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Introduction to Personality and working towards developing it
- Definition & Basics of personality
- Analyzing strength & weaknesses
- Corporate theories on personality Development
- Increasing Vocabulary
- Body Language
- Preparation of Self Introduction Techniques in Personality development Stage I
- Communication Skills
- Listening
- Communication Barriers
- Overcoming these Barriers
- Building Self Esteem and Self Confidence
- Working on attitudes .i.e. aggressive, assertive, and submissive Techniques in Personality development Stage II
- Introduction to Leadership
- Leadership Styles
- Group Dynamics
- Team Building Techniques in Personality development Stage III
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Analysis of Ego States, transactions, & Life positions
- Stress Management
- Causes, Impact & Managing Stress Techniques in Personality development Stage IV
- Introduction to conflict management
- Levels of conflict
- Managing conflict
- Time Management
- Concept of time management
- Steps towards better time management
» Characteristics Of A Healthy Personality
» Benefits Of Anger Management
» Easy Ways To Change Your Image
» How To Improve Working Memory
» How To Make Powerful First Impression
» Self Confidence Exercises
» Confidence Building Exercises
» How To Develop Self Discipline
» Problems In Learning A Language
» How To Grow Old Gracefully
» The Traits Of Successful Entrepreneurs
» Characteristics Of A Leader
» How To Overcome Shyness With Women
» How To Get Rid Of Regret
» How To Quit Quitting
» How To Get Rid Of Fear Of Rejection
» How To Be Assertive
» How To Get Rid Of Unwanted Thoughts
» How To Be A Good Leader
» Effective Leadership Skills
» How To Get Out Of A Bad Mood
» How To Overcome Fear Of The Dark
» How To Be A Natural Leader
» How To Improve Poise
» How To Motivate Yourself
» Tips On Organizing Time
» Utilizing Constructive Criticism
» How To Be More Thankful
» The Art Of Public Speaking
» How To Stay Happy At Home
» How To Become A Mentally Stronger Person
» How To Keep From Having A Judgmental Attitude
» How To Think Like A Millionaire
» How To Get Someone Off Your Mind
» How To Reinvent Yourself
» How To Increase Word Power
» How To Give A Great Speech
» How To Improve Your Posture
» Overcoming Fear Of Abandonment
» How To Be Gracious
» Articulation Exercises
» How To Learn When To Say No
» How To Take A Compliment
» How To Improve Listening Skills
» How To Improve Your Social Skills
» How To Make A Great First Impression
» Positive Communication Techniques
» How To Get Over The Past
» How To Improve Non-Verbal Gestures
» What Your Handshake Says About You
» How To Use Eye Contact For Conversation Success
» Public Speaking Skills
» Anger Management Techniques
» Ways To Feel Good About Yourself
» How To Learn A Foreign Language
» How To Speak English Fluently
Characteristics Of A Healthy Personality
We often hear people comment that a certain person has a great personality or that he needs to
develop one. A personality is a combination of all the small factors that add up to make a person’s
mental constitution. Having a healthy personality plays a key role in defining the person who wields it.
The key to having a healthy personality is to strike a balance with all the elements that make up day
to day life. On the face of it, a person with a healthy personality is cheerful and does not get stressed
easily. A healthy personality will enable a person to think clearly and with reason when everyone else
is following a convention. People with a healthy personality have strength of character and have
individuality of their own. If a person displays a healthy personality, it indicates that he or she is in
good mental health and can be trusted to conduct themselves in a respectable manner and set good
examples to follow. The greatest plus point about having a healthy personality is that it allows for a
fulfilling and meaningful life.
Traits Of A Health Personality
- A person with a healthy personality has the ability to adapt to his or her social environment.
- A healthy personality allows the person to be a good listener and a better advisor. It also
enables a person to be able to understand others easily.
- A person with a healthy personality will have a lot of common sense and will display presence
of mind when it comes to solving problems (big and small).
- A person with a healthy personality will not follow convention without due cause. The healthy
personality lets the person be comfortable with whom they are and the way they look.
- (^) A healthy personality ensures that a person takes great care of his outward appearance and
always presents himself with dignity.
- A healthy personality is magnetic and attracts other to it. A person with a healthy personality
will always display a positive attitude and be cheerful.
- When faced with a personal tragedy, a healthy personality allows a person to overcome the
tragedy without falling prey to depression and contempt. Healthy personalities are also
indicative of emotional stability. It also allows people to be able to express themselves without
hesitation or offence.
- A healthy personality allows a person to function well independently and as part of a team.
- The healthy personality enables a person to see others for who they are to be able to handle
them accordingly.
- People with health personalities do not feel the need to make everyone conform to their
views.
- A healthy personality is also displayed in a person’s desire to stay healthy (physically).
It is not impossible and never too late to develop a healthy personality, especially when it can help in
your personal growth.
Every human being has his very own unique personality. The way people react, respond, relate, and retaliate to situations is what makes up their personality. It is our personality that makes us different from others.
However, psychological health is an important aspect for complete growth. A person who is healthy on a mental and psychological level is what makes up for a healthy personality. Studies Across the Years Various psychological studies have been conducted over the years to understand and pinpoint exactly what a healthy personality is. These studies have resulted in a number of theories. Carl Jung's theory of an individuated person emphasizes on higher forces of nature and their roleplay in a healthy personality. The theory of self- transcendence by Viktor Frankl talks about finding meaning in our past and our actions in order to have a healthy mental state. The importance of social adjustment is reflected in his theory by Erich Fromm. Carl Rogers, in his theory of the fully functional person, sheds light on one's ability to take his own decisions and be spontaneous. The mature person, a theory by Gordon Allport, stresses on the fact that such a personality is developed by moving forward and not by pining on the past. He was one of his kind in an era where all other experts stressed on the past. Another important theory on self-growth and healthy personality is by Abraham Maslow. Also called the self-actualization theory, it explains how a healthy personality is developed over time. Over the years, the development of these theories have led psychologists to sum up the human personality into five important traits. This has led to the development of the "Big Five" personality traits of psychology, also known as OCEAN. It is one of the most common and famous theories of all for personality analysis. The OCEAN theory basically comprises five main spheres: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Out of these five, the first four are positive traits. Neuroticism, in its own, is a negative trait.However, the opposite of it, i.e., emotional stability, is a trait of a healthy personality. Here we have listed for you some basic characteristics of a healthy personality with regard to the OCEAN theory. Openness (O) A healthy personality demands openness and eagerness towards everything in life; old or new. It covers not only new experiences, but new ideas, thoughts, letting go of older conventions and accepting the changing times. Openness also talks about creativeness and a strong imagination. A healthy personality displays an eagerness towards the new and unexplored things in life. Such a person is always up for adventures and risks.
Curiousness is also a part of their nature and they are always anxious to gain more knowledge. They do not have preconceived notions about people or situations and have an open mind towards contemporary ideas. They always aim for a higher quality in life and improve upon their own productivity, be it at home, or work. They are constantly striving to better their styles and techniques. They are not judgmental about people and are acceptable to newer concepts and lifestyles. They believe that a progressive outlook is important for personal improvement. Conscientiousness (C) This trait describes the characteristics of self-organization and efficiency. A healthy personality is generally goal- oriented and has a perspective of what he wants in his life. Such personalities are competent and competitive. Also, they are able to judge themselves and others with a clear and analytical mind. They do not have false notions about their capacities and they can handle failure well.
A person with a healthy personality does not over-criticize himself, yet is always striving to better his own self. Such people are committed to the work they do and are generally self-sufficient. They make the best out of the situations and themselves. They do not complain, nor do they indulge in projectile blaming. They can take acceptance of their own faults and behavior and are always working on them. They are consistent in their work and do not get bored easily. They have a high level of tolerance when it comes to pressure. They are always working hard, striving to succeed in all endeavors. Extraversion (E) Sometimes also spelled as extroversion, this term was advocated by the famous psychologist, Carl Jung. This personality trait sums up the general disposition of a person in a public group and his social behavior. This personality is warm and welcoming to new people in his life. Such people are at ease with making new acquaintances and are relaxed while having conversations. They are outgoing and friendly by nature and have a large group of friends.
unhealthy personality that he takes his rewards too personally and tries to force his superiority over others. This kind of unadjusted person will throw around his weight, brag about his success and make other people feel low about themselves. Someone with healthy personality will always take his success and failure with a pinch of salt and try and evaluate himself realistically. If he has achieved success, he will not let this get to his head and if he has failed then also he will look at the situation for what it is, trying to assess if the failure was because other people in the competition were better than him.
Agreeing With Reality: The well-adjusted person will know about his limitations, whether physical or mental. The fact that he has clarity about his weaknesses, he will be able to improve himself. On the other hand a person with unhealthy personality will always feel self pity for having some sort of limitation and will play the blame game. This will affect his life massively because he will never be able to find ways to compensate for his shortcomings.
Being Responsible: A person with healthy personality recognizes his responsibilities and will always be ready to give in his all to fulfill his duties. He is well aware of the fact that by denying his responsibilities he would have to face social disapproval, which will inevitably affect his confidence levels. He takes responsibility for himself and his actions. If it is his fault then he accepts it gracefully without unnecessarily fighting it. A well-adjusted personality will always admit his mistake. This makes him a reliable person.
Emotional Stability: A person with well-adjusted personality always keeps a check on his emotions, making sure that they are not going out of control and are not hurting anybody else or himself. This kind of person is very comfortable with his emotions and does not hesitate in expressing his emotions in healthy amount. He has, over the period of his life, inculcated in his personality tolerance against stress, depression and anxiety.
Focused: A person with healthy personality will always keep realistic and pragmatic goals, knowing what he can or cannot achieve. While a person with distorted personality will always fail to keep realistic goals for himself, he would constantly either underestimate or overestimate himself. A person with healthy personality is generally organized with his goals while the maladjusted one will not be able to keep his focus and all his resources will be scattered because he would have no clue how to fulfill his unrealistic goal.
Acceptance: A person with healthy personality will always have confidence that he will be able to meet social demands and challenges and he will work hard towards achieving it. He will not live his life primarily for social acceptance but will have full faith in his personality that he will be accepted everywhere he will go. On the other hand, the maladjusted personality will either go out of his way to try and achieve social acceptance or will outspokenly detest it.
The problem is more rampant than we all imagine – an alarming number of men and women find it extremely hard to deal with their anger and end up blowing situations out of proportions. Many of them do not know when to give up the fight and almost none can take a joke on themselves. Anger is cited in ancient texts as one of the biggest enemies of a human being’s body and soul – it can have grievous consequences for the way the body functions too, increasing stress, the blood pressure, and causing other forms of damage too. It impairs judgment, can make a person violent and could even cause the person to lose out on his/her relationships, which are the most valued part of a human being’s existence. There are many who keep away from or maintain distance from loved ones, only for the fear of hurting them in anger. In a situation like this, it is best to learn to control one’s anger or, at least, learn to channelize it in better ways – in ways that are constructive rather than destructive and harmful to the individual. There are several benefits of learning to give one’s anger a better route than by breaking the vase (literally). Here are some ways in which anger control can prove to be advantageous for us.
Advantages Of Anger Management Here are some ways in which controlling anger can be advantageous:
Judgment We all know that anger makes us incapable of being able to take stock of the situation well, impairing our better judgment, and making us prone to making mistakes in sound reasoning. Exercises in anger management are often aimed at channelizing the anger better so that you do not lose control when you lose temper. This would in turn, help you analyse situations better and make you capable of taking stock of situations. Better Communication Anger is often caused by misunderstandings, which are, in turn, caused by faulty communication between the two parties involved. A lot of anger and the stress that it causes can be avoided by opening up communication lines and making oneself available to dialogue. Controlling and channelizing one’s anger in a constructive and non stressful way will not only open up lines of communication further but will also turn you into someone who is approachable and easy to talk to. Empathy Training in anger management is extremely beneficial for developing empathy for the other party, which helps one party understand the other better, which would decrease chances of further conflicts and disputes. Many a times, anger builds up because the party involved refuses to see the situation from the other person’s point of view. When you begin to develop empathy for the other person and try to see life from their perspective, there will be no room for conflict at all.
Fewer Disputes Disputes are conflicts that go out of control and conflicts are differences of opinion, which are expressed rather aggressively. It is important for us to see where it begins and be able to nip a possible dispute in the bud. This can only be done when one is able to treat differences in opinion as just opinions rather than personal attacks on someone’s belief. Being able to control anger will definitely help avoid silly disputes.
Closer And More Healthy Relationships Many people who have serious anger related issues, stay away from their loved ones when they realise that they are hurting people with their anger. Since the people we love are closest to us, they are often the first victims when we lose control. Controlling anger and channelizing anger better will make the person concerned more capable of leading a life that is relatively free of ugly scenes or outbursts of anger.
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Everyone views themselves a certain way, but the way everyone else sees you may not match up. If you’re no longer satisfied with the version of yourself that you show to other people, it may be time to alter your public image. Changing your image isn’t about overriding who you are as a person, but embracing certain values and characteristics and making them part of the behavior that you project outwardly. To start, all you need to do is recognize the traits that you want to develop, work on modifying your habits and update your look to reflect your new sense of self.
Zeroing in on a New Image
Think about the way people see you now. Before you can come up with the right new image, put some thought into the image other people have of you now. What kind of things do people tend to say about you? What are some of your best qualities, according to your friends? Reflect on your many interactions and how others often regard you. Identifying your existing image is the first step to making a gradual shift.[1]
- Put yourself in the position of an outside observer and think about your role amongst your friends and family. Are you the shy one that’s hesitant to come out of your shell? The loud, boisterous joker? Examining yourself in these terms can help you target which parts of yourself you want to work on.[2]
Paint a picture in your mind of how you want to be seen. You’re on a quest for a new image, but what should it be, exactly? Decide what characteristics you want people to associate you with. You might wish to be admired for your bravery and stoicism like your favorite adventure hero, channel the sensuality of a fashion icon or give off the class and sophistication of a classic movie star. Think about what your idols are like and how you can tailor your public appearance to be more like them.[3]
- Start small. Obviously it’s impossible to become an entrepreneurial success or a beloved socialite overnight. Begin with the basic personality traits you wish to have and make room for them in your life.
- Choose your new image carefully. It should still be in line with your personal values and beliefs.
Iron out your less desirable characteristics. Your image is largely the result of the parts of your behavior that you put on display. Therefore, changing yourself in other people's eyes will require you to make your good qualities more obvious while working to minimize your negative ones. Think about a certain aspect of your character that someone has taken issue with in the past and make a note to yourself to amend behaviors that others find off-putting. If you often find yourself getting defensive and becoming argumentative in disputes, for instance, make an effort to keep a level head and acknowledge the opinions of others. After a while, people will pick up on these behavioral differences and begin to view you in a new light.[4]
Change the way you think about yourself. Before you can overhaul your image with others, you have to be able to accept your own self-image. Do this by changing the internal language that you use. Take into account the traits you want to have and start thinking about yourself in those terms. For instance, if you’re use to thinking “I’m not sure I can do this” when confronted with difficult tasks, and you want your new image to be that of a strong, self-assured leader, start telling yourself “I’ve got this, and if I fail at least I gave it my best shot.” Your actions will follow the same course as your thoughts.[11]
- It can be daunting to make such a big change, but remember that many of your thoughts and characteristics are formed through behavioral patterns and can be relearned with enough conditioning.
- Changing your external image starts with changing your internal attitude.
Be conscious of the way you’re acting. Take account of your actions to make sure that you’re being the kind of person you want to be seen as. Remind yourself of the goals you set and the traits you’re trying to promote. Modifying your image can be a long, repetitive process of making small corrections to your behavior until they become second nature. You’ll find yourself gradually becoming more comfortable with yourself as you evolve.[12]
- Audit your behavior constantly. Keep in mind the way you want to come across and choose your words and actions accordingly.
Try to work on one aspect of yourself at a time. Don’t try to do too much at once. If you've always been the shy, quiet type, there’s no use in trying to immediately transform yourself into the life of the party. Pick one or two characteristics you want to tweak and give those your attention. Once you’ve changed your patterns of thought and behavior, you can use this progress to guide yourself toward bigger, more substantive changes.[13]
- Be patient. It can be disheartening to feel like people aren’t seeing you the way you want to be seen, but changing your image just takes time.
- Reward yourself for small successes. Practice positive thinking by encouraging yourself whenever you break a bad habit, or react to something in a way your old self wouldn’t have.
Make sure others notice the change. Though changing your image is mostly about altering the way you view and carry yourself, it’s other people that witness the image you put forth. Make sure they notice the development you’ve undergone. Let your new practiced characteristics be the ones you use to interact with those around you. With time, they’ll come to stop thinking of you the way they always have and get used to the new you.[14]
- Since no one can read your thoughts, a change of image means a change in the ways you act and react toward other people. Be mindful of the way you want to come across when presenting your new image.
Part 3
Embodying Your New Image
Update your appearance. Like it or not, the way you feel about yourself, and the way others view you, is closely linked to how you look. When searching for a new image, make clothing and style choices that reflect the attitude you’re trying to display. For example, wearing dark clothing can help you give off an edgier, more confident image if you’re used to wearing brightly colored clothes, or you might simply take the slouch out of your posture, smile and look people in the eye to get the message across that you’re socially at ease.[15]
- Wear clothes that accentuate your new outlook. Take chances. Sometimes, a new wardrobe is all it takes for people to start looking at you differently.[16]
- (^) Body language is every bit as important for making a good impression as clothing, grooming, makeup and other accessories. In fact, your body language speaks more about your inward personality than the way you dress yourself.[17]
Project your desired characteristics. Use your new look to advertise your new image. Getting your appearance in order will give you the confidence to implement your new character traits and help you feel more like the person you want other people to see. Let your new clothes, style or body language serve as cues to remind you how to carry yourself. Think of your appearance as a kind of uniform that represents your desired image.[18]
- Take some time to fix your appearance before dealing with people, even if it’s just to practice smiling or keeping an inviting stance. This can make you feel more self-assured.
Treat others the way you wish to be treated. This could also be written "treat others the way you wish to be seen." The "Golden Rule" is an age-old adage, but it's one that's easy to forget when you're too wrapped up in your own perceptions. If everyone else doesn't seem to be viewing you the way you'd like, it may be a reflection of your actions. Make sure you're living up to the standards you've set for your new image. Remember that people form their impressions of you based on what you show them.[19]
- Your reputation with others often acts as a kind of mirror for the way you're living.
- Being more conscientious about how you treat people will not only help you improve your standing but bring you personal satisfaction.[20]
Stay true to yourself. Making changes to your image is not the same as acting like someone you’re not. There’s no sense in acting differently if you’re not being yourself. Be yourself and listen to your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it, even if you want it to be part of your new image. Rather than ignoring who you are at heart, your new image should be sincere, refined by the addition of characteristics and values that you admire. It’s about becoming a better version of yourself and putting that on display to the world, not fabricating a fake persona.[21]
- Your new image should be authentic in the sense that you act in a way that is consistent with your true feelings.
- Acting like somebody you’re not can be emotionally exhausting and leave you feeling dissatisfied with yourself and your relationships.[22]
And by understanding your weaknesses, you can manage and eliminate
threats that might otherwise hurt your ability to move forward.
If you look at yourself using the SWOT framework, you can start to
separate yourself from your peers, and further develop the specialized
talents and abilities you need to advance your career and help you achieve
your personal goals
Strengths
- What advantages do you have that others don't have (for example, skills, certifications, education, or connections)?
- What do you do better than anyone else?
- What personal resources can you access?
- What do other people (and your boss, in particular) see as your strengths?
- Which of your achievements are you most proud of?
- What values do you believe in that others fail to exhibit?
- Are you part of a network that no one else is involved in? If so, what connections do you have with influential people?
Consider this from your own perspective, and from the point of view of the
people around you. And don't be modest or shy – be as objective as you
can. Knowing and using your strengths can make you happier and more
fulfilled at work. See our StrengthsFinder article for more help on this.
And if you still have any difficulty identifying your strengths, write down a list
of your personal characteristics. Some of these will hopefully be strengths!
You can also learn more in our article on Your Reflected Best Self™.
Tip:
Think about your strengths in relation to the people around you. For
example, if you're a great mathematician and the people around you are
also great at math, then this is not likely to be a strength in your current
role – it may be a necessity.
Weaknesses
- What tasks do you usually avoid because you don't feel confident doing them?
- What will the people around you see as your weaknesses?
- Are you completely confident in your education and skills training? If not, where are you weakest?
- What are your negative work habits (for example, are you often late, are you disorganized, do you have a short temper, or are you poor at handling stress)?
- Do you have personality traits that hold you back in your field? For instance, if you have to conduct meetings on a regular basis, a fear of public speaking would be a major weakness.
Again, consider this from a personal/internal perspective and an external
perspective. Do other people see weaknesses that you don't see? Do co-
workers consistently outperform you in key areas? Be realistic – it's best to
face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible.
Opportunities
- What new technology can help you? Or can you get help from others or from people via the Internet?
- Is your industry growing? If so, how can you take advantage of the current market?
- Do you have a network of strategic contacts to help you, or offer good advice?
- What trends (management or otherwise) do you see in your company, and how can you take advantage of them?
- Are any of your competitors failing to do something important? If so, can you take advantage of their mistakes?
- Is there a need in your company or industry that no one is filling?
- Do your customers or vendors complain about something in your company? If so, could you create an opportunity by offering a solution?
You might find useful opportunities in the following:
