The Big Five Model of Personality
Dr. Daisy Chauhan
Management Development Institute
Gurgaon
Big Five & Its Affect
Big Five Traits Why it is Relevant Its Affect
Better Interpersonal Higher performance*
Extroversion
Skills Enhanced leadership
More Expressive Higher job & life satisfaction
Better liked
Agreeableness Higher performance*
More compliant and Lower levels of deviant
conforming behaviour
Greater effort & persistence Higher Performance
More drive & Discipline
Conscientiousness Enhanced Leadership
Better organised & planned
Greater longevity
Less negative thinking & Higher job & Life Satisfaction
Emotional Stability
emotions Lower stress levels
Increased learning
Openness to More Creative Increased knowledge
Experience More flexible & More adaptable to change
autonomous
Big Five Personality
1. Extraversion
• Indicates one’s comfort level with relationships
High:
Open and talkative
Competitive, enthusiastic and persuasive
Enjoys a fast pace and variety at work
Gregarious
Socially active and energetic
Can be impulsive or indiscreet
Needs praise - enjoys attention
1. Extraversion
• Indicates one’s comfort level with relationships
Low:
Reserved and shy in company
Able to concentrate on long tasks
Prefers a calm environment
Dislikes the limelight and attention
Inhibited and somewhat reluctant in teams
Not a natural communicator
Deliberate, and reflects on things
Lacks spontaneity
Agreeableness
Individuals propensity to defer to others
Low:
Self reliant and independent - pushy
Not a natural team player - dominant
Goal oriented - tough and determined
Capable of dealing with 'office politics'
Drives through obstacles
Somewhat impatient with weaker colleagues
Able to make unpopular decisions
Autocratic management style
Individuals propensity to defer to others
High:
Empathetic and consensus oriented
Enjoys team participation
Tolerant of others
Seen as kind and generous
Patient and democratic with others
Can find disciplining others difficult
Can be seen as too soft or submissive
Naturally democratic management style
Openness to Experience
Range of experience and fascination with novelty
High
Finds routines and systems constricting
Enjoys challenging the status quo
Champions change - accepts risks
Idealistic, with a variety of interests
Creative thinker and problem solver
Unconventional and intellectual
Thinks on feet, improvises
Range of experience and fascination with novelty
Low
Follow rules and procedures
Risk-averse and cautious of change
Adapts rather than creates new approaches
Conservative and serious
Obedient to corporate methodology
Practical and down to earth
Adheres to guidelines and systems
Conscientiousness
Measure of reliability
High:
Structured approach to work
Quality-conscious and detailed
Plans and forecasts - organised
Reliable and efficient
Persevering and dutiful
Committed to the job - striving
Keen to achieve goals
Conscientiousness: Measure of reliability
Low:
Flexible and informal approach to work
Multi-tasker
Not detail conscious - expedient
Prefers 'big picture' - strategic
Less committed to formal tasks
Works well in a chaotic environment
Emotionality Stability
Person’s ability to withstand stress
High:
Relaxed, calm under pressure
High self esteem
Decisive, asserts him/herself
Optimistic, enjoys taking lead
Resilient to pressure
Copes with the unexpected
Enjoys autonomy, ambitious
Emotionality Stability: Person’s ability to withstand
stress
Low:
Unsure of self, hesitant, checks with superiors
Prone to anxiety under pressure
Dislikes making big/important decisions
Not ambitious, somewhat pessimistic
Concerned by change or the unexpected
May be temperamental, low emotional control
Nervous presenting self or own ideas
TYPE A
Are always moving, walking and eating rapidly.
Feel impatient with the rate at which most events
take place.
Strive to think or to two or more things at one
time.
Cannot cope with leisure time.
Are obsessed with numbers, measuring their
success in terms of how many or how much of
everything they acquire.
SUB-COMPONENTS OF TYPE A
1. The achievement striving pattern;
directed in the positive direction
take a positive approach to the stressors of life and view
them as challenges and work towards realising their inner
potential even under adverse conditions. This type of
personalities are generally optimistic and resilient, not
allowing setbacks to slow them down.
2. The impatient-irritability pattern.
worrying type and is frustrated and angry
TYPE B
Never feel a sense of urgency with its accompanying
impatience.
Feel no need to display or discuss either their
achievements or accomplishments unless such
exposure is demanded by the situation.
Play for fun and relaxation, rather than to exhibit their
superiority at any cost.
Can relax without guilt.
TYPE C PERSONALITY
1. The achievement striving type A is explained as type
c
“ ” Pattern (individuals who have a B+ or A-
Personality Type (referred to as “C” type and can be
considered to be good at managing stress without
letting it impact them negatively.
In “C” type personality, “C” stands for
CHALLENGE,
CONFIDENCE, and
CONTROL
TYPE C
The characteristics of Type C are:
Transcendent /Inspiring
Effortless
Positive
Spontaneous
Focused
Energetic
TYPE C
Transcendent: They go beyond their usual level to
new heights of personal performance.
Effortless: their performance flows easily, without
special effort or struggle.
Positive: They are optimistic and confident. They
enjoy what they do.
Spontaneous: Their thought and action are
naturally unified. Choices come easily to them.
Focused: Their are generally able to concentrate on
their task.
Energetic: They feel usually energetic and enjoy
what they do.
