traits can be extremely helpful and drive them towards a leadership position. They are great at quickly taking action when faced with almost any soft of challenge, and sometimes have an easier time pushing forward than others. On the other hand, Type A personalities have a tendency to multitask and are often quick to make decisions. They also will often push themselves to the completion of a task, despite exhaustion, as well as become extremely frustrated if not performed to the best of their ability (Raypole, 2019). This can cause the Type A individual to commonly experience a lot of stress.
Generally, most humans with Type A personality, share common traits, although some may differ. Typical personality traits include (but are not limited to) things such as: being more likely to multitask, very organized, highly focused on their goals, very competitive, spends much of their time focusing on their work, have a lot of ambition, strongly dislike wasting time, get impatient and irritated when delayed or feel as if time is being wasted, and lastly, may experience stress when faced with challenges or obstacles that get in the way of their success. From an outsiders perspective, a person with Type A personality could seem either extremely impatient or extremely motivated, or even potentially as both. It is noticeable that someone with this personality may feel the need and urgency to tackle many tasks at once and without any breaks, and if anything it left unfinished or not completed to the highest of standards, they tend to criticize themselves (Dua, 1993).
It is noticeable within an automobile dealership that there are typically more Type A personalities working as salesman versus Type B personalities. One of the most common traits that connects salesmen and people with Type A personality is their ‘Achievement Orientation’. About eighty-four percent of the most top tier salesmen were tested on their traits and abilities and noticeably scored very high under this category of achievement orientation (Martin, 2011). This is a great drive to have as a salesmen to make immense commission and succeed at their job, but if the individual is not successful, then those people with the Type A personality may stand out due to their higher than normal increase in stress.
Type A personalities can experience levels of stress than are more than average (Day & Jreige, 2002). With being time conscious and competitive, Type A personalities can bring high stress levels and tension to the workplace, such as when performing as a salesman. In order to help alleviate this stress and bring back productivity in the workplace, stress relief practices and physical exercises must be implemented. I have developed a stress reduction program specifically designed for the Frank Taylor’s automobile dealership. This program requires that each individual (specifically those with the discussed personality type) must participate in at least two different stress reduction techniques, three times a week. With that being said, the best and most recommended exercises are as explained below. Allow each individual to experiment until they discover the techniques that work best for them.
To begin, it must first be acknowledged that someone with an intense personality type may have more difficulty and feel more frustrated trying to accomplish effective stress management techniques. With that in mind, it is important that all individuals try their best and not give up. The final outcome will be much worth the struggle. Some tactics that may be considered of high difficulty for this personality type include sitting still or pondering in the quietness of meditation. This can be frustrating for those individuals because they may not feel productive and feel more as if they are wasting precious time that they could be using to work and reach their goals. There are a variety of stress relieving techniques, and there are a few that may be more beneficial to a person with Type A personality.
The first technique that it recommended for practice in this program will be the art of expressive writing. This form of stress relief is good for this specific personality type because they are individuals with very active minds. They can begin this practice in hopes to find motivation in themselves to write on a regular basis and at their own speed. They are able to take out all their thoughts on paper, wether it be intense or minor, and feel a slight weight from their stressors be lifted off of their shoulders as the thoughts flow from their mind. It is also good for the individual to be able to reflect on previous thoughts after experiencing the previous stressful situation, and learn from them, while possibly finding better ways to manage those stressors in the future. Another way to approach this method is to create a ‘gratitude journal’ and focus on the good things that happened through the individuals day and maintain a positive outlook on life, in order to minimize the potential of stress completely overwhelming that person. There are many variations as to how writing exercises can be beneficial for relieving stress within a person who has Type A personality, and it is up the the individual to figure out what works best for them.
Another great technique to help with stress reduction is physical exercise. This is a great tactic for someone with Type A personality who just does not like to waste any time and needs constant productivity. Not only are they staying in shape and living a healthy lifestyle by working out, but they can also workout at their own pace; as fast as they would prefer. For example, a successful cardio exercise is perfect stress relief for Type A. They can run as fast as they want on the treadmill, pedal as fast as they want on a bike, etc. This type of exercise allows those with Type A traits to feel more of a rush, which decreases their levels of stress. Martial arts or even dancing are great specific exercise regimens which are considered aerobic and may leave the Type A individual feeling a sense of accomplishment. Physical fitness classes are good for social interactions as well as competitiveness to help push the Type A person towards their goals and stay on track.
To tie in with the general idea of physical exercise, Yoga is another great practice that brings many health benefits, including the reduction of stress. Yoga is a form of meditation that will allow an individual to really focus on their inner self, but with the benefit of being active, which is perfect for a person with Type A personality that may find difficulty in sitting quietly for long periods of time. Yoga incorporates meditation features and breathing exercises with enough physical activity to occupy an individual, yet feel calming and quieting in a way that does not come across as too intense.
Music is yet another great method to use towards the relief of stress. This stress relief tactic requires very minimal effort and can be along-side another task, such as when driving. Instead of a person with Type A personality trying to multitask while driving and do something like answer phone calls, they can instead play music and focus on it in an attempt to relax a little, even during a short ride. By learning to take advantage of the little moments in life, a person with Type A personality can find themselves more able to be more at peace and will less frequently encounter themselves feeling extremely overwhelmed in high stress situations and feelings.
Following the idea of listening to music to relieve stress, another great idea is to enforce the practice of the Type A personalities to carry out their hobbies and put more time into their interests. They may have difficulty in allowing themselves time for relaxation, but enjoyable hobbies and activities can make it easier for them to focus on themselves and personal time, while taking away from the stress of work. This way, the individual can still keep a schedule and continue performing constant activities, but with less stress due to not every scheduling being so intense and lacking in overall balance. If it is required that someone includes relaxing activities throughout their day, this can help promote the reduction of the negative qualities in life that do not serve you. Overall, by creating a routine to implement hobbies, a person with Type A personality may continue to feel structured and productive, with significantly less stress than they would have had if not taken time for themselves.
Lastly, a key technique is making a point to stay connected with the people in your life. This is important and considered a stress reduction technique for Type A personalities, as these types of people tend to get completely consumed in their work and socially isolate themselves (Hagihara, Tarumi, Miller & Morimoto, 1997). By feeling this isolation, a person with this personality can feel a great amount of stress. It is important for them to practice better and more consistent communication skills, while also remembering the value of relationships. This technique may not particularly feel like a technique, but it is another important example of paying attention to the smaller, yet more important things in life that will bring overall peace to the individuals inner-self.
In conclusion, associates must take the time to practice two of these techniques, three times a week and record it in a log. It is required that the manager check over each person’s activity log, not to make the program feel forced, but to make sure everyone is at least trying to push themselves towards becoming a better well-being. This personality type unfortunately can come with a lot of stress, but with practice and dedication, it is possible to overcome or limit these overwhelming feelings.
Sources
- Day, A. L., & Jreige, S. (2002). Examining Type A behavior pattern to explain the relationship between job stressors and psychosocial outcomes. Journal Of Occupational Health Psychology, 7(2), 109–120.
- Dua, J. K. (1993). The role of negative affect and positive affect in stress, depression, self-esteem, assertiveness, Type A behaviors, psychological health, and physical health. Genetic, Social, And General Psychology Monographs, 119(4), 515–552.
- Hagihara, A., Tarumi, K., Miller, A. S., & Morimoto, K. (1997). Type A and Type B behaviors, work stressors, and social support at work. Preventive Medicine, 26(4), 486–494.
- Martin, S. (2011). Seven Personality Traits of Top Salespeople. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2011/06/the-seven-personality-traits-o
- Raypole, C. (2019). Type A Personality Traits: Overview, Comparison to Type B, and More. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-a-type-a-personalityStress Management for Salespeople
