Big Five Personality Traits in Organizational Behavior

Personality traits are a fundamental aspect of organizational behavior, influencing how individuals behave and interact within the workplace. Understanding the role of personality traits in shaping work dynamics is essential for creating a positive and productive work environment. (ESS Global Training Solutions,2024)

After much research in psychology, scientists today believe that there are five major personality traits. Well-known scientists such as Smith (1967) and Goldberg (1981) have found these traits to be the prevalent ones in humans, although on different scales for each. These scales are what differentiate one person from the other. The big five personality traits are famously known under the acronym “OCEAN” but others use the acronym “CANOE”. Whichever acronym is used does not make a difference as these two stands for the following traits: Openness; Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. (The Human Capital Hub, n.d)

Openness to Experience

This trait is often referred to as the depth of someone’s mental experiences, or imagination. It encompasses someone’s desire to try new things, be open and think creatively. People who score high in this area are generally artistic and curious, while those who score low tend to be conventional and stay in their comfort zones.

Conscientiousness

This trait measures a person’s reliability and dependability. Someone who scores higher in this area is more goal-oriented, tends to control impulses, and is usually very organized. They are likely to see success in school and excel as a leader. Those who score lower in this area are more likely to be impulsive and procrastinate on assignments.

Extroversion

The extroversion trait indicates how social and talkative a person may be. Those scoring high in extroversion are generally more assertive, socially confident, and recharge from interacting with people, while those who score lower are more likely to seek solitude and introspection.

Agreeableness

Agreeableness shows how well someone can get along with other people. People scoring high in this trait are usually well-liked, sympathetic, and affectionate, and those who score lower are perceived as blunt, rude, and sarcastic.

Neuroticism

The last OCEAN trait is also known as emotional stability. It measures how well a person can control emotions like anxiety and sadness. Scoring high in this area indicates that someone may be prone to those emotions and may also have low self-esteem. Those receiving a low score are probably more confident and adventurous. (Florida Tech,2023)

Personality traits have a direct impact on employee engagement and performance. Certain traits, such as extraversion and conscientiousness, are associated with higher levels of engagement and productivity. Extraverts tend to thrive in social interactions and collaborative settings, while conscientious individuals are more organized, reliable, and goal oriented. By understanding the link between personality traits and work behaviors, organizations can create conditions that enhance employee engagement and facilitate optimal performance. (ESS Global Training Solutions,2024)

References -

ESS Global Training Solutions (2024) Personality Traits in Organisational Behavior Available at: https://esoftskills.com/personality-traits-in-organizational-behavior/ [Accessed on FEB 15, 2024]

The Human Capital Hub (n.d) The Big Five Personality Traits and Job Performance Available at: https://www.thehumancapitalhub.com/articles/The-Big-Five-Personality-Traits-And-Job-Performance (n.d)

Florida Tech (2023) The Big Five Personality Traits in the Workplace Available at: https://www.floridatechonline.com/blog/business/how-the-big-five-personality-traits-influence-work-behavior/ [Accessed on NOV 06, 2023]

Practical Psychology (2020) The Big 5 OCEAN Traits Explained - Personality Quizzes Available at: https://youtu.be/KCwHV9HCxH0?si=CEG6tE8S8mJ8Fv5I [Accessed on 2020]