Prabha enjoys volunteering at her local senior care home every Saturday. She hasn’t missed a single day to help out, even when she has other appointments.
This tells us that Prabha is empathetic and socially aware. She’s a philanthropist who likes to give back to society.
These are character traits that help us understand the kind of person Prabha is. Character traits define our behavior, personality and the way we conduct ourselves. (https://midnightmusic.com/) They are core values that drive us and distinguish us from others. For instance, people who are sociable enjoy other people’s company while those who are shy prefer spending time alone.
Everyone’s unique in their own way and this is especially noticeable in the workplace. Say that you work in a team of four. Every member would embody different character traits that add diversity and creativity to the team. Maybe you’re imaginative and your coworker is decisive and objective. Together, you can come up with incredible ideas and implement them to achieve your targets.
What Are Character Traits?
Our values, ethics and beliefs define our character traits. They affect the way we interact with our immediate environment. There are many factors that shape who we are—our upbringing, our social circle or even our successes and failures.
Being aware of your character traits can help you turn them into strengths. You can leverage them to advance in your career. For instance, if you work well alone, a freelance career might work better for you as opposed to full-time employment.
Here’s a list of character traits:
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Courageous
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Attentive
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Persuasive
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Creative
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Curious
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Responsible
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Organized
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Perceptive
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Generous
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Spiritual
Importance Of Character Traits
Before you make decisions, you can consider whether or not you’re up to the task based on your character traits. If today you decide to leave your corporate job and start a business, you need the vision and courage to make that decision. Someone who’s goal-oriented and is okay taking risks will find this easier than someone who’s risk averse.
You can make better decisions when you know what you can or can’t do. You could be good at speaking but not writing. Knowing this will help you decide between delivering a presentation or making one. The importance of character traits is most recognizable in a professional setting. Let’s discuss a few examples:
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Say that you’re applying for a job. If you get called for an interview, the hiring manager will ask you about your strengths and weaknesses. This is the ideal time to highlight your character traits. You can say that you’re creative and flexible. Add an example to support your statement. It could be a project that you worked on in your previous job. If you’re someone who likes a challenge, you can say that you’re ambitious.
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There are times when you can’t decide between two job offers. In this case, you have to choose the one you’re fit for. One job may require a lot of traveling and working odd hours while the other one may be a simple desk job. Knowing where your strengths lie can help you choose wisely.
The easiest way to identify your character traits is by looking back at your life. What you enjoyed doing as a child—reading, painting or writing—or what you were good at in school will give you the best answers. You can pick distinctive traits from your experiences. This introspection will even help you identify weaknesses or areas for improvement.
Conclusion
If you want to set yourself apart from the crowd, you have to find your personal voice. Character traits can help you build your brand. Harappa Education’s Building Presence course is an effective launchpad for a successful career. The course will help you identify where your strengths lie and refine them to achieve your goals and make a great first impression on people. Our TEA (Trust-Emotional Intelligence-Authenticity) framework will teach you critical skills to achieve professional excellence. The person you are today plays a part in who you will be in the future so keep learning and stay motivated!
Explore topics such as Body Language, Personality Development, Personality Traits & Personal Branding from our Harappa Diaries section and highlight the best parts of yourself in the smartest way possible.