The people who are the most financially successful tend to be extroverts, according to the World Economic Forum. Personality traits like being outgoing, willing to engage with other people, being expressive, and having high energy can have a positive impact on the careers and lives of extroverts. But personality is more than just the traits you exhibit; it’s at the core of who you are.
“Personality is often described as the unique set of traits that influence beliefs and behaviors that characterize an individual; these tend to stay relatively consistent and stable over time,” explains Marie-Hélène Pelletier, PhD, a workplace mental health expert, psychologist, and author.
Whether it’s in everyday life, in relationships, or on the job, your personality plays a big part in what you say and the things you do. If you understand your personality traits, you can learn how to put them to work in ways that benefit you. Let’s take a look at how you can accentuate the positives, and let your personality help you boost your career.
How Your Personality Impacts Your Career
Your personality colors your outlook and point of view. You see things based on your past thoughts and experiences, and it impacts what you believe will happen in the future. That outlook translates into your workplace and career decisions.
“Personalities shape our self-perception, how others perceive us, and our interpersonal interactions in the workplace, which are crucial to career progression and satisfaction,” explains Jenny Woo, PhD, founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion. “Our personality traits are the lens through which we gauge our capabilities and interests, guiding us toward career choices that resonate with our individual dispositions,” she adds.
If you have an optimistic personality, research shows that you are likely to have more career success than someone who is pessimistic. In fact, sales representatives with optimistic traits sold almost 40% more life insurance in the first two years than those with a pessimistic outlook.1
A 2021 study confirmed how powerful personality can be. It not only affects workplace success, but also is important to consider when starting out on your career path.2
Gaining insight into your personality traits is a powerful step toward deepening self-awareness. Understanding your strengths and discomfort zones enables you to make strategic career moves that put you in roles and environments where you’ll [be] likely to excel and find fulfillment.
“For example, extroverts may thrive in collaborative and social environments, while introverts might excel in roles requiring deep focus. Leveraging your strengths while acknowledging and managing your weaker areas can increase career satisfaction and effectiveness,” she states.
Your Personality Can Benefit Your Career
The first key to letting your personality be a beneficial driving force in your career is to allow the authentic “you” to shine through. Be yourself. That doesn’t mean you cast aside decorum and professionalism in the name of being lax and too casual. It does mean that you take an introspective look at yourself.
What do you like to do? What are you good at? What is important to you? How does your personality cater to those things? If you like working behind the scenes, and your personality is more subdued, you may not be as successful in a career that requires giving speeches and leading teams. If you are a deep thinker and a problem-solver who needs time to process things, moving up the ladder in a career where you always have to think on your feet may not play to those strengths.
“Know yourself (personality and other aspects) as well as possible; gain this knowledge from diverse sources—personality tests you may have done at work, feedback you get consistently from colleagues and friends, [and] your own observations,” Dr. Pelletier says.
This approach helps you start on the journey, and gives you forward momentum. It can also help you carve your path and know what you want out of your career.
“[As] you look at your next role, explore what traits might make someone most successful in it, and compare this to your own personality. Sometimes, a good match is best, sometimes a diverse group is best—this will depend on context, and you’ll have a better understanding if you’ve given this some consideration,” Dr. Pelletier advises.
Actively engage in activities and seek out assignments in areas where your personality shines through. If you’re happier and more fulfilled in your work, and your productivity increases, chances are that people will notice.
Let your good work speak for you. Your passion and abilities can open doors of opportunity.
Personality Alone May Not Be Enough
Ideally, everyone would find their work fulfilling, engaging, and love what they do. But we all know that’s not always the case. Your job may not be one that fits your personality. You may find that although you are a gregarious, engaging person, you have a position where staying quiet and working alone is what gets the job done.
It can seem difficult to hold back, in a sense, and not be yourself in the way that you would like to. It can also be hard to figure out how this scenario will still give you the leverage that you need to advance and excel.
The key is to do the work that you’re given to the best of your ability, letting traits of a positive work ethic and discipline shine through. Be a team player who makes valuable contributions. While they may not be the part of your personality you most desire to put into play, those characteristics can still help propel you to the next level.
“It’s about the conscious application of soft skills—such as active listening, empathy, and diplomacy—which may not correlate directly with one’s innate personality traits but are crucial for career advancement and creating a positive work environment,” Dr. Woo notes.
When you’ve put in the work to cultivate your personality traits in a positive way, and looked for jobs that align with those traits, you’re more likely to be in a position of using those skills to advance in your career.
“Boosting your career based on your personality involves leveraging your natural strengths in ways that are visible and valuable, and seeking out opportunities to apply your unique traits in ways
that contribute to your team and align with your career desires,” Dr. Woo says.