Dominant, Type A, leader material… If you’ve been called these terms, then it’s because of your strong personality.
People around you tend to look up for you for approval, direction, or help.
While you don’t mind doing these, it’s bound to happen that there will be things you do that you won’t notice. All because they’re second nature to you.
But as with all things, being aware of how we act around others is always a great help for self-improvement!
In this article, we’ll be talking about 8 things you don’t realize you’re doing due to your strong personality. Read on and take what you need from this list to get to know yourself better.
1) You tend to take the lead almost immediately
People with strong personalities are natural born leaders.
Even at a very young age, they tend to know just how to stand up and delegate in the most effective way possible.
Leaders are well-praised in society. So it’s no question that they tend to take the lead almost immediately! This is because their willingness to be in charge is considered a great merit.
It can happen in one of two ways– either they take on the job or they’re immediately offered it.
Either way, the reason behind this is that people with a “Type A” personality have already established their credibility as leaders. So for them to take the helm has now become something automatic.
If you’re someone like this, then you’re usually elected as class president most of the time or the team captain in your sports team. And you enjoy it!
2) You speak over other people
One downside to having a strong personality: You might not notice how often you cut people off.
A lot of people with dominant personalities are so used to taking the lead and delegating tasks to their assigned group that sometimes, they don’t let other people speak anymore.
This can pose a problem when there’s another strong personality in your group. It might lead to head-clashing and mental arm wrestling!
Another way this can be a problem is when you don’t allow the quieter ones to speak.
We all know that not everyone is comfortable with public speaking. Some of us tend to stick to the walls and zip our mouths even when we have a great idea brewing in our minds.
For these people, it’s a rare occurrence to offer their insight on something. And if they get cut off mid-explanation, they might feel like their ideas should’ve just stayed in the vaults of their heads.
So if you’re someone with a strong personality, try to make sure every member of your group is included in brainstorming. Remember that the best ideas can come from the most unlikely places.
Plus, helping others feel more confident about their voice is a great trait of a true leader.
3) You solve problems before they arise
When you have a strong personality, then you’re most likely a problem solver.
You work so well under pressure that you don’t allow panic to settle in during setbacks. Instead, your brain automatically turns on its Logic Mode and troubleshoots things as soon as possible.
While this is a great attitude to have, you may not notice that you’re applying problem solving skills to things that aren’t exactly problems.
You may tend to offer advice to a friend who’s going through a major breakup, even when they didn’t ask for it. You might have given help to a family member after hearing their story about a huge financial problem.
While these are selfless acts, one setback of not being aware of your problem solving habits is that people may start becoming dependent on you for everything.
And this can present more problems in the future instead of solutions.
The key here is context. Ask yourself: Is the situation I’m in considered a problem? Does it require an immediate solution? Is the person sharing problems to me looking for help or just someone who can listen?
Knowing this can help you set your boundaries. And boundaries are a great way to balance out your strong personality.
4) You let yourself get stressed too often
The motto of people with strong personalities is, “If you want to get things done right, do it yourself.”
This is a wonderful attitude to have. Being a go-getter means you open opportunities for yourself which you otherwise won’t stumble upon if you didn’t do something about it.
The flipside is: you may take more responsibilities than you can handle.
And this can make you feel stressed too often.
Moderation is the key to finding the sweet spot of being a go-getter. Know how much energy a task requires, and whether you have the resources to execute it.
Also, ask yourself: Is this something I should be doing myself, or should I ask for help?
A strong personality can easily be thwarted by a weak body, if you’re not careful.
So don’t forget to take breaks, look out for yourself, and trust other people a little bit more. You might be surprised at the new things you can learn from them.
5) You become the mom or dad friend
In any friend group, there is always the mom or the dad friend. They’re the ones who keep the others in check, especially when the group is out having fun.
They’re the ones whom parents love. And they take care of their friends after a long night of getting wasted.
If you do these things for your friends, you might not notice that you’ve taken on the role of being your friend group’s mom or dad friend!
Your friends see you as someone dependable. Kind of like the solid rock of the group.
You’re easily the most responsible, which can sometimes become the butt of jokes.
You might say it’s just common sense to be this way. But really, it’s because of your strong personality.
It’s your innate ability to take charge of both situations and other people which makes it easy for you to take on this role. And your friends adore you for it!
6) You rarely use euphemisms
People with strong personalities have zero regard for small talk and euphemism.
When it comes to small talk, they consider it a waste of breath and social battery. If you’re like this, you may usually think, “If you have anything to say, say it now and don’t waste my time.”
This doesn’t mean you’re all business. As we all know, you’re one of the most fun people out there!
But you take no bull from anyone. You’re so used to being unfiltered that you could unknowingly become tactless.
This goes mostly unnoticed because you just like to keep it real.
This is why you don’t use euphemisms either. You are very direct when it comes to communicating. You practice what writers call “economy of words” or the ability to say something in the most concise manner.
You’re not fazed by confrontations and unnecessary pleasantries. Because for you, the truth is the most pleasant thing you can say.
7) You care more about results than processes
Are you someone others would consider “results-oriented”? Do outcomes matter to you more than the means to get them?
Then this can be because of your strong personality.
There are so many merits to being unbothered about processes. For starters, you don’t feel held back. Because to you, the end justifies the means.
But if you’re not aware that you think this way, some people may consider you as callous, unfeeling… even a little bit Machiavellian.
This aspect of having a strong personality is one that can easily go downhill if left unchecked. It may cause damages in friendships, partnerships, work, and community.
But with the right mindset, this can become one of your greatest assets!
8) You don’t notice fine details
“Okay, so what’s the big picture?” If this is how you deal with situations most of the time, you may not be aware that it’s because of your strong personality.
People like you are used to overseeing things. You manage tasks from a bird’s eye view. And this is why you rarely see the small details.
Don’t get me wrong: Good management skills are totally a great thing to have. But sometimes, you may just need to have a little more focus in order to see if things really are as good as they seem from afar.
Has your partner ever told you how you rarely see their efforts around the house? Has a coworker told you before that they feel unheard and unappreciated? Do your friends tend to call you a little bit bossy?
If so, then you might be leaning more towards the negative side of having a strong personality.
My advice? Try to switch things out every once in a while. Learn about the small things, try to listen to how the minute details can make a whole lot of difference.
Because you know what they say: The devil is in the details.
Is having a strong personality a good thing or a bad thing?
Overall, having a strong personality is a great thing! You know how to stand up for yourself, to be responsible and assertive, and manage people towards efficiency.
But too much of a good thing can be bad, too.
So, if you want to make the most out of your strong personality, try to take a step back every once in a while.
Put yourself in others’ shoes. Try to see the world through the eyes of someone who doesn’t always face something head-on.
Because this can help you gain perspective on how to make your strong personality work for you and the people around you.