Personality and the Brain

A person who scores high on this trait tends to be honest and direct when, for instance, giving feedback to colleagues. This trait holds, even if honesty leads to a personal disadvantage, because moral rules and ethical behavior are an essential part of that person’s personality. In contrast, a person who scores low is perceived as being more assertive, and is more skilled in nudging their colleagues to, for instance, impose their personal opinion on a project. This can be especially helpful in discussions with clients.

A person who scores high on this trait tends to have a natural instinct for sensing the true emotions of colleagues around them and be influenced by them. This enables them to display valuable empathy towards team members and understand their behavior better. This skill is perceived as them being more authentic by colleagues and clients. On the other side, a person who scores low on emotionality is relatively emotionally stable and can, thus, more easily discern their own emotions from the ones of people in their surroundings. This helps them to feel less emotionally overwhelmed in, for instance, difficult meetings and regulate their own emotions better. Furthermore, they are more resilient, which leads to more stable mental but also physical health.

A person who scores high on this trait is generally perceived as talkative and outgoing and feels energized by social activities and being surrounded by people. At work, they present themselves very confident and self-secure, for instance, when giving presentations. They generally create a positive atmosphere into team dynamics and can, thus, help elevate motivation. In contrast, a person who scores low on this trait enjoys spending time alone and gain energy from that. They are happy when they work on individual tasks without additional help. This enables them to have a deeper focus, which also makes them great thinkers about difficult problems.

A person who scores high on this trait values interpersonal relations a lot and, thus, avoids conflicts with colleagues by adapting their behavior toward them. In discussions, they are more likely to agree with other colleagues’ opinions, even if it goes against their own. Therefore, they are perceived as being great collaborators and can help when negotiations get difficult. Contrastingly, a person who scores low on this trait tends to be critical of other colleagues’ opinions and has no difficulties expressing disagreement. In a team, they function well as taking the role of keeping a skeptical view on important decisions and warn of potential risks and obstacles. Thus, they represent a more realistic view of matters.

A person who scores high on conscientiousness has a very organized style of working and plans ahead most of the time. Other colleagues perceive them as highly disciplined and motivated to get work done and someone who is in control of their behavior and life. They can be very good in proof-reading a colleague’s work or help scheduling meetings and are seen as a very reliable team member.

A person who scores high on this trait likes to explore new topics and areas of work and enjoys task diversity. They are also more creative in problem solving and offer rather unconventional ways of dealing with issues. In relation to colleagues and clients, they are open to listen to and take different perspectives and opinions. A person who scores low on openness to experience cares about routines and likes to stick to what they know. This helps to increase the practicality of their working style and focus on one single task rather than several. Additionally, they feel comfortable in situations where conformity is expected.