The Benefits of a Positive Personality On Career Success

Be a Star -Murad Abel

Daily life can be hard but those who have a positive personality are likely to go further than those who don’t. Being positive has significant benefits for your career and for your psychological well-being. Those who master the art of looking for the best possible outcomes also come to find that they make friends easily and are able to move up the career ladder faster than those with negative dispositions.

We have all met that grumpy person who tears down everything they talk about or focus on. They chronically complain; food, clothes, job, life, money…anything! Their negative behavior becomes catchy and the more time you spend with this person the more likely you are going to start thinking like them.

Don’t live by their example. Seek to develop your own positive outlook on life. Doing so will lead to greater career opportunities and more friends. A positive personality will help you develop resilience when life does become difficult. Looking for the best possible outcomes is an exercise of the mind. 

Personality has a large impact on whether or not a person is liked by others. For example, teachers who are appreciated by others showed traits of extroversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, emotional stability, and openness (Eryilmaz, 2014). They were easy to get along with and were generally non-judgmental of others.

We are attracted to people who are positive because they help us feel good about ourselves and the potential of developing relationships. When someone shows a positive personality we trust their judgment. Why not? They like us right? Our assessment of them becomes reciprocal as we feed off of their positive energy.

It is natural that those who can attract other people also attract greater opportunities. Most of us love to work with people who are happy, positive, and feel like they can accomplish anything. We enjoy sharing opportunities with those who help us feel good and appreciate our presence.

Developing a positive outlook requires thinking about all the blessings you have. Gratitude and savoring was a predictor of positive psychological affectivity (Mailolino & Kuiper, 2014). Being appreciative of life, your career, and your opportunities can go a long way in developing your contentment.

Being positive has many benefits for your psychological health as well as your career. Developing a positive way of thinking about yourself, your life, and your prospects impacts not only your opportunities but also the way in which you see the world. Once a positive outlook is mastered you will find yourself creating the confidence needed to tackle any important job task leading to greater performance and more support. 

Be a Star: The photo was taken at La Jolla Beach and represents our goals and aspirations in life. The water in the background looks a little like sparks while the attention is focused on the start itself. The shutter speed could be adjusted to create a different waterfall look. Posters of the picture are available on the Creative Works Page or Fine Art America. 

Eryilmaz, A. (2014). Perceived personality traits and types of teachers and their relationship to the subjective well-being and academic achievement of adolescents. Educational Science, 14 (6).

Maiolino, N. & Kuiper, N. (2014). Integrating human and positive psychology approaches to psychological well-being. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 10 (3).

Book Review: Start with Humility: Lessons from America’s Quiet CEOs on How to Build Trust and Inspire Followers By Merwyn A. Hayes and Michael D. Comer

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.  ~~ Confucius

Do you struggle with humility?  Are you a poor listener?  Do you forget to acknowledge others?  If you want to improve your leadership skills, pick up this book with an open mind and read.

The authors, Hayes and Comer, look at five leaders who represent humility:

1.   Craig Weatherup, former Chairman and CEO of Pepsi Cola Company

2.   Alex Gregory, president and CEO of YKK Corporation of America (the zipper company)

3.   General (retired) Frederick Franks, former Commander of the US Army XVII corps, leader of Desert Storm Main Ground Attack, and Commanding General, Army Training and Doctrine Command). Yes, he was the former head of the Chief Intelligence Agency, who later forgot about humility.

4.   Linda Combs, former Controller, Office of Management and Budget

5.   Jim Thompson, former CEO of the Federation of State Medical Boards. (Hayes & Comer, 2010, p. xii)

Hayes and Comer start by telling you what humility is and what it is not.  Humility is humanness, vulnerability, ability to keep one’s accomplishments in perspective, and the soil that grows effective leaders (p. 8).  Humility is not weakness, lack of confidence, low self-esteem, absence of ego, nor lack of confidence, low self-esteem, absence of ego, nor a lack of assertiveness, ambition, nor speaking out (p. 8).

Hayes and Comer go on to do what most other leadership books do, tell you to self-assess.  Find out if you are an authentic leader?  “One of the most overlooked characteristics in authentic leadership is humility, the overarching virtue that enforces all the other virtues common to exceptional leaders:  Honesty, integrity, wisdom, confidence, compassion, and courage” (p. 18).

The final section of the book is on How Humility Demonstrates Itself. Hayes and Comer list six humble competencies, explaining each one and listing the behaviors that model the competency. They also provide coaching tips. 

CONCLUSION

The final stage of this book and the process of applying humility to your own personal leadership style are to sustain what you have learned from reading the book.  The final section of the book is cues for engaging the brain to put the action into what you have learned.

Dr. Andree Swanson

Reference

Hayes, M., & Comer, M. (2010). Start with humility: Lessons from America’s quiet CEOs on how to build trust and inspire followers. Westfield, IN: The Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership.