The Predicament of Type A Personalities: Intellectually Brilliant Yet Socially Awkward

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If you ask a sample of people how they feel about type A personalities, you’ll probably get an even split on both sides of the fence. Type A has a solid stereotype, which is favored by some, but less than desirable for others.

Oftentimes, type As are known for being driven, having great attention to detail, being organized, and being goal-oriented. With the positive qualities also come some social challenges. Here’s a look at the predicament of being a type A personality.

High Standards Leads to Perfectionism

Those with type A personalities are often characterized by having high standards for themselves and their work. It’s a large driving force behind their successes and achievements, both personally and professionally. These high standards and strong drive can be very reminiscent of perfectionism.

Unfortunately, this trait of having high standards also carries over onto others and can create some waves with social connections. Not everyone holds that same drive or tendency toward perfectionism, so it can become tense when it manifests. There can also be awkwardness if the type A causes over-analyzing behaviors, which can interfere with the social dynamic.

High Ambition Leads to Competitiveness

Having a type A personality, as mentioned, creates this drive to be better and to do more. Where your life and work are concerned, you often hold very high ambitions. You can always do a job better. You can reach the next goal after meeting the previous one.

Where it can become awkward is when this ambitious nature leads to being overly competitive. Some competition is healthy, but it can also be off-putting if it’s done in a setting that favors cooperation and collaboration. In work situations, it can cause some alienation amongst peers or even with your supervisor.

Strong Focus Leads to Single-Mindedness

Another hallmark trait of type A personalities is an ability to deeply focus on important matters, especially where intellect is concerned. You can hone in on a work task and make great strides towards the end goal. You can be excellent at problem solving issues that arise during the workday.

There may be struggle when it comes to more social matters. Picking up on social cues from others can be a personal challenge. You may also have a bit of a hard time being able to read others to adjust your approach to meet their emotional needs. It may appear to be single-minded behavior due to the intense focus on the task at hand.

This ability to focus helps with solving complicated planned-for problems but doesn’t always translate well to unpredictable situations requiring flexibility. For this reason, casual social situations can pose a bit of a challenge at times.

Time Management Leads to Impatience

When you’re a type A personality, time management is often one of your strong suits. Time is something that needs to be managed. Time can be allocated to various tasks or responsibilities to reach maximum efficiency. This is a great trait for situations where you need to be productive, but can make it awkward in social settings where it’s supposed to be more go with the flow.

That downtime or reaction to a slow-moving pace can be misunderstood for impatience. The inability to relax can also be off-putting to those wanting to wind down.

Pressure to Perform and Connect Leads to Anxiety or Burnout

Type A personalities tend to keep several irons in the fire, from multiple work projects to social obligations. Although they are often skilled at juggling all the things, the constant pressure of trying to maintain high standards across competing demands can send stress levels soaring; in more extreme or prolonged situations, the chronic stress can lead to burnout.

The tendency for type A personalities to plan, be forward-thinking, and solve problems can also put them at heightened risk of developing anxiety symptoms or disorders. Anxiety thrives in the minds of those worrying about the future.

The emotional and physical toll of stress or anxiety can make it difficult to connect with others. Irritability and fatigue may cause you to withdraw and avoid others or get into arguments more frequently.

Balancing the Scale

The intellectually brilliant yet socially awkward trait doesn’t have to be the persistent pattern. Despite the quirks to being type A, many people still manage to develop meaningful bonds and a less hectic life. Therapy that’s tailored for high achievers can be a wonderful source of guidance to help you maneuver this journey.

If your type A personality is giving you barriers in life, let’s work together to get over them. Contact me today to learn more.