I have often heard of people referred to as Type A personalities, but for a long time I did not understand the meaning of the term. Type A behavior corresponds to a person who is aggressive, ambitious, competitive, task-oriented and always on the move (Ivanchevich p. 257). Sometimes Type A people are called “control freaks” (Stone). Individuals with Type A behavior work very hard to achieve maximum results in the shortest amount of time; they often finish people's sentences due to their explosive speaking style; they are impatient and can become irritated when placed in situations where they have to wait because they consider it a waste of their precious time (Ivancevitch p. 257). Type A's prefer to have things done their way, regardless of people who see things differently than them, and will take control of situations whenever possible, even when there is a designated leader (Stone). The best way to deal with Type A behavior is to give these individuals the recognition they seek without empowering them (Stone). Type A people are unknowingly afraid of receiving the type of treatment they use on others, so recognizing their efforts will usually appease them (Stone). Type B The opposite of Type A behavior is known as Type B behavior. This person is relaxed, patient, stable, and even-tempered (Ivancevitch p. 258). Type B personalities go with the flow of things and generally do not worry about time constraints or pressure from other people (Ivancevitch p. 258). Type B individuals are confident and can demonstrate a fair amount of drive, but they work at their own pace (Ivancevitch p. 258). Type B personalities like to win, but don't stress if they lose. Type Bs are also thoughtful and often think of others and find...... middle of paper ......themselves. Type Bs are also thoughtful and often think of others and find ways to help when they can (Type A). In the story "The Tortoise and the Hare", the Tortoise was laid back and took his time to achieve his goal, while the Hare was aggressive and ruthless. The same comparison can be made with B types like the tortoise and A types like the hare. Type B behavior, while not bad in itself, can be a source of stress for others in the workplace who do not display the same type of behavior (Ivancevitch). p.253). According to my research, the best way to manage conflicts arising from differences in types of behavior is to educate individuals about their differences in order to promote awareness and cohesion (Gordon). The manager's need to recognize the foundations of employees' personalities in order to better supervise and develop them as integral parts of the workforce (Gordon).