The Most To Least Type A Personalities, Ranked

If you’re a Type A personality, you’re a high achiever who goes for what you want without wasting time. You can be a little impatient sometimes—yeah, understatement!—but you’re also an ambitious doer who i’s constantly pushing for more.

So, how does that relate to the 16-type personality theory created by Briggs and Myers?  Read on for our list of the most-to-least Type-A personalities. 

1. ENTJ 

Not much of a surprise here, but ENTJs are often considered the epitome of Type A personalities. These personalities love to take charge and lead from the front. Like Type As, they're go-getting, time-urgent, highly motivated and decisive. When working on a project, they have laser focus on completing it. 

The one area where they differ relates to stress. While Type A behavior has been linked to high stress levels, healthy ENTJs drive through the pressure with cool-headed problem-solving and sharp analytical skills.

2. ESTJ

Like Type As, ESTJs hold themselves to high expectations and expect others to do the same. In the home and workplace, they work hard and stay organized. They stick to the rules while getting things done.

Both types have bullet-proof self-confidence that enables them to chase their goals. And both types can be so focused on their work that they struggle to relax and are pretty stubborn about how things should pan out, which can cause them to be critical of alternative approaches. 

3. ISTJ

ISTJ is the person you go to for help when there's a last-minute project or a crazy deadline at work. These personalities have a strong work ethic and a keen eye for detail, and they strive for excellence in everything they do. Type As and ISTJs share a work obsession that drives them to complete tasks against the clock.

However, ISTJs may be a little less competitive than Type As. They value consistency and stability over constantly pushing for achievement. While Type As can adapt to change if it means achieving their goals, ISTJs may struggle with unexpected disruptions or deviations from their plans.

4. INTJ

INTJs share the Type A traits of being highly driven and needing to have control over their work environment, set their own pace and maintain their standards without having to depend on others. INTJs also tend to be brutally honest with others, especially if they disagree with their methods. This can sometimes be seen as abrasive or confrontational, which is a trait also found in Type A personalities. 

On the other hand, INTJs can be more 'lone wolves' than Type As, preferring to work independently and avoid the chaos of group projects. While Type As can be competitive and strive for leadership positions, INTJs may be more focused on achieving their personal goals rather than external recognition.

5. ESFJ 

ESFJ personalities are planners and organizers who love sticking to a routine. They're like Type As in the sense that they're highly task-oriented and driven to complete their work. They also have a strong moral code and expect others to follow it, which can sometimes land them into problems.  

However, collaborating with and motivating others is more important to ESFJ types than it is for Type As. ESFJs are the people you keep on speed dial for when you need a pep talk. They may not be as intense or competitive as Type As, but they still have enough achievement-orientation to land them  high on this list. 

6. ENTP 

ENTPs are innovative and love facing challenges head-on. In fact, they’re so focused on creativity that they hate being locked into a routine or doing tasks according to a specific structure. Instead of following the rulebook, they’ll try to find exceptions and loopholes! 

ENTPs also don’t like being told what to do, which means they share as many Type B traits as Type A traits, at least in terms of how they respond to authority and control. While they can have high expectations for themselves, their main goal is usually gaining knowledge and exploring new ideas rather than solely achieving success. They just want to go with the flow. 

7. INFJ 

An INFJ personality always seems stuck in a daydream, but they don’t lack ambition. They’re passionate about making a difference, have strong beliefs and work hard to achieve what they want. They turn their ideas into action, which are strong Type A traits.

Where they differ from Type As is in their approach to work. INFJs are more focused on the overall impact of their work, rather than just individual achievements. They also tend to prioritize personal growth and self-reflection over constantly chasing external goals.

8. ENFJ 

ENFJs thrive when they’re in good company. However, the charm they give others isn’t something they usually give to themselves, as they can be highly self-critical. They have the big dream of making the world happier and healthier, but they might put a tad too much pressure on themselves to achieve it. In this respect they are quite Type A.

However, while ENFJs are organized and like structure, just like Type A personalities, they are more focused on relationships than achieving their goals. Their decision-making process is based on empathy and understanding, while Type As tend to prioritize logic and efficiency.

9. ESTP

ESTPs are known for being social to the point of turning every event into a party. Like Type As, they work hard and are ambitious. Unlike Type As, who are all business, ESTPs like to play as hard as they work – they prefer being silly and having fun. 

Another way in which ESTPs differ from Type As is that they prefer spur-in-the-moment thinking that enables them to make impulsive choices. They’re all about improvising, which will surely get under a Type A’s skin! 

10. ISTP 

ISTPs enjoy learning how things work. They’re rational and focus on being hands-on instead of entertaining abstract ideas. They like to get things done but they also get bored easily, and struggle with sticking to routines. This makes them more of a laid-back Type A, or a risk-taking Type B. They have the drive and motivation to achieve their goals, but they're also relaxed in their approach. 

ISTPs are more likely to seek out new experiences and challenges rather than constantly pushing themselves to excel in their current role. They prioritize freedom and flexibility over strict schedules, which sets them apart from traditional Type A personalities.

11. ESFP

ESFPs are another fun-loving personality. They have a habit of jumping into situations without thinking about the potential consequences. They dislike routines and get bored quickly.

Like Type As, ESFPs can’t handle wasting time. However, they like to fill it with fun and adventure instead of work, work, work. They’re great at taking care of others and can be assertive when it comes to standing up for their beliefs, but they may not have the same drive to achieve career success as Type As do. 

12. ISFJ 

ISFJs are the definition of responsible. They pay great attention to detail and will keep working on tasks until they are done, and done well. However, they like stability too much to be constantly striving for the next achievement like Type As. 

ISFJs are also quite passive in conflict situations. They value harmony and will often defer to more assertive personalities, unlike Type As who are more likely to take charge and strive for resolution (or to win). This makes them more like a Type C personality,  who are more focused on maintaining peace and stability in their environment.

13. INTP 

INTPs are highly analytical and tend to over-analyze their options to the point of procrastinating, which displays that they’re not much of a Type A personality. They prefer flexibility and exploration instead of strict routines and planning, which aligns more with Type B personality traits.

INTPs also differ from Type As in their approach to problem-solving. While Type As may be quick to make decisions so they can move onto the next task, INTPs may take longer to fully understand a problem and find the most efficient solution. They can take days to finish a project that a Type A may attempt  to complete in one sitting. 

14. ISFP 

ISFPs have a tendency to procrastinate and experience anxiety when having to make quick decisions. They're also concerned about the impact their decisions have on others, and this can cause them to be less assertive than they should be. They’re focused on collaborating instead of competition, which isn't very Type A.

At their best, they’re capable of working hard and taking action to achieve their goals, but their Type A traits end there. One look at their cluttered living space is enough to prove it. 

15. ENFP 

ENFPs are enthusiastic and they cheer for people, which is why they’re popular. But they don’t have many Type A qualities. Instead of relentlessly following their goals, they lack follow-through on projects because they are creative and open-minded.

They hate schedules and routines, and they can get distracted by shiny new ideas or projects. ENFPs are more focused on personal growth and fulfillment rather than traditional success, which makes them more aligned with Type B personalities.

16. INFP 

Although the INFP can give their whole heart to projects they are passionate about, they tend to overlook the small details and don’t care about  trivialities. They have the drive to achieve their goals, but they also value balance in their lives and may prioritize personal fulfillment over traditional career success.

Since they’re easily bored, staying on track with achieving their dreams is challenging. They can also become overwhelmed when they have too many tasks on their desk, while not taking kindly to people who try to control them or tell them how to do things. In other words, Type As!