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
More compliant and
conforming
Greater effort & persistence
More drive & Discipline
Conscientiousness
Better organised & planned
Higher performance*
Lower levels of deviant
behaviour
Higher Performance
Enhanced Leadership
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.