I am Easily disappointed and quick to Bristle. Yeah, ZW can get cranky. I’m Type A and I know it.

In fact, You probably knew I was Type A before I did — My #Hustle doesn’t exactly scream Idle Hands (never has). I’ve got plenty of work to do (always have). But I am not a fan of conflict (on or offstage). I really hate to fight, because I know I like to win. Scratch that, I like to know that I’m right and I LOVE TO WIN. I NEED TO WIN. Or at least I’ve always felt like I needed to.

But the act of WINNING today, especially an unnecessary conflict, hasn’t always felt like a win the next day. In fact, over my adult life I have won a lot that lost me at least as much. So over the past couple years when work got busy and personal or professional relationships got overwhelming or when I knew conflict was on the horizon I have decided to withdraw rather than fight. Perfect, right? But then I wouldn’t come back. I just withdrew and never came back to the client, the relationship or the issue. #FAIL

But I know that now (which I secretly consider a WIN on my part). So now, when faced with conflict, I practice not always pushing for victory, embracing compromise and accepting fault when appropriate.

But that sh*t is HARD.

Like the cranky (sleepy) baby in the picture, sometimes we Type A types just need more time to think so we can adjust our approach. We don’t need to withdraw completely, but maybe just “sleep on it” — A short nap and some distance from the conflict can make a world of difference to EVERYONE involved.

Are you Type A? What if you can’t sleep on it? What do you do?

I’d like to know. REALLY. RIGHT NOW. C’MON.

Type A Characteristics: Time Urgency and Impatience, as demonstrated by people who walk or talk at a rapid pace, and are always painfully aware of the time and how little of it they have to spare. Free-Floating Hostility, which shows up as impatience, rudeness or ‘having a short fuse’. Also Competitiveness and Strong Achievement-Orientation. (read more)