Personality and Ability

Dr. G C Mohanta, BE, MSc(Engg), MBA, PhD(Mgt)

Professor

PersonalityPersonality is relatively stable set of

characteristics that influences an individual’s behavior and lend it consistency.

Personality is sum total of ways in which an individual reacts to & interacts with others

Personality is measurable traits that a person exhibits, such as, shy, aggressive, submissive, lazy, ambitious, loyal and timid

Personality is a collection of emotional thought and behavioral patterns unique to a person that is consistent over time.

Eight Major Personality Factors & Traits 1. Neuroticism (reflects emotional instability versus

emotional stability) 2. Extraversion (high on sociability, talkativeness, energy

and assertiveness) 3. Openness (capacity to entertain different and non-

customary ideas and to change one's behaviour accordingly) 4. Agreeableness (friendly and cooperative) 5. Conscientiousness (dependability and thoroughness) 6. Self-monitoring of behavior (adjusting how we appear to

others) 7. Risk taking and thrill seeking (craving constant

excitement) 8. Optimism (a tendency to experience positive states)

All eight factors have substantial impact on job behavior and performance

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AbilityAbility is the mental or physical capacity

to do something.

Types of ability

Cognitive ability

Physical ability

Motor skill

Physical skill

Emotional intelligence

Cognitive Ability

Synonymous with the general notion of intelligence, cognitive ability has been shown to influence: Reasoning

Decision making

Information processing capacity

Learning

Adaptability to change, particularly in novel or complex situations

Physical Abilities

People’s capacities to engage in the physical tasks required to perform a job.

Common types:

Strength: The capacity to exert physical force against various objects.

Flexibility: The capacity to move one’s body in an agile manner.

Stamina: The capacity to endure physical activity over prolonged periods.

Speed: The ability to move quickly.

Emotional Intelligence The ability to understand and manage one’s own feelings

and emotions and the feelings and emotions of others.

Emotional intelligence refers to qualities, such as,understanding one’s feelings, empathy for others and theregulation of emotion to enhance living.

Emotional intelligence deals with ability to connect withpeople and understand their emotions:

1. Self-awareness

2. Self-management

3. Social awareness

4. Relationship management

High emotional intelligence is associated with the ability tocope with job setbacks.

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AbilitiesCognitive Intelligence: The ability to understand complex ideas, to adapt effectively to the environment, to learn from experience, to engage in various forms of reasoning, and to overcome obstacles by careful thought.

Practical Intelligence: Adeptness at solving the practical problems of everyday life.

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Successful Intelligence

Intelligence that represents a good balance between cognitive intelligence (IQ), practical intelligence and creative intelligence.

Other Cognitive Abilities Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly recognize

similarities and differences in visual stimuli.

Example: A designer recognizing irregular patterns in a fabric.

Number Aptitude: The ability to work with numbers in a quick and accurate manner.

Example: An accountant spotting an error in a financial report.

Spatial Visualization: The ability to imagine how various objects will look when rotated or moved in space.

Example: An architect planning a change in a building design.

Management of Ability

Selection Identify tasks to be accomplished

Identify abilities needed to accomplish tasks

Develop accurate measures of abilities

Placement Match workers to jobs to capitalize on their abilities

Training