personality traits can affect a person’s professional career development and income. If you’re a Thinker, Judger or Extravert, you have a natural advantage. But what do these results mean if you are a Feeler, Perceiver or Introvert? Can you change your personality to be more successful?
Unfortunately, the answer is never as easy as “yes” or “no.” Much of your personality is formed before you’re even born, so you can’t just become a totally different person. However, understanding what traits contribute to higher levels of success in the professional world can help you be more conscious about the opportunities you pursue in your career.
Get organized. If you’re a Perceiver, you may have a difficult time with structure and organization, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plan and be organized. At work, practice being more organized by focusing on planning one project timeline at first, then expanding from there. Be sure to prepare yourself (at least loosely) for meetings and team discussions, especially when you will be interacting with the boss.
You don’t need to stop rolling with the punches or being spontaneous. However, by combining your natural spontaneity with a structured action plan, you are showing your co-workers that you can be counted on to produce in the office, and that’s the first step to moving through the ranks.
Focus on your career. Thinkers take an active role in progressing their careers. In many cases, that means they consciously consider how projects and opportunities affect their upward mobility. When it comes to income and managerial responsibilities, this helps put Thinkers in the driver’s seat at many organizations. So, if you’re a Feeler, what can you do to succeed?
Since you’re naturally inclined to weigh how people feel into your decision process, it can be difficult to take a cutthroat approach to your career. You don’t have to become a shark, but you do have to make sure you’re considering all sides of an issue. When making a decision, take time to consider the logical, objective perspective as well as the personal. Remember that the best decisions use both your heart and your head.
Build lasting relationships. In case you missed it, Extraversion pays off. Whether it’s income, managerial responsibilities or job satisfaction, Extraverts scored higher than Introverted types. If you’re an Introvert, it might seem like you’re at a natural disadvantage, but focusing on relationships can bring you to the next level.
In your professional life, try to build lasting relationships with your coworkers. Even though you gravitate towards quiet situations and alone time, show your colleagues that you have an active interest in the success of your team, and you want to be a part of it. You don’t need to be outgoing every second of your workday, but making genuine connections with your coworkers and managers will help you grow your network and raise your professional profile.
Understand what makes you happy. The final ingredient for success is all about understanding what drives you. The happier you are with your work situation, the more likely you are to be a productive force in your company. What can you do to become more satisfied? Understand what makes you happy at work, and constantly reevaluate your success benchmarks.
If you’re a Thinker, you may think you have it all figured out: money, responsibility, titles. But you should step back and consider whether or not these things are actually enriching your life, or just making you outwardly happy. If they do make you feel enriched, then by all means, go for them. However, if you find out that you need more stability, a better work-life balance or a deeper feeling of satisfaction, then reevaluate your success benchmarks, and refocus your goals.
It’s all about the small victories
The first step to being more successful is understanding how your personality drives your approach to life in the workplace. Once you have a handle on that, strive to make the kind of small changes that will lead you to a more successful future. Take advantage of the opportunities you have to develop your personality in ways that are key to your success in the office, and don’t be afraid to take on a challenge.
The more small changes you make, the more small victories you will have, and those small victories add up. Do your best to show your coworkers and managers that you can be organized, work with others when you need to and don’t mind stepping out of your comfort zone -- and your small victories will speak for themselves.