The Big 5 Personality Traits

There are a number of traits on which persons can be ranked or measured. However, five core personality traits called the five factor model have been found to be of value for use in organizational situations.

Each of these 5 personality traits describes, relative to other people, the frequency or intensity of a person's feelings, thoughts, or behaviors. Every individual possesses all 5 of these traits, but in varying degree.

For example, we can describe two managers as ‘tolerant’. But there could be significant variation in the degree to which they exercise their tolerance levels.

The model categorizes people as possessing the following traits in varying degrees of high scope and low scope.

Conscientiousness

High Score - Productive and disciplined, rigid and “single tasking”.

      Low Score - Less structured, less productive, more flexible, inventive, and capable of multitasking.

Agreeableness

High Score – Co-operative, can be submissive, and empathetic to others.

      Low Score – Demanding, challenging and competitive, sometimes even argumentative.

Extraversion

High Score – Energetic, Cooperative, talkative, enthusiastic and seek excitement.

Low Score – Loners, not sympathetic, difficult to understand, even a bit eccentric.

Openness to Experience

High Score – Beginners, curious and sometimes unrealistic.

Low Score – Grounded, practical and sometimes resist change.

Neuroticism

High Score – Calm, relaxed and rational. Sometimes can be perceived as being lazy and incapable of taking things seriously.

Low Score - Alert, anxious, sometimes unnecessarily worried.

The 5 personality traits exist on a continuum rather than as attributes that a person does or does not have. Each of these 5 traits is made up individual aspects, which can be measured independently.

The personality traits cannot be studied in isolation. Both positive and negative associations that these traits imply should be considered. For example, conscientiousness is necessary for achieving goals through dedication and focus. Conscientious people reach their goals faster. Conversely,conscientiousness is not very helpful in situations that require