PERSONALITY PROFILE

(Self-Assessment Exercise)1
Traits: distinguishing personal
characteristics Using the scale below, rate (1 to 7) each of the 25
Personality: a combination of
traits that classifies an
statements according to how accurately it describes
individual's behaviour.
you. There are no right or wrong answers, so be
Big Five Model of
Personality: categorises traits honest and you will increase your self-awareness.
in 5 dimensions of surgency
(leadership and extroversion),
agreeableness, adjustment,
conscientiousness and Like me somewhat like me not
openness to experience like me
7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Table 1: Personality Test Questions and Responses
Score Question Score Question

1. I step forward and take charge in 15. When I go to a new restaurant, I order
_____ leaderless situations _____ foods I haven't tried
2. I am concerned about getting along 16. I want to climb the corporate ladder to
_____ well with others _____ as high a level as I can
3. I have good self-control; I don't get 17. I want other people to like me and to
_____ emotional, angry and yell _____ be viewed as friendly
4. I'm dependable; when I say I will do 18. I give people lots of praise and
_____ something, it's done well and on time _____ encouragement; I don't put people down
5. I try to do things differently to improve and criticise
_____ my performance _____ 19. I conform by following the rules of an
6. I enjoy competing and winning; losing organisation
_____ bothers me _____ 20. I volunteer to be first to learn and do
7. I enjoy having lots of friends and going new tasks at work
_____ to parties _____ 21. I try to influence other people to get
my way
_____ 8. I perform well under pressure _____ 22. I enjoy working with others more than
working alone
_____ 9. I work hard to be successful _____ 23. I view myself as being relaxed and
10. I go to new places and enjoy secure, rather than nervous and insecure
_____ travelling 24. I an considered to be credible because
11. I am outgoing and willing to confront _____ I do a good job and come through for
_____ people when in conflict people
12. I am an optimistic person who sees 25. When people suggest doing things
_____ the positive side of situations (cup half _____ differently, I support them and help bring
full) it about. I don't make statements like: "it
_____ 13. I try to see things from other people's won't work", "we never did it before",
point of view "who else did it", or "we can't do it".
_____
14. I am a well-organised person.

To determine your personality profile: (1) place a number from 1-7 in the space to the
side of the respective statements (in Table 1). (2) transfer ratings to respective
columns in Table 2 as indicated for specific questions and total each column. (3) total
each of the column (scores should range from 5 to 35) and the shade cells in to the
appropriate number on the trait bar (Table 3).
1
Adapted from R. Lussier & C. Achua, Leadership: Theory, Application, Skill Development, Thomson
Learning, 2001
 Table 2: Responses and totals for respective dimensions

Surgency Agreeableness Adjustment Conscientiousness Openness

Leadership & Getting along with Emotional Traits related to Willingness to
extraversion trait others traits stability traits achievement change and try
new things
1 ______ 2 ______ 3 ______ 4 ______ 5 ______
6 ______ 7 ______ 8 ______ 9 ______ 10 ______
11 ______ 12 ______ 13 ______ 14 ______ 15 ______
16 ______ 17 ______ 18 ______ 19 ______ 20 ______
21 ______ 22 ______ 23 ______ 24 ______ 25 ______

Total: Total: Total: Total: Total:

Mark and shade the respective cells on the trait bar in Table 3 to indicate your
strongest and weakest dimension.

Table 3: Responses: Strongest and Weakest Dimension

Trait Bar (Score 5-35)

Dimension
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Surgency
Agreeableness
Adjustment
Conscientiousness
Openness

The Big Five personality model categorises, into five dimensions, most if not all of
the traits that you would use to describe someone. Thus each of the dimensions relates
to multi traits. Note, some researchers have different names for these five dimensions.

Applying the concept

Personality Dimensions
Identify each of the 7 behaviours by its personality dimension. Write the appropriate letter in the space before
each item.
A. Surgency, B. Agreeableness, C. Adjustment, D. Conscientiousness, E. Openness

_____ 1. The manager is influencing the follower to do the job the way the leader wants it

_____ 2. The sales representative submitted the monthly expense report on time as usual
_____
3. The leader is saying a warm, friendly, good morning to followers as they arrive to work
_____
4. The leader is seeking ideas from followers on how to speed up the flow of work
_____
5. As a follower is yelling a complaint, the leader calmly explain what went wrong

2
_____ 6. The leader is being very quiet when meeting some unexpected visitors at work

_____ 7. The leader is giving in to followers to avoid a conflict