Personal Development

THE CONCEPT OF PERSONALITY- DEFINITION:

Personality
- refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving.
- is that pattern of characteristic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that distinguishes one
person from another and that persists over time.
- it is the sum of biologically based and learnt behavior which forms the person's unique
responses to environmental stimuli.

DIMENSIONS OF PERSONALITY
The Big Five personality traits, also known as the five factor model (FFM), is a model based on common
language descriptors of personality (lexical hypothesis). This widely examined theory suggests five broad
dimensions used by some psychologists to describe the human personality and psyche. The five factors
have been defined as openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and
neuroticism, often listed under the acronyms “OCEAN”.

a. Openness to experience
- describes a person's degree of intellectual curiosity, creativity, appreciation for art, emotion,
adventure, unusual ideas, curiosity, and variety of experience.
b. Conscientiousness
- is a tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement.
- Conscientiousness also refers to planning, organization, and dependability.
c. Extraversion
- describes energy, positive emotions, assertiveness, sociability, talkativeness, and the
tendency to seek stimulation in the company of others.
d. Agreeableness
- is a tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic
towards others.
- It is also a measure of one's trusting and helpful nature, and whether a person is generally
well-tempered or not.
e. Neuroticism
- is a tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily, such as anger, anxiety, depression,
and vulnerability.
- Neuroticism also refers to the degree of emotional stability and impulse control and is
sometimes referred to by its low pole, "emotional stability".

Dimension of
High Level Low level
Personality
Openness to experience Inventive, Curious Cautious, Conservative
 Conscientiousness Efficient, Organized Easy going, Careless
Extraversion Outgoing, Energetic Solitary, Reserved
Agreeableness Friendly, Compassionate Competitive, Outspoken
Neuroticism Sensitive, Nervous Secure, Confident

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT:
Personality development includes activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents
and potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to
the realization of dreams and aspirations. When personal development takes place in the context of
institutions, it refers to the methods, programs, tools, techniques, and assessment systems that support
human development at the individual level in organizations.

SIGNIFICANCE OR IMPORTANCE OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT:

Most people underestimate the importance of having a pleasing personality. Majority think it just
means being born good-looking, that there isn’t anything much to do about it. But this is not true. The
scope of personality development is quite broad. It includes knowing how to dress well, social graces,
grooming, speech and interpersonal skills.

To better appreciate its importance, some of the key benefits of developing your personality include the
following:
a. Confidence
- Personality development gives more confidence to people. When you know you are
appropriately attired and groomed, this makes you less anxious when meeting a person.
Knowing the right things to say and how to conduct yourself will increase your confidence.
b. Credibility
- Personality development makes people more credible. Despite the saying that you don’t
judge a book by its cover, people do tend to judge people by their clothing and how it is
worn. This does not mean buying expensive clothes. We all know people who look shabby
in expensive clothes. There are also people who look great even if their attire is inexpensive.
Because of this, you must know what to wear and you must be aware of other aspects of
enhancing your physical features.
c. Interaction
- Personality development encourages people to interact with others. Studies have consistently
shown that people communicate more openly with people they are comfortable with. If your
hygiene and social graces are unrefined, then expect to have a much harder time connecting
with people.

d. Leading and Motivating

- Personality development enhances the capacity to lead and motivate. A person with a
winning personality will be able to motivate better. People are less likely to get bored, and
our ideas will have more credibility. We can lead better if we project an aura of confidence
and credibility.
e. Curiosity
 - A single wrong word can destroy a business relationship. Knowing the right things to say
shows both respect and intellectual sophistication. This is especially the case if you are
dealing with foreigners or if you conduct business outside the country. The right thing to do
in our country could be horrible blunders in a different culture. These are the soft skills that
may break or make a deal.
f. Communication skills
- It improves your communication skills. People are more receptive to what you say if they
are impressed with your personality. Verbal communication skills are also part of
personality development; improving your speech will strengthen the impact of your
message.

You cannot win by talent and hard work alone. Personality development is a crucial
ingredient that you must obtain. Most of the people you see as models of great personality have
taken a lot of effort in developing their natural features.

CONCEPT OF SUCCESS
What makes a person successful? How do we recognize success?
To some people, success might mean wealth. To others, it is recognition, good health,
good family, happiness, satisfaction, and peace of mind. What this really tells us is that
success is subjective. It can mean different things to different people.

The best definition for success is

“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal”
"Progressive" means that success is a journey, not a
destination. We never arrive. After we reach one goal, we go
on to the next and the next and the next.
"Realization" means it is an experience. Outside forces
cannot make me feel successful. I have to feel it within
myself. It is internal not external.
"Worthy" refers to our value system. Which way are we
heading? Positive or negative? Worthiness determines the
quality of the journey. That is what gives meaning and
fulfilment. Success without fulfillment is empty.

"Goals" are important. Because they give us a sense of direction.

Why are Goals important?

Most People don't know how to set goals. Some set goals that are too general. These are, in
reality, fantasies common to everyone. Goals, on the other hand, are clear, written, specific, and
measurable. Most People fear failure. Failure hurts, but it is often necessary to experience failure in
order to achieve the greatest success. Do not unconsciously sabotage yourself by not setting any goals in
which you might fail. They fear rejection. People are often afraid that if they are unsuccessful at
achieving a goal, others will be critical of them. This is remedied by keeping your goals to yourself at
the outset; let others see your results and achievements once you've accomplished your goals.
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCCESS

1. Desire:
The motivation to success comes from the burning desire to achieve a purpose.
Napoleon Hill wrote, "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind can
achieve."
A young man asked Socrates the secret to success. Socrates told the young man to meet
him near the river the next morning. They met. Socrates asked the young man to walk
with him toward the river. When the water got up to their neck, Socrates took the young
man by surprise and ducked him into the water. The boy struggled to get out but Socrates
was strong and kept him there until the boy started turning blue. Socrates pulled his head
out of the water and the first thing the young man did was to gasp and take a deep breath
of air. Socrates asked, 'What did you want the most when you were there?" The boy
replied, "Air." Socrates said, "That is the secret to success. When you want success as
badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it." There is no other secret.

2. Commitment
Prosperity and success are the result of our thoughts and decisions. It is our
decision what thoughts will dominate our lives. Success is not an accident. It is the result
of our attitude.
There is a big difference between playing to win and playing not to lose. When
we play to win, we play with enthusiasm and commitment; whereas when we play not to
lose, we are playing from a position of weakness. When we play not to lose, we are
playing to avoid failure. We all want to win, but very few are prepared to pay the price to
prepare to win. Winners condition and commit themselves to winning. Playing to win
comes out of inspiration, whereas playing not to lose comes out of desperation. There are
no ideal circumstances. There will never be. To reach anywhere we cannot just drift nor
lie at anchor. We need to sometimes sail with the wind and sometimes against it, but sail
we must.
Ask any coach or athlete what the difference between the best and the worst
team is. There would be very little difference in their physique, talent and ability. The
biggest difference you will find is emotional difference. The winning team has
dedication and they make the extra effort.

3. Responsibility
“A duty which becomes a desire will ultimately become a delight.”
--George Gritter People
 Most people would rather stay in their comfort zone and live passive lives
without accepting responsibilities. They drift through life waiting for things to happen
rather than making them happen. Accepting responsibilities involves taking calculated,
not foolish, risks. It means evaluating all the pros and cons, then taking the most
appropriate decision or action. Responsible people don't think that the world owes them a
living.

4. Hard Work
Success is not something that you run into by accident. It takes a lot of
preparation and character. Everyone likes to win but how many are willing to put in the
effort and time to prepare to win? It takes sacrifice and self-discipline. There is no
substitute for hard work.
Henry Ford said, "The harder you work, the luckier you get."
The world is full of willing workers, some willing to work and the others
willing to let them.
One cannot develop a capacity to do anything without hard work, just as a person cannot
learn how to spell by sitting on a dictionary. Professionals make things look easy because
they have mastered the fundamentals of whatever they do.

5. Character
Character is the sum total of a person's values, beliefs and personality. It is reflected in our
behavior, in our actions. It needs to be preserved more than the richest jewel in the world. To be a
winner takes character. George Washington said, "I hope I shall always possess firmness and
virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most valuable of all titles, the character of an
honest man."

6. Positive Believing
What is the difference between positive thinking and positive believing? Positive thinking is
better than negative thinking and it will help us use our abilities to the fullest. Positive believing
is a lot more than positive thinking. It is having a reason to believe that positive thinking will
work. Positive believing is an attitude of confidence that comes with preparation. Having a
positive attitude without making the effort is nothing more than having a wishful dream. The
following illustrates positive believing.

7. Give More Than You Get

If you want to get ahead in life, go the extra mile. There is no competition on the extra mile. Are
you willing to do a little more than you get paid for? How many people you know are willing to
do a little bit more than what they get paid for? Hardly any. Most people don't want to do what
they get paid for and there is a second category of people who only want to do what they can get
by with. They fulfil their quota just to keep their jobs. There is a small fraction who are willing to
do a little bit more than what they get paid for.
 The advantages of doing more than you get paid for are:
● You make yourself more valuable, regardless of what you do and where you work.
● It gives you more confidence.
● People start looking at you as a leader.
● Others start trusting you.
● Superiors start respecting you.
● It breeds loyalty from both your subordinates and your superiors.
● It generates cooperation.

8. The Power of Persistence

Nothing will take the place of persistence. The journey to being your best is not easy. It is full of
setbacks. Winners have the ability to overcome and bounce back with even greater resolve.
Fritz Kreisler, the great violinist, was once asked, "How do you play so well? Are you lucky?" He
replied, "It is practice. If I don't practice for a month, the audience can tell the difference. If I
don't practice for a week, my wife can tell the difference. If I don't practice for a day, I can tell the
difference."
Persistence means commitment and determination. There is pleasure in endurance. Commitment
and persistence is a decision. Athletes put in years of practice for a few seconds or minutes of
performance. Persistence is a decision. It is a commitment to finish what you start. When we are
exhausted, quitting looks good. But winners endure. Ask a winning athlete. He endures pain and
finishes what he started.

HURDLES IN ACHIEVING SUCCESS:

Although there are lot of potential obstacles, the following hurdles are more common.
1. Lack of information
Information can have one of two effects. With too much you can be overwhelmed, and can
stop you from making a decision or taking the next steps. With too little information you
are not able to put things into perspective, or look at the bigger picture.

2. Lack of skill
In order to move forwards you may have to pick up skills along the way. This need not be
an enormous challenge. As part of your goal setting, understanding what skills you need to
acquire, and how you will acquire them will form steps of your plan.

3. Limiting beliefs
We all have a set of beliefs by which we live our lives. These are set in our subconscious
at an early age. Sometimes these beliefs can hold you back and limit your ability to
achieve you goals.

4. Well being
Despite your best efforts, there may be times when you are simply not able to pursue your
goals. A sudden illness or injury can put set you back. When this happens you need to be
realistic. (Health)

5. Other people
Quite often the people that are closest to us fear us achieving our goals. For them this
means that you may change and that will also mean change for them. They may not be
aware how important your goals are to you.
If the people you share your time with for example family, friends, colleagues to not
understand and support your goals, there is a chance that you may be influenced by this. If
these people are adverse to change then they may well sabotage you plans.
 6. Own motivation
Although you may see out with the best intentions, after a while the novelty may wear off
or there are other distractions. This may be down to a number of factors. Perhaps the goals
that you set were too large, and needed to be broken down into smaller manageable
chunks.

If it requires modification because circumstances have changed, then change it. If it no

longer serves you, then don’t waste your energy following up on something just because
you started it.

7. Time
We all live in a world where we don’t seem to have enough time. Many of us are “time
poor”, which means that we do not manage our use of time to get the best results.
If we approach our use of time without any structure we may just leap from one thing to
another in no particular order. Without priority we will move from one thing to the next
urgent thing.

8. Money
Money is a common reason for not pursuing your goal. Usually it is the lack of money that
stops you. When you hear someone say “I can’t afford it” or “I just don’t have the
money”. These statements are usually offered up without much hesitation.

9. Fear
If you need to do something that takes you right outside of your comfort zone for the first
time, which may well install fear into you. Then there is the fear of failure. What will
those around you think if you don’t achieve you goal.

FAILURE
Failure can be defined as the state or condition of not achieving a desirable or intended
objective; it can be considered the opposite of success. Failure is just a state of mind. You are a
failure only if you think that you failed. Your attitude towards a certain situation determines
whether or not you have failed. The fact is that everyone fails in something or the other at some
point in their lives.
Look at the following failures and come to a conclusion yourself:
1. Only 400 Cokes were sold in its first year of production.
2. Albert Einstein’s Ph.D dissertation was rejected.

CAUSES OF FAILURE
a. Lack of Persistence
More people fail not because they lack knowledge or talent but because they just quit. It’s
important to remember two words: persistence and resistance. Persist in what must be
done and resist what ought not to be done.

b. Lack of Conviction
People who lack conviction take the middle of the road. But what happens in the middle
of the road? You get run over. People without conviction go along to get along because
 they lack confidence and courage. They conform in order to get accepted, even when they
know that what they are doing is wrong.
Decide what is important to you. If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing
right and doing well.

c. Rationalization
Winners might analyze, but they never rationalize. Losers rationalize and have a book
full of excuses to tell you why they couldn’t succeed. Change your perspective. Don’t
think of every unsuccessful attempt as a failure.

d. Dismissal of Past Mistakes

Some people live and learn, and some only live. Failure is a teacher if we have the right
attitude. Wise people learn from their mistakes—experience is the name they give to
slipups.

e. Lack of Discipline
Anyone who has accomplished anything worthwhile has never done it without discipline.
Discipline takes self-control, sacrifice and avoiding distractions and temptations. It means
staying focused.

f. Poor Self-Esteem
Poor self-esteem is a lack of self-respect and self-worth. People with low self-confidence
are constantly trying to find themselves rather than creating the person they want to be.

g. Fatalistic Attitude
A fatalistic attitude prevents people from accepting responsibility for their position in
life. They attribute success and failure to luck. They resign themselves to their fate,
regardless of their efforts, that whatever has to happen will happen anyway.