Now & Then, 8/20/2026

I have done a fair amount of research on personality traits/types. Determining the traits of family, friends or co-workers can help to communicate with them in a way that suits their personality.
Due to the limitations of space for this article, I will focus on the two major personality types: A and B. Some studies break them down further into four dimensions: assertive, amiable, expressive and analytical.
A brief description of type A personalities is as follows:
They are generally overly concerned about time; they feel guilty when they are not doing “something.” They are obsessed with achievement; they are often overachievers. They get involved in many activities and they want to excel at all.
They experience lots of stress. They often become overwhelmed by what they have to do. They generally have a long list they have planned for themselves. They are very competitive. They love challenges, but they hate to lose. They find it difficult to relax, sometimes even while on vacation.
They might have a problem with teamwork; they can become frustrated by slow workers. Often they prefer to work alone. They have a wide range of interests.
A brief description of type B personalities is as follows:
They are relaxed and laid back. They do not feel a sense of urgency. They are not overly concerned with deadlines. They generally do not feel a great deal of stress. They have no problem relaxing or sitting without anything to do. They enjoy the moment.
They can be high achievers too because the lack of stress allows them to be calm while doing a good job. They are patient. When faced with competition, they focus less on winning or losing, and focus more on enjoying the game.
They are attracted to careers of creativity such as writers, counselors, teachers, and therapists. Network and computer systems managers, professors and judges are likely to be type B. Their personal character may enjoy exploring ideas and concepts.
There is no “right” or “wrong” or better personality type, each one has strengths and weaknesses.
Assessing personality types has helped me at jobs and relationships. It has helped me to communicate with friends, family and co-workers. Some examples:
When I worked at the city, I made it a practice to analyze the personalities of those I worked most closely with. Many of you have probably learned that Tom Stefl recently retired from the city. I can assure you, he is not taking it easy. I can’t think of anyone I worked with who was more defined as a type A. His sense of urgency was clearly recognizable. Relaxing is not in Tom’s vocabulary.
Tom is a high achiever. When he came to my office, he generally stayed standing. He wasn’t into chitchatting. He was there for a reason, but was ready to move on to his next endeavor. He is a driver, but didn’t expect his workers to do anything he wouldn’t do. To some, I would say you worked hard, now take it easy and enjoy your retirement. I won’t say that to Tom. What I will say is keep on keeping on. Enjoy what you do, but at a little bit slower pace. Maybe take a little time to smell the roses, my friend. Thank you for your dedicated years of service.
My hubby is a type A also. He plans his day the day before. He is very routine, and it upsets him if his plans are disrupted. He can become stressed easily; he expects a lot from himself. As he ages, it is difficult for him if he cannot accomplish things he had planned to do.
I am a type B. I am a procrastinator. In fact, I am writing this article on Thursday evening, and my deadline for submission is tomorrow at noon. My hubby gets extremely nervous for me, often asking on Tuesday if I have my article written. Sometimes I just tell him yes to relieve his stress. I always know I will get it in on time.
I enjoy the moment. I have no problem sitting and enjoying watching the birds. I am fairly creative, and I enjoy problem solving. I am a strong debater, but I am able to see both sides of an issue. They say opposites attract, and hubby and I have definite personality differences. But that’s not a bad thing. It has worked for us for 61 enjoyable years.
The late Woody Davis, alderperson, was a type B too. When he stopped by, he was relaxed and jovial. Often his lovely wife Donna was with him. If someone was in my office, Woody would chat with the staff up front, patiently waiting until I was free. He often walked to City Hall, and seemed to enjoy the process, always aware of his surroundings. He studied the city issues, but did not get overly stressed about them, quietly discussing solutions or alternative problem solving ideas.
Alderperson Bob Kurkiewicz was a definite type A. Time was very critical to him. In fact, he had his phone set to notify him of where he should be and at what time. When Bob came to my office, I knew he wanted to cut to the chase. He didn’t appreciate small talk. It was frustrating for him when someone was in my office when he was there to see me. It wasn’t unusual for him to pace outside my office or walk to my window to be sure I knew he was there. I tried to accommodate him when I could, knowing he still had many things he wanted to accomplish that day.
Take some time and analyze the personality types. It will be helpful to you. Knowing why people react the way they do will help you know how to communicate with them, which in turn, improves relationships. Give it a try.