FINDING THE RIGHT CAREER

Why is finding meaningful work important?

Since so much of our time is spent either at work, traveling to and from work, or thinking about
work, it inevitably plays a huge role in our lives. If you feel bored or unsatisfied with how you
spend large parts of the day, it can take a serious toll on your physical and mental health. You
may feel burned out and frustrated, anxious, depressed, or unable to enjoy time at home knowing
that another workday lies ahead.

Having to concentrate for long periods on tasks you find mundane, repetitive, or unsatisfying can
cause high levels of stress. What’s more, if you don’t find your work meaningful and rewarding,
it’s hard to generate the effort and enthusiasm necessary to advance in your job or career. As
well as feeling happy and satisfied, you are far more likely to achieve success in an occupation
that you feel passionate about.

 So how do you gain satisfaction and meaning from your work?

 You choose or change careers to something that you love and are passionate about.

 When changing careers isn’t a realistic option

For many of us, career dreams are just that: dreams. The practical realities of paying the bills,
putting food on the table and the kids through school mean that you have to spend 40 hours every
week doing a job that you don’t enjoy. Or maybe you have to juggle multiple jobs, as well as
school or family commitments, just to get by in today’s economy. The idea of making a career
change may seem about as realistic as choosing to become a professional athlete or an astronaut.

Still, getting up every morning dreading the thought of going to work, then staring at the clock
all day willing it to be time to leave can take a real toll on your health. It can leave you feeling
agitated, irritable, disillusioned, helpless, and completely worn out—even when you’re not at
work. In fact, having a monotonous or unfulfilling job can leave you just as vulnerable to stress
and burnout as having one that keeps you rushed off your feet, and it can be just as harmful to
your overall mental health as being unemployed.
 Try to find some value in your role. Even in some mundane jobs, you can often focus
on how your position helps others, for example, or provides a much needed product or
service. Focus on aspects of the job that you do enjoy—even if it’s just chatting with your
coworkers at lunch. Changing your attitude towards your job can help you regain a sense
of purpose and control.

 Find balance in your life. If your job or career isn’t what you want, find meaning and
satisfaction elsewhere: in your family, hobbies, or after work interests, for example. Try
to be grateful for having work that pays the bills and focus on the parts of your life that
bring you joy. Having a vacation or fun weekend activities to look forward to can make a
real difference in your working day.

 Volunteer—at work and outside of work. Every boss appreciates an employee who

volunteers for a new project. Undertaking new tasks and learning new skills at work can
help prevent boredom and improve your resume. Volunteering outside of work can
improve your self-confidence, stave off depression, and even provide you with valuable
work experience and contacts in your area of interest.

 Make friends at work. Having strong ties in the workplace can help reduce monotony
and avoid burnout. Having friends to chat and joke with during the day can help relieve
the stress of an unfulfilling job, improve your job performance, or simply get you through
a rough day.

 Consider the following steps in this article about planning a career change. Even if
it’s a dream that you’re unable to act on at present, having a plan for someday in the
future (when the economy picks up, the kids have grown up, or after you’ve retired, for
example) can help you feel energized and hopeful, and better able to cope with present
difficulties. Simply sending out resumes and networking can make you feel empowered.
Also, making a career change can seem far more attainable when there’s no time pressure
and you break down the process into smaller, manageable steps.

 Discovering new possibilities: Whether you’re embarking on your first career out of
school or looking to make a career change, the first step is to think carefully about what
really drives you. You might find it hard to get past thinking about “what pays the most”
 or “what is most secure,” especially in today’s economy. But the truth is, most employees
rank job satisfaction above salary in ensuring they feel happy at work. So, unless you’re
in a situation where you have to take the first available job to make ends meet, it’s
important to focus on your primary interests and passions. This can open doors to careers
that you might not have considered. Once you have that foundation, you can start fine
tuning your search for the right career. You may be surprised at how you can fit your
passions into a new career.

 Focus on the things you love to do. What have you dreamed of doing in the past? What
do you naturally enjoy doing? Jot down what comes to mind, no matter how improbable
it seems.

 Look for clues everywhere. Take note of projects or topics that stir your compassion or
excite your imagination. Reflect on stories of people you admire. Ask yourself why
certain activities make you happy, and pay attention to times when you are really
enjoying yourself.

 Be patient. Remember that your search may take some time and you might have to go
down a few different roads before finding the right career path. Time and introspection
will help you identify the activities you most enjoy and that bring you true satisfaction.

Finding the right career

Tip 1: Identify occupations that match your interests

So how do you translate your interests into a new career? With a little research, you may be
surprised at the careers that relate to many of the things you love.

 Career tests: Different online tools can guide you through the process of self-discovery.
Questions, quizzes, and personality assessments can’t tell you what your perfect career
would be, but they can help you identify what’s important to you in a career, what you
enjoy doing, and where you excel. One example, frequently used by universities and the
U.S. government, is the RIASEC/Holland interest scale. It outlines six common
personality types, such as investigative, social, or artistic, and enables you to browse
sample careers based on the type of personality you most identify with.
  Researching specific careers: If you have narrowed down some specific jobs or careers,
you can find a wealth of information online, from description of positions to average
salaries and estimated future growth. This will also help you figure out the practical
priorities: How stable is the field you are considering? Are you comfortable with the
amount of risk? Is the salary range acceptable to you? What about commute distances?
Will you have to relocate for training or a new job? Will the new job affect your family?

 Get support and information from others: While you can glean a lot of information from
research and quizzes, there’s no substitute for information from someone currently
working in your chosen career. Talking to someone in the field gives you a real sense of
the type of work you will actually be doing and if it meets your expectations. What’s
more, you will start to build connections in your new career area, helping you land a job
in the future. Does approaching others like this seem intimidating? It doesn’t have to
be. Networking and informational interviewing are important skills that can greatly
further your career. You may also consider career counseling or a job coach, especially if
you are considering a major career shift. Sometimes impartial advice from others can
open up possibilities you hadn’t considered.

Tip 2: Evaluate your strengths and skills

Once you have a general idea of your career path, take some time to figure out what skills you
have and what skills you need. Remember, you’re not completely starting from scratch—you
already have some skills to start. These skills are called transferable skills, and they can be
applied to almost any field. Some examples include:

1. management and leadership experience

2. communication (both written and oral)

3. research and program planning

4. public speaking

5. conflict resolution and mediation

6. managing your time effectively

7. computer literacy

8. foreign language fluency

9. What are my transferable career skills?

10. To discover your transferable career skills, consider the following:

 Don’t limit yourself to just your experiences at work. When you are thinking about your
skills, consider all types of activities including volunteering, hobbies, and life experiences.
For example, even if you don’t have formal leadership or program planning experience,
founding a book club or organizing a toy drive are ways that you have been putting these
skills into practice.

 List your accomplishments that might fit. Don’t worry about formatting these skills for a
resume at this point. You just want to start thinking about the skills you have. It can be a
tremendous confidence booster to realize all of the talents you’ve developed.

 Brainstorm with trusted friends, colleagues, or mentors. They may be able to identify

transferable skills you’ve overlooked or help you better articulate these skills in the future.

Tip 3: Develop your skills and experience

If your chosen career requires skills or experience you lack, don’t despair. There are many ways
to gain needed skills. While learning, you’ll also have an opportunity to find out whether or not
you truly enjoy your chosen career and also make connections that could lead to your dream job.

How can I gain new career skills?

 Utilize your current position. Look for on-the-job training or opportunities to work on

projects that develop new skills. See if your employer will pay part of your tuition costs.

 Identify resources in the community. Find out about programs in your community.

Community colleges or libraries often offer low cost opportunities to strengthen skills
 such as computing, basic accounting, or business development. Local chambers of
commerce, small business administrations, or state job development programs are also
excellent resources.

 Take classes. Some fields require specific education or skills, such as an additional

degree or specific training. Don’t automatically rule out more education as impossible.
Many fields have accelerated programs if you already have some education, or you may
be able to take night classes or complete part-time schooling so that you can continue to
work. Some companies even offer tuition reimbursements if you stay at the company
after you finish your education.

 Volunteer or work as an intern. Some career skills can be acquired by volunteering or

completing an internship. This has the added benefit of getting you in contact with people
in your chosen field.

Tip 4: Consider starting your own business

If you’re getting worn down by a long commute or a difficult boss, the thought of working for
yourself can be very appealing. And even in a slower economy, it’s still possible to find your
perfect niche. Depending on the specialty, some companies prefer to streamline their ranks and
work with outside vendors. However, it is especially important to do your homework and
understand the realities of business ownership before you jump in.

 Make sure you are committed to and passionate about your business idea. You will
be spending many long hours getting started, and it may take a while for your business to
pay off.

 Research is critical. Take some time to analyze your area of interest. Are you filling an
unmet need? Especially if you are considering an online business, how likely is your area
to be outsourced? What is your business plan, and who are your potential investors?

 Expect limited or no earnings to start. Especially in the first few months, you are
building your base and may have start-up costs that offset any initial profit. Make sure
you have a plan on how to cope during this period.
Tip 5: Manage your career transition

 Pace yourself and don’t take on too much at once. Career change doesn’t happen
overnight, and it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the steps to successfully make the
transition. However, you will get there with commitment and motivation. Break down
large goals into smaller ones, and try to accomplish at least one small thing a day to keep
the momentum going.

 Ease slowly into your new career. Take time to network, volunteer, and even work part-
time in your new field before committing fully. It will not only make for an easier
transition, but you will have time to ensure that you are on the right path and make any
necessary changes before working full-time in your new field.

 Take care of yourself. You might be feeling so busy with the career transition that you
barely have time to sleep or eat. However, managing stress, eating right, and taking time
for sleep, exercise, and loved ones will ensure you have the stamina for the big changes
ahead.

WHY IS SELF-ESTEEM IMPORTANT?

Self-esteem refers to a person's beliefs about their own worth and value. It also has to do with the
feelings people experience that follow from their sense of worthiness or unworthiness. Self-
esteem is important because it heavily influences people's choices and decisions. In other words,
self-esteem serves a motivational function by making it more or less likely that people will take
care of themselves and explore their full potential. People with high self-esteem are also people
who are motivated to take care of themselves and to persistently strive towards the fulfillment of
personal goals and aspirations. People with lower self-esteem don't tend to regard themselves as
worthy of happy outcomes or capable of achieving them and so tend to let important things slide
and to be less persistent and resilient in terms of overcoming adversity. They may have the same
kinds of goals as people with higher self-esteem, but they are generally less motivated to pursue
them to their conclusion.
Self-esteem is a somewhat abstract concept; it's hard for someone who doesn't already have it to
know what it would be like to have it. One way for people who have lower self-esteem to begin
to appreciate what it would be like to have higher self-esteem is to consider how they may feel
about things in their lives that they value. For instance, some people really like cars. Because
cars are important to them, these people take really good care of their cars. They make good
decisions about where to park the car, how often to get it serviced, and how they will drive it.
They may decorate the car and then show it off to other people with pride. Self-esteem is like
that, except it is yourself that you love, care for and feel proud of. When children believe they
are valuable and important, they take good care of themselves. They make good decisions about
themselves which enhance their value rather than break it down.

Dimensions of Self-Esteem

 High vs. Low Self-esteem. Self-esteem is thought of as occurring on a continuum,

meaning that it is thought to smoothly vary in amount or magnitude from low to high
across different individuals. Some people have higher self-esteem, while other people
have lower self-esteem. The differences between these people are not obvious, but
instead are apparent only through comparison of their thoughts and feelings about their
worth.

 Proportionality of Self-Esteem. Self-esteem is also thought to vary in another way

which we might describe as proportionality or reasonableness. It turns out that not all
instances of high self-esteem are the same. Some people with high self-esteem have
arrived at that place based on a series of real accomplishments. They give themselves
credit for being able to meet new challenges because they have been able to meet
previous challenges. Their good opinion of themselves is in proportion to the real
challenges they have overcome in life.

What influences a person’s self esteem?

• Puberty and Development – Not everyone grows at the same time or the same way
• Media Images – Avoid comparisons with celebrities
• Family and Friends – Sometimes they are too focused on how you look and start criticizing
The 4 Components of Self-Esteem

There are 4 components that define the esteem you might feel for yourself: self-confidence, identity,
feeling of belonging, and feeling of competence.

Self-confidence (feeling of security)

This is the foundation of self-esteem. If we feel secure with our family, if we feel loved and our needs
are met, our self-esteem develops. That’s when we try to take our place and dare to try new things and
new experiences. For example, when we learn to walk, we fall down the first few times, but with
encouragement, we develop our confidence and try again!

Identity

This is the knowledge we have of ourselves. By experimenting, learning, and getting feedback from the
people around us, we come to identify our characteristics, abilities, needs, and feelings. Identity can be
divided into several parts: including physical (the representation that each person has of their own
body) and social (how I come into contact with other people, the groups I associate with, my economic
situation, my place as a student, worker, teen, how I act with my girlfriend or boyfriend, which sex
attracts me, etc.).

Feeling of belonging

We all belong to several groups: family, friends, school, sports team, etc. We also define ourselves by
belonging to these groups, by the relationships we have with other people and the experiences we have
in these groups: feeling like part of a group, feeling solidarity, seeking out the other group members,
communicating well, sharing, etc. The various groups we belong to allow us to feel understood and
know that there are people who are like us.

Feeling of competence

To feel competent, we need to have different experiences, succeed and fail, and learn new things. The
feeling of competence is related to motivation: a person is motivated when they face challenges that
they are able to meet. Success results in a feeling of efficacy and pride that promotes self-esteem and
pushes the person to accept new challenges.

Self-esteem is not carved in stone. It changes and stabilizes based on the people we meet and our life
experiences. Although it can be a challenge during adolescence, one thing is certain: the more different
situations we face, the more we learn about ourselves and the better we know who we are and who we
want to identify with, what we don’t want to repeat, and what we want for our lives.

Types of Self Esteem

 High Self Esteem

High self esteem means that you believe in yourself and know that you are a great addition to
this world. You recognize that you might have a few weaknesses, but you also have a lot of
strengths which really shape up who you are. Your glass is always “half full”.

Positive self-esteem possesses the following characteristics:

1. Believing in a set of firmly placed values and principles and being able to defend or assert
yourself in the face of opposition to them. If after learning something new, the old value does not
fit, individuals with positive self-esteem do not have difficulty modifying the belief.
2. Being able to make choices, trust your own judgment, and not feel guilty about choices if
someone does not agree.
3. Not living in the past or future, not worrying about “what if ’s.” Living fully in the present.
4. Believing in your capacity to solve problems, adjust to failures, and ask for assistance.
5. Participating in and enjoy many activities and hobbies.
6. Believing that you are valuable, and that others will enjoy spending time with you.
7. Resisting manipulation by others.
8. Being sensitive to the feelings and needs of others; accept and abide by social norms.
9. Considering yourself self-worthy and equal to others, regardless of differences in finance and
personal success.

People with High Self-Esteem

 Feel happy Believe in themselves Are OK with themselves as a person
 Look forward to a good future
 Are energetic and hopeful
 Are confident Like joining in with others
 Are happy with each success
 Look for ways to succeed
 Don’t worry about how others will judge them

How you get high self-esteem

 Like yourself and make the most of your good features
 Join in with others
 Try something new and practice so you can feel confident in your ability
 Set short-term goals and reach them
 Say “thank you” when you get a compliment and feel PROUD of your efforts
 Accept mistakes
 Be happy with who you are
 Be a happy person and you will make more friends!
 Hang out with positive people and not those who criticize you

Effects of High Self-Esteem

  Successful
 Happy
 Fun to be around - Have more friends (magnet)
 Trustworthy
 Full of life

Low Self Esteem

Low self esteem means that you don’t believe in yourself. Often you compare yourself to other
people, and find that you ‘don’t measure up’, which is discouraging. You tend to focus on your
weaknesses, and don’t focus on your strengths. Your glass is always “half empty”.

Low self-esteem is characterized by:

1. Heavy self criticism, tending to create a habitual state of dissatisfaction with yourself.
Exaggerating the magnitude of mistakes or behaviors and not able to reach self forgiveness.

2. Hypersensitivity to criticism leading to feeling attacked and not being open to constructive
criticism.

3. Chronic indecision due to fear of making mistakes.

4. Excessive will to please out of fear of displeasing someone.

5. Perfectionism, which leads to constant frustration or underachievement when perceived

perfection is not achieved.

6. Hostility or irritability—easily angered even over minor things.

7. Feelings of insignificance.

8. General negativity about life and often an inability to enjoy life.

People with Low Self-Esteem:

 Feel unhappy and miserable

 Feel that they are not as good as others
 Have no confidence in themselves
 Feel tired most of the time
 Do not want to do anything active
 Look at the worst side of everything
 Hard time forgiving their mistakes
 Have no respect for themselves
 Put themselves down even when someone is complimenting them – Ex.) “You look
pretty today.” “No, I do not. You are just saying that to be nice.”
How you get low self-esteem
  By telling yourself how bad, ugly, stupid, etc. you are
 By disliking yourself
 By hanging around by yourself or with other people who tease you
 By thinking that mistakes only happen to you
 By thinking that no one likes you
 By thinking about all the bad things that have happened in your life
 By not doing anything you enjoy doing or are good at
 By listening to and believing others who tell you bad things about yourself

Effects of Low Self-Esteem

 Distorted emotions and feelings
 Difficulty in trusting people
 Fear of trying new things
 Panic attacks
 Give up on dreams
 Self-defeating behavior
 Negative and critical about themselves
 Complainers & Criticizers
 Friends do not want to “hang out” anymore

How do you measure your self-esteem?

Fragile versus secure self-esteem

Fragile self-esteem often comes from external sources such as:
  validation of our performance,
 our relative position to others, and
 our membership in a group, team, organisation – including profession, religion, family,
political party or community.
Secure self-esteem on the other hand comes from within; an awareness of our intrinsic value.
Goals play a role, but only if the goals are an expression of our value rather than our value being
defined by our goals. This intrinsic value often has spiritual elements, as people integrate
spirituality into their view of self.
This integration is evident in what one researcher defines as Universal Worth, which is based on
the belief that:
 one is valued by a deity;
 one’s value is not contingent on success or failure; and
 one is not valued by a deity more or less than others are valued.
This distinction of source as internal or external is also seen in another study that defined seven
sources of self-esteem in college students:
 Competency – specific abilities like academic competence;
 Competition – outdoing others;
 Approval from generalized others – the perception of others’ esteem;
 Family support – refers to perceived affection and love from family members;
 Appearance – self-evaluations of one’s physical appearance;
 God’s love – the belief that one is valued by a supreme being; and
 Virtue – adherence to a moral code.
Self-esteem from external sources such as competition or approval from others could be seen as
fragile, whereas self-esteem from virtue or a belief in inherent value could be seen as secure.

Both secure and fragile self-esteem can also be seen as being either strong or weak. This results
in four combinations:

Combination 1: Strong and fragile

Let’s take Jane for example. Jane has always been a high-achiever whose self-worth is defined
by her position and performance. Jane has led a charmed life and now in her 30s is in an enviable
management position in a high-profile technology company.
Jane perceives any risk to her position or threat to her company as a personal attack. Her
response to these threats is aggressive and defensive behaviour. Jane’s self-esteem could be
considered strong, but fragile as it is based on things external to Jane that she does not control.
Combination 2: Weak and fragile

At some point, Jane may hit the proverbial wall. She may lose her job, experience burnout, and
push away those close to her in her search for success. She may perceive these experiences as
personal failures that reflect on the value she has as a person.
Jane still defines her self-worth from her performance and position, but she is no longer
recognised for these things. Jane’s self-esteem is still fragile, but now it is also weak.

Combination 3: Weak and Secure

Jane, though her struggles and perhaps insight from a mentor or coach, may become aware that
her performance and position do not define who she is as a person. After losing almost
everything that defined her, Jane is left with a growing understanding of her value that is
inherent to each of us as humans apart from how we perform or our position in life.
Jane begins to explore her worth based on who she is, apart from what she does. While
previously Jane’s goals were about power and winning, Jane now starts setting goals that are
simple but aligned with who she is. Jane’s self-esteem becomes more secure but it is weak and
untested.

Combination 4: Strong and Secure

Jane’s character continues to be developed as she sets her own goals apart from what other people think
or her perceptions of other’s opinions. She begins to seek out opportunities to grow and develop. She may
or may not be recognised, but she continues to learn and develop as a person.

The goals Jane sets continue to evolve beyond her own aspirations based on a realisation of her place in
the world not at the top of a ladder but as part of a whole. As she becomes more practiced, Jane’s self-
esteem is secure and becomes strong.

Self-esteem transitions

The narrative above reflects a transition that is common in a driven workforce. People who
define themselves by their success encounter a crisis when the measures of that success are no
longer favourable. That crisis prompts reflection and an awareness of their value outside of their
achievements as well as something greater than personal aspirations. Applying the self-esteem
quaderant model, this presents a “U” shape transition of breaking down fragile self-esteem and
rebuilding secure self-esteem.
There may be other transitions as well. For example, some people may continuously transition
between strong and weak fragile self-esteem in an endless loop. Their response to things not
working for them may be to simply do the same things faster and harder.
Still others may be at the peak of success and find it empty. They may not need to have a crisis,
but an event or conversation may prompt them to re-evaluate the source of their self-worth.
Applying the model
Where would you place yourself on the model? Where do you get your self-worth?

One of the reasons why I am a fan of models is that they are able to take aspects of ourselves that
are often hidden such as how we define our self-worth and present them in a practical way that
can be observed. Once observed, we become aware of it, decide the extent that it reflects reality,
and make choices that can help us be more effective and live a full life.

The other thing I appreciate about the model is that it is very clear about what is required to
move into strong and secure self-esteem. If you set your own goals for a purpose you perceive is
bigger than your own personal gain, then you inherently begin to become more effective and
define a healthier perspective of self-worth.
Who you are as a person has value, simply because you are you. Your achievements do not
define you. Your performance does not define you. Your position does not define you. I
acknowledged in my last post that simply telling you this may not change your own views of
yourself worth. It is my hope that perhaps seeing a model may help a few people understand
practical steps to move towards a healthier perspective of self-esteem.

Personality
The term personality is derived from the Latin word persona which means “mask”. Among the
Greeks actors used a mask to hide their identity on stage.

Personality

The sum total of ways in which an individual reacts and interacts with others.

 According to Stephen P. Robbins, personality is the sum total ways in which an individual reacts
and interacts with others.

Personality can be defined as those inner psychological characteristics that both determine and
reflect how a person responds to the environment.

Nature of Personality

Three distinct properties are of central importance in the study of the nature of personality:

1. Personality reflects individual differences: For instance, some people can be described as

"high" in adventure, e.g., willing to accept the risk of doing something new or different, such as
skydiving or mountain climbing, whereas others can be described as "low" in doing adventure,
e.g., afraid to buy a new product.

2. Personality is consistent and enduring: Some aspects of individual personality remain stable

though out his life. No big change is possible in those aspects like intelligence, IQ, temperament
t, complexion etc. For e.g. A person who inherits a low grade intelligence cannot even under the
most favorable conditions develop a personality pattern that will lead to good social adjustment.

3. Personality can change: For instance, an individual's personality may be altered by major

life events, such as the birth of a child, the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a significant career
promotion. An individual's personality changes not only in response to abrupt events but also
part of a gradual maturing process

Determinants of Personality

1. Heredity: Human behavior is partly affected by heredity. The parent's qualities are passed
on to the children through the molecular structure of genes located in the chromosomes. In our
day to day life, so many times we use the term "Like father like son" as "Like Mother like
daughter". Physique, intelligence and temperament are the result of heredity.

2. Environment: All personality traits are not determined by heredity. Environment also plays
a very important role in the development of personality of a person. Environment comprises of
culture, family, social and situational factors.

(a) Family: Families influence the behavior of a person especially in the early stages. The
nature of such influence will depend upon the following factors:
  Socio-economic level of the family

 Family size

 Birth order

 Religion

 Parent's educational level and Geographic location.

b) Culture: Culture is sum total of learned believes, values and customs. Cultural factors
determine now a person acts whether independently or dependently. Culture establishes norms,
attitudes and values that are passed along from generation to generation.

(c) Social: Socialization is a process by which an infant acquires customary and acceptable

behavior. Social life has a considerable impact on the individual's behavior. A man is known by
the company he keeps..

(d) Situational: Situational factors also play a very important role in determining the

personality of a person. Life is a collection of experiences. Some of the events and experiences
can serve as important determinants of his personality.

Trait

An integrated system of learned responses called “traits”. For e.g. Honesty, Generosity,
friendliness, Stubbornness, Rigidity, Sensitive, Cruelty and Egocentric etc.

Personality traits reflect basic dimensions on which people differ. There are three criteria that are
characterizing personality traits: (1) consistency, (2) stability, and (3) individual differences.

i) To have a personality trait, individuals must be somewhat consistent across situations

in their behaviors related to the trait. For example, if they are talkative at home, they
tend also to be talkative at work.

ii) Individuals with a trait are also somewhat stable over time in behaviors related to the
trait. If they are talkative, for example, at age 30, they will also tend to be talkative at
age 40.

iii) People differ from one another on behaviors related to the trait. Using speech is not a
personality trait and neither is walking on two feet—virtually all individuals do these
activities, and there are almost no individual differences. But people differ on how
frequently they talk and how active they are, and thus personality traits such as
Talkativeness and Activity Level do exist.
There are many ways to measure personality, but psychologists have mostly given up on trying
to divide humanity neatly into types. Instead, they focus on personality traits.

The most widely accepted of these traits are the Big Five:

1. Openness
2. Conscientiousness
3. Extraversion
4. Agreeableness
5. Neuroticism

Openness

Openness is shorthand for "openness to experience." People who are high in openness enjoy
adventure. They're curious and appreciate art, imagination and new things. The motto of the open
individual might be "Variety is the spice of life." People low in openness is just the opposite:
They prefer to stick to their habits, avoid new experiences and probably aren't the most
adventurous eaters.

Conscientiousness

People who are conscientious are organized and have a strong sense of duty. They're dependable,
disciplined and achievement-focused. People low in conscientiousness are more spontaneous and
freewheeling. They may tend toward carelessness. Conscientiousness is a helpful trait to have, as
it has been linked to achievement in school and on the job.

Extraversion

Extraversion versus introversion is possibly the most recognizable personality trait of the Big
Five. The more of an extravert someone is, the more of a social butterfly they are. Extraverts are
chatty, sociable and draw energy from crowds. They tend to be assertive and cheerful in their
social interactions.

Introverts, on the other hand, need plenty of alone time, perhaps because their brains process
social interaction differently. Introverts can be perfectly charming at parties — they just prefer
solo or small-group activities.

Agreeableness

Agreeableness measures the extent of a person's warmth and kindness. The more agreeable
someone is, the more likely they are to be trusting, helpful and compassionate. Disagreeable
people are cold and suspicious of others, and they're less likely to cooperate.

Neuroticism
A personality trait that reflects the tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety, fear,
sadness, and anger. In contrast, people who are low in neuroticism tend to be emotionally stable
and even-keeled. Unsurprisingly, neuroticism is linked with plenty of bad health outcomes.
Neurotic people die younger than the emotionally stable, possibly because they turn to tobacco
and alcohol to ease their nerves.

APPRECIATIVE INTELLIGENCE

Appreciative Intelligence is the ability to perceive the positive inherent generative potential in a
given situation and to act purposively to transform the potential to outcomes.
In other words, it is the ability to reframe a given situation to recognize the positive possibilities
embedded in it but not apparent to the untrained eye, and to engage in the necessary actions so
that the desired outcomes unfold from the generative aspects of the current situation.
It is not simple optimism. People with appreciative intelligence are realistic and action-oriented.
They have the ability to not just identify positive potential but to devise a course of action to take
advantage of it.

Appreciative Intelligence In Practice

Based on their research, there are three components of Appreciative Intelligence:

 Reframing
 Appreciating the positive
 Seeing how the future unfolds from the present
It also leads to four qualities:
 Persistence
 Conviction that one’s actions matter
 Tolerance for uncertainty
 Irrepressible resilience
These are helpful starting points from which to understand this particular form of intelligence
and how it works.

Appreciative Inquiry Principles

There are five core Principles that underpin the practice of Appreciative Inquiry. They have
seemingly grandiose names, but are, in fact, simple ways to guide us as we go about our daily
lives.
 Social Constructionist ~ Words create worlds
 Simultaneity ~ The very first question starts a change
 Anticipatory ~ Image inspires action
 Poetic ~ What we focus on grows
 Positive ~ Positive affect leads to positive action

Appreciative Inquiry provides insights about

 how we tell stories and construct narratives

  how we interpret things
 how we make meaning of our own stories and the stories of other people
 how we make sense of our lives, and by extension
 how we make sense of our world
 how we can organize for positive change
 how we reconnect with our own power

In relationships, we become aware of

 how we relate to ourselves

 how we relate to others
 how we relate to the world itself

AI helps us become more conscious of

 how we use language

 how we focus our attention
 how we create the results we get
 how we label things
 how we deal with change
 how we envision our future
 how we choose to live our lives
 our strengths and talents