I love personality assessments. They are usually insightful and always fun to ridicule.

This past week, one of the work teams that I’m part of did personality assessments using a comparative chart to see how we work with one another and as a team. My results were very . . . friendly. Apparently, I’m really nice. This isn’t altogether surprising as I’ve been accused by colleagues of being “sweet and accommodating.” This is okay, I guess. But part of me wants to be a rebel, bitchy and Angelina Jolie-eske. I want to kick ass! But, alas, I’m “unassuming, unselfish and have a genuine interest in other people and a strong, intuitive understanding of them. Outgoing and friendly, Lynsi enjoys working with others and is lively, warm company.” Hmmm . . . yet my two work BFFs are both “intensely proactive and aggressive in driving to reach their goals. Actively and boldly challenge the world, their business, and even others’ areas within their business. Resourceful and forceful in overcoming obstacles, they vigorously and directly attack problems; fights back hard when challenged.” They both are risk-takers while I follow rules and authority. I totally thought I was a rebel! Nope. I’m booooring. Which brings up: are the options boring or bitchy?

I swear though my core personality is friendly, outgoing and very team-oriented, I have become less tolerant and more aggressive since becoming a mom. One of my work BFFs who cited above is aggressive-when-challenged, swears she was nicer before she was a mom. Does becoming a mom change our personality? Or do we somehow turn into a momma bear of ass-kicking once we have a little one to protect?

I don’t know these answers but I do know I’ve become less tolerant of incompetency at work since returning from my maternity leave. I assumed it was because in my mind, if I’m going to spend nearly 12 hours away from my kid, the time better count and I have no patience for people who are wasting my time. And I do feel like I’ve become better at my job since being a mom. And maybe it’s because I’m learning how to be more aggressive and less tolerant while still being “a pleasant and extroverted person.” Maybe I’m learning to be a perfect blend. Yes, I’ll go with that. After all, I did give birth to absolute perfection.