Personality traits are distinguishing qualities or characteristics that are the embodiment of an individual’s. They are your habitual patterns of behavior, temperament and emotion.
Skills, on the other hand, are the learned capacity to carry out specific tasks. They are competences or the talents to do things. These proficiencies can include critical thinking, manual, negotiation, outdoor, presentation, or technological. Typically, skills are special abilities that are acquired through training and experience.
The building block of successful career development is comprised of four components: skills, values, interests and personality traits. I have been a practicing career counselor for a long-time, and I have found an abundance of personality traits that are characteristic of successful people. However, I the following is my top 10 list. Successful people tend to be/have:
- Attitude – The capacity to stay optimistic and positive. The #1 quality for career success is “Championship Thinking.”
- Enthusiastic – The possession of intense and eager interest in a subject or cause. It is an energy that often inspires others.
- Ethical – The quality of having and living by a code of sound moral principles.
- Goal Focused – The ability to have clarity on the objectives that you strive for in your personal and professional life.
- Listener – The capacity to suspend your own agenda and deliberately and empathically allow others to be heard.
- Networked – A well developed circle of influence of interconnected positive relationships.
- Persistent – The ability to endure in the face of adversity. It is a patient and relenting effort to achieve despite difficulties.
- Self-Aware – The understanding and knowledge of who you are including your skills, values, interests, behaviors and character.
- Self-Confident – The firm belief in your abilities. Seek professional help if this is an area of weakness – it will be worth it.
- Self-Discipline – The ability to control and restrain impulses. Energy then can be focused and channeled toward your ambitions.
It is impossible to limit the list to just 10, and so here are 25 more that represent my second tier:
- Adaptive
- Analytical Mind
- Articulate
- Balanced
- Collaborative
- Committed
- Courageous
- Creative
- Decisive
- Detail-Oriented
- Emotionally Competent
- Friendly
- Hard Working
- Humorous
- Intelligent
- Organized
- Prepared
- Productive
- Relationship-Oriented
- Responsible
- Sincere
- Self-Sacrificing
- Trustworthy
- Visionary
- Wise
Your list may differ and certainly, the list of personality traits could be much much longer. As a strengths-based career counselor, I strongly suggest writing down your top 10 traits. If you need assistance, ask three people that you know and trust what they perceive to be your best characteristics. This will help you get clarity on what you have to offer an employer. As a result you will be able to better answer such important questions as, “Why should we hire you?” or “How would you describe yourself?” The right combination of personality traits can greatly assist an individual on the road to success.
Tom’s Tip: “Character is that which can do without success.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
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