LAP
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Emotional Intelligence LAP 9
Performance Indicator: EI:018
You’ve Got
Personality
Personality Traits in Business
Student Guide
Table of Contents
Personality Traits
2
Ready for Change
13
Objectives:
Describe desirable personality traits in
business.
Describe steps that can be taken to change
undesirable personality traits.
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by MBA Research and Curriculum Center®
LAP-EI-009-PQ © 2014, MBA Research and Curriculum Center®
Why bother learning about
personality traits in business?
2
What would you do?
9
Use what you’ve learned—
right now!
16
You’ve Got Personality
1
Personality Traits
Both Amir and
Felicia were hired
to work at the
community pool
for the summer. Amir always
shows up five minutes early, while Felicia often rolls in half an hour late. When
gate traffic is slow, Amir tidies up the
concession stand, while Felicia texts
her friends. Sometimes, their boss asks
them to work about an hour late. Amir
readily agrees, while Felicia says she’s
busy and can’t stay. At the end of the
summer, the pool manager gives Amir a
promotion and a raise for next year but
doesn’t encourage Felicia to apply again.
Can you understand why?
Each person has a unique personality
and his/her own set of personality traits,
but some personality traits are more
desirable than others when it comes to
business careers. In this example, Amir
exhibits several desirable personality
traits, but Felicia does not. If you’re
looking forward to a successful career
in business, keep reading to learn more
about the personality traits you should
cultivate.
LAP-EI-009-PQ © 2014, MBA Research and Curriculum Center®
Your personality
You may have heard the term “trait” before without understanding what it means.
A trait is a personal characteristic expressed by a regular pattern of behavior.
When you act in certain ways consistently over a period of time, those actions
become associated with you; they become part of the personality that you project
to others. Let’s say you’re stressed while working on a class project, and you lose
your temper with one of your group members. This doesn’t necessarily mean that
losing your temper is one of your personality traits. However, if you lose your
temper during every group project, it’s a part of your personality.
Traits are personal
characteristics expressed
by regular patterns of
behavior. The way you act
over a period of time—
whether it’s good or bad—
becomes a part of your
personality.
Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock/Thinkstock
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You’ve Got Personality
2
Types of traits
There are three general types or categories of personal traits—physical, mental, and
emotional. Physical traits include such characteristics as age, gender, race, height,
weight, hair color, eye color, and build. You can describe a person’s physical traits
just by looking at him/her. Mental traits are associated with your intellectual abilities—remembering, comprehending, analyzing, evaluating, and creating. Emotional
traits involve your attitudes, feelings, values, and temperament.
Interdependence
The interaction of all your physical, mental, and emotional traits gives you your own
individual, unique personality. Each trait has an influence (direct or indirect) upon the
others. They are interdependent, or dependent upon one another. Physical traits,
for instance, can influence your self-esteem and self-confidence (emotional traits).
As an example, if you’re younger than many of your coworkers, you might feel less
Magdanphoto/iStock/Thinkstock
Emotional traits involve your attitudes,
feelings, values, and temperament.
confident at work. Emotional traits might also influence certain mental traits. So, if
you have a chronic bad attitude and judge yourself too harshly, it might affect your
ability to be creative.
Desirable traits
Bringing out your positive personality traits can help you in many ways. Such traits
can help you develop and improve relationships at work with customers, coworkers, and supervisors. They can also help you get along better with your teachers,
fellow students, family members, and friends. But improved relationships aren’t the
only upside to positive personality traits. They can also help you improve the caliber
of your job performance and help you become more successful in business overall.
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You’ve Got Personality
3
Need more explanation? Here are a few business situations in which positive
personality traits really come in handy:
• Your supervisor needs a client file right now. Because you’re an organized
employee, you know exactly where to locate it, and you don’t need to spend
valuable time rooting through the files on your desk.
• The president of your company shows up at 8 a.m. for a surprise visit. Because
you’re a dependable employee, you’re already at your desk and hard at work
when she arrives.
• Your manager has some constructive criticism for you during your performance
evaluation. Because you’re a receptive employee, you are open-minded to his
input and use it to improve your work.
• Some money is missing from the cash register at the store where you work.
Because you’ve built a reputation as an honest employee, your superiors
believe you when you say you didn’t take it.
• There’s a big deadline coming up, and everyone in the work group needs
to pitch in to get a proposal ready in time. Because you’re a cooperative
employee, you help your team members finish their tasks and contribute
toward the common goal.
Danial Ernst/iStock/Thinkstock
Positive personality traits can come in
handy at work. For example, if you’re an
organized person, you’ll be able to quickly
find the client file your boss needs.
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You’ve Got Personality
4
Study the following list of desirable personality traits. As you read, try to determine where your own strengths and weaknesses lie.
nDependability
Being dependable means you are reliable, and you do what you say you will
do. It also means you show up for work on time every day (unless you have
a valid reason for being absent or late) instead of leaving your coworkers
wondering where you are. Dependable people honor their commitments and
obligations. If they have a deadline at work, they meet it, even if it means
coming in early or staying late. They comply with the rules (written and
unwritten), carry their own weight, and avoid imposing on other people.
To hear some tips on how to be more dependable at work (as well as how
important it is to be honest), watch this video, “Keys to Coming Across as a
Trustworthy and Dependable Business Person” from DocStocTV: http://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=923Q0iw7m2E.
nIndustriousness
Working hard or hardly working? For industrious people, the answer is simple.
Industriousness means being ready, willing, and able to work hard. Industrious
people care about and take pride in the quality of their performance. They
know that there’s no room for laziness in a business career. No one ever
achieves success by taking short cuts or just “sliding by.” You can demonstrate
industriousness by showing up at work prepared to take on any task that
might come your way. Also, treat each work task as if it’s important, even if it
seems tedious or frustrating. Taking care of the little things will prove to your
supervisors that you are ready for increased responsibility.
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TommL/iStock/Thinkstock
Dependable people are reliable. They
meet their deadlines, even if it means
staying late at work.
You’ve Got Personality
5
n Honesty and integrity
Honest people set high personal standards for their own behavior. Others
can rely on them to be trustworthy, to be fair, and to keep their promises. If
you want to be known for your integrity, be yourself. Learn to present a real
image, and never lie or bend the truth. Gossip might seem fun, but people
with honesty and integrity know that listening to it or spreading it can only
lead to trouble. And, if someone tells you something that’s meant for your
ears only, don’t betray his/her confidence. When trust is broken, it is very
hard to earn back.
At work, honesty and integrity also involve maintaining company
confidentiality and respecting company property. As an employee, you
may have information about your company that shouldn’t be made
public. Perhaps it’s information about a new product in development or
an upcoming merger. Your company will expect you to keep this news to
yourself until the appropriate time. You can respect company property by
treating it with care and using it for work purposes only. Honest people
don’t take home office supplies or use office equipment for their own
personal use.
nLoyalty
Fuse/Thinkstock
Honesty and integrity are important personality
traits. Listening to or spreading gossip can only
lead to trouble.
Dedication is important in any group you’re a part of, but it’s especially
important in a work group. Successful businesspeople demonstrate loyalty
(faithfulness and devotion) both to the aims of the business and to the
members of the work group. After all, work groups should be striving
toward one common goal. Showing loyalty means that even if you disagree
with a coworker, you refrain from bad-mouthing him/her to other people.
Loyal employees protect the work group and keep the business’s best
interests as a priority.
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You’ve Got Personality
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n Positive attitude
Having a positive attitude is one of the most beneficial things you can do for
your relationships—both personal and professional. Look on the bright side,
even when you’re facing problems. Be friendly, polite, and helpful to your
coworkers and customers. And don’t lose your sense of humor—it will go a long
way toward making the workplace pleasant for everyone.
n Interest and enthusiasm
Successful businesspeople show a sincere interest in the people around them,
in the goods and/or services that their businesses provide, and in the welfare
of their businesses in general. Have you ever visited a business, such as a retail
store, where you were greeted in an unenthusiastic, uninterested manner? How
did it affect your perception of the business? Don’t forget to be enthusiastic as
you carry out your job responsibilities. It will create a positive impact on both
customers and coworkers.
nAdaptability
Adaptability is the ability to adjust to changing situations. In other words,
adaptable people are flexible. They learn how to handle the many changes that
occur in life. Think about the changes you’ve faced in your life recently. Maybe
you’ve started a new school, or maybe you’ve had to deal with a new class or
a new teacher. The workplace is constantly changing as well. If you want to be
adaptable, learn to go with the flow instead of resisting change or criticizing
the people associated with it. This will help you grow, personally as well as
professionally.
Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock/Thinkstock
Being enthusiastic about your job creates
a positive impact on your customers and
coworkers.
If you’re having trouble adapting at work, the video “How to Demonstrate
Adaptability on the Job” by Darryle Brown will help: http://www.ehow.com/
video_12216527_demonstrate-adaptability-job.html.
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You’ve Got Personality
7
nInitiative
Workers who demonstrate initiative are ready and willing to
act—without having to be told to do so. You can show your
initiative by volunteering for additional duties, even if they’re
not particularly fun or interesting. Businesses are always looking
for employees who are self-motivated. Self-motivated people
have an inner drive to complete tasks and accomplish goals.
For example, Darren wants to learn how to use a new software
program that he thinks will help him do his job better, so he
signs up for a seminar without being asked to do so. Selfmotivated people develop new skills or show the initiative to
come up with new ideas to benefit the business.
nCreativity
Creativity isn’t just for artists, writers, and actors. Everyone has
at least some creativity, and most jobs require at least a small
degree of it. Learn to generate new ideas, new approaches,
new ways of thinking, and new ways to solve old problems.
Businesses seek employees who can “think outside the box.”
Wavebreak Media/Thinkstock
You might not think of yourself as a creative person, but anyone
can become creative with a little effort! Check out this article,
“Five Steps to Business Creativity” by Roger Trapp: http://www.
forbes.com/sites/rogertrapp/2013/10/21/five-steps-to-businesscreativity/. It explains what you can do to be more creative at work.
LAP-EI-009-PQ © 2014, MBA Research and Curriculum Center®
Most jobs require at least some creativity. Businesses
are looking for employees who can think outside the box!
You’ve Got Personality
8
nSelf-control
Restraint of your feelings, words, and actions is known as selfcontrol. Especially during trying situations, demonstrate patience
and tolerance. You might want to yell at a rude customer or at a
coworker who made a mistake, but having self-control means that
you keep your temper in check. Temper tantrums and impulsive
actions have no place in the business world! Take the time to analyze
a situation before you react to it. A lack of self-control will only make
you look immature and irresponsible, which certainly won’t help you
earn the respect of your coworkers and customers.
Can “less than the best” personality traits
n Self-confidence
coworkers. While closing a particularly
Self-confidence is a positive belief in your own talents, skills, and
objectives. This personality trait is very important at work because
it helps you to build successful relationships with others. To develop
self-confidence, do things to enhance your feelings of self-respect
and self-worth. Capitalize on your strengths, and work to improve
your weaknesses. However, when you’re displaying self-confidence,
remember to share the credit for achievements. Self-confidence
doesn’t mean hogging the spotlight.
nEmpathy
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in another person’s place
and to see things from his/her point of view. It involves sensitivity
to, concern for, and understanding of others. Learn to listen and to
accept others for who they are, respecting their individuality and
showing compassion for their particular concerns. Can you think of
a person in your life who has demonstrated empathy? How has this
affected your relationship with him/her?
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ever help you in the business world? Let’s
say that you have a high-pressure sales
job. You work for commission, and there’s
a lot of competition between you and your
important sale, you’re tempted to act
aggressively and place a lot of pressure on
your customer. You even consider bending
the truth a little and offering your customer
things that you’re not sure the company can
deliver. You know that being overly aggressive and dishonest isn’t desirable, but what
can you do? You need to make the sale to
get your commission, and you’re convinced
that your customer will be truly better off
if s/he makes this purchase, too. Does the
end justify the means? Is it okay to exhibit
less-than-desirable personality traits if
everyone benefits?
You’ve Got Personality
9
nAssertiveness
The ability to express yourself, communicate your point of view, and stand
up for your rights, principles, and beliefs is known as assertiveness.
Assertive people display confidence and speak with authority. Remember,
however, to be respectful and tactful. There’s a difference between
assertiveness and aggressiveness—learn to speak your mind without being
pushy or rude.
nLeadership
Leadership, the ability to guide or direct the actions of others, is highly
desired by employers. Engage in activities that will help you to develop this
important skill, such as learning how to delegate tasks and how to give
constructive criticism. Choose leaders at your current job whom you admire,
and ask them if they will mentor you.
It’s no secret that employers are looking for job candidates who know how
to be leaders. Find out if you have what it takes to become a leader by
reading the article “Are You the Team Leader Employers are Looking For?”
by Mariane Jobin: http://www.careeroptionsmagazine.com/articles/are-youthe-team-leader-employers-are-looking-for/.
nCooperativeness
BananaStock/BananaStock/Thinkstock
Cooperativeness is an important trait in the
business world. Cooperating shows your
commitment to the team and to the business.
Successful businesses rely on teamwork. Cooperativeness is a willingness
to work well with others to achieve a common goal. To show you are
cooperative, learn to respect and to work harmoniously with others.
Listen to others with an open mind. Don’t demand your own way; instead,
compromise to resolve conflicts. This demonstrates your commitment to the
team and to the business.
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You’ve Got Personality
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nReceptivity
Receptivity refers to an attitude of open-mindedness. Learn to accept criticism,
admit mistakes, and profit from feedback. Be open to input from other people,
and truly listen to what they’re saying. No one likes working with someone
who immediately goes on the defensive when approached with constructive
criticism. Having a positive attitude can help you develop receptivity.
n Organizational skills
Being organized and systematic in your behavior makes you a more efficient
employee. Develop your organizational skills, and keep your work area and
computer files neat. Learn to classify and prioritize work tasks so you can get
your most urgent tasks done first. Being organized doesn’t just apply to files
though—successful businesspeople know that time-management skills are an
important part of organization, too.
n Communication skills
You might have tons of great ideas for your company, but they won’t do
you any good if you can’t tell anyone about them! Being able to properly
communicate with your coworkers, supervisors, and customers is extremely
important. Great communication involves expressing yourself clearly both
verbally and in written forms, like emails or memos. But don’t forget that
communication doesn’t just mean talking—it also involves listening when other
people talk!
Chris Lamphear/iStock/Thinkstock
Receptive people are open-minded.
Open-minded people can accept
criticism, admit mistakes, and profit
from feedback.
To learn more about what it takes to communicate well in a business setting,
check out the article “Communication Skills for Business” by Megan Martin:
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/communication-skills-business-2866.html.
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You’ve Got Personality
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Summary
Hemera/Thinkstock
Chad Baker/Photodisc/Thinkstock
A trait is a personal characteristic expressed by a regular
pattern of behavior. There are three general types or categories of personal traits—physical, mental, and emotional. The
interaction of all your physical, mental, and emotional traits
gives you your own individual, unique personality. To develop
or improve your relationships with customers, coworkers,
supervisors, and others in your life, you should try to bring
1. What is a trait?
out some of your more positive personality traits. These traits
2. Describe the three main types of traits.
include dependability, industriousness, honesty and integrity,
3. Describe interdependence among traits.
loyalty, positive attitude, interest and enthusiasm, adaptabil-
4. How can positive traits contribute to success in business?
ity, initiative, creativity, self-control, self-confidence, empathy,
5. List and describe at least eight positive traits for business.
assertiveness, leadership, cooperativeness, receptivity, organizational skills, and communication skills.
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Ready for Change
Everyone has some personality traits that are desirable and some that are not—and
this includes you! Desirable traits help you succeed both at work and in your personal
life. They tend to have positive, rather than negative, effects on others. Traits such as
these might include dependability, cooperativeness, and initiative.
But what about those traits that you would rather not have? Are you ever jealous,
selfish, lazy, impolite, or dishonest? Don’t feel bad—we all have some undesirable
traits, and the good news is that they can be changed! For this to happen, three conditions must exist:
• First, you have to recognize your undesirable traits. What is it that you need to
change? It will be impossible to do so unless you take an honest look at yourself
and identify areas that need improvement. It’s not always easy to identify your
undesirable traits. Most people prefer to think of themselves in the best possible
light. If you look at yourself objectively, however, you will realize that you are
not perfect—no one is! Just keep in mind that to improve yourself and your
relationships with others, it is important to know your own weaknesses.
Ready for change?
Three conditions must exist:
1.You have to recognize
your undesirable traits.
2.You have to want to
change or eliminate your
undesirable traits.
3.You have to do something
about your undesirable
traits.
• Second, you have to want to change or eliminate your undesirable traits. The
only lasting motivation for change must come from within. If you don’t truly want
to eliminate your undesirable traits, none of the changes you make will last for the
long term.
• Third, you have to do something about your undesirable traits. You must take
action that will cause change to occur. You can’t expect your undesirable traits
to simply disappear—changing them requires a conscious effort. You need to
concentrate on the undesirable trait and then do everything you can to change
or eliminate it.
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You’ve Got Personality
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To illustrate, let’s say that you want to improve your organizational skills. If
you really want to do something about them, you can succeed. It will undoubtedly mean, though, that certain changes in your lifestyle will have to occur. For
example, it might mean allotting more time for cleaning your work space, filing
papers, and updating your datebook or calendar. You might have to get up earlier in the morning or stay up later at night to catch up on certain tasks. You
may even need to enlist the help of a friend or coworker to help you learn to be
more organized.
Alteration in action
You can start changing undesirable traits by first listing at least three that
you would like to change. Then, rank the traits in order of how important it is
to you to change them. Remember that when attempting change, it is important to concentrate on only one trait at a time. Keep it manageable! After all,
change isn’t always easy, and you don’t want to become overwhelmed. Focus
first on the trait you most want to change—there will be plenty of time to
diawka/Stock/Thinkstock
Everyone has some undesirable traits. Ready to
change yours? Start with listing at least three
traits you want to change.
work on the other ones later.
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You’ve Got Personality
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Think of things that you can do (or not do, as the case may be) to change
the undesirable trait that you have identified. Write these down to help you
keep track—if you don’t keep a record of your progress, you’ll never know
if you’ve succeeded. Each time you carry out one of these actions, place a
checkmark beside it. At the end of each week, count the number of checkmarks you have for each activity and reevaluate how the trait is affecting your
life, your work, and your relationships. Are you making progress? Do you need
to make changes to your plan?
Remember, to put your desire for change into action, you need to:
1. Identify your undesirable personality traits.
2. Determine which trait you most want to change.
3. Consciously try to change it by:
a. Listing things that you can do to change it
ZoonarRF/Zoonar/Thinkstock
b. Keeping a record of progress you make
Summary
Undesirable traits can be changed. First, you must recognize your
undesirable traits. Second, you must want to change them. Third, you
must take action.
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You’ve Got Personality
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Chad Baker/Photodisc/Thinkstock
Hemera/Thinkstock
1. List some undesirable personality traits.
Think about the personality traits that
2. Describe the three steps you can take to
put your desire for change into action.
home. What positive traits do you pos-
you exhibit at work, at school, and at
sess that help you to be a good employee, student, and family member? What
negative traits do you have that stand in
your way? What can you do to improve?
What is your best trait, and what trait is
most in need of improvement?
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You’ve Got Personality
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