Personality Traits and Perspective Notes

Personality and Perspective

  • Perspective involves understanding logically how one judges and emotionally how one perceives.
  • The book Psychological Types by Carl Young was published in the nineteen sixties.
  • Managers need to understand core personality traits to properly manage and not dismiss or ignore workplace processes.
  • When evaluating personality traits, individuals should be described as possessing high or low levels of a specific trait (e.g., possessing low levels of openness).

The Big Five Personality Traits (OCEAN)

  • Openness to Experience

    • Reflects imagination, feelings, actions, ideas, curiosity, intellectual depth, and preference for variety.
    • High levels: Curious, independent, wide range of interests, enjoys novelty, abstract thinking, and art.
    • Low levels: Practical, conventional, prefers routine and tradition.

  • Conscientiousness

    • Measures competence, self-discipline, thoughtfulness, organization, carefulness, and goal-directed behavior.
    • High levels: Hardworking, dependable, organized, reliable, and associated with perfectionism to meet perfect standards of work.
    • Low levels: Impulsive, careless, disorganized, spontaneous, flexible, prone to procrastination, irresponsibility, and being distracted.

  • Extraversion

    • Reflects sociability, assertiveness, emotional expression, talkativeness, and energy level.
    • High levels: Outgoing, warm, seeks adventure, energized by social interaction and crowds.
    • Low levels: Quiet, reserved, withdrawn, preferring solitude and reflection.

  • Agreeableness

    • Gauges orientation toward compassion, cooperativeness, trust, kindness, and helpfulness in social interactions.
    • High levels: Helpful, trusting, empathetic, cooperative, and good-natured.
    • Low levels: Critical, uncooperative, suspicious, competitive, skeptical, and focused on self-interest.

  • Neuroticism

    • Measures the tendency toward unstable emotions, negative emotions, anxiety, stress, and worry.
    • High levels: Anxious, unhappy, prone to negative emotions, emotional reactivity, and mood swings.
    • Low levels: Calm, even-tempered, secure, and resilient temperament.