TOUR 70: Understanding Personality

• TOUR 70 focuses on professional development and applied ethics.

Personality Defined

• The word "personality" originates from the Latin term "persona", which referred to a mask worn by actors in the ancient world.
• Personality refers to consistent traits and patterns influencing an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• Personality development involves organized behaviors and attitudes, making a person unique through interactions of temperament, character, and environment.
• Personality includes sets of behaviors, cognitions, and emotional patterns that come from both biological and environmental factors.
• While personality lacks a universally accepted definition, theories commonly emphasize motivation and psychological interactions within one's environment.
• Alexander Schneiders states: "Personality is key to adjustment and mental health and ensures effective adjustments."
• Personality is technically defined as being an expert in human behavior.
• Personality includes one's way of talking, walking, dressing, reacting, attitude, and interests.
• First impressions are critical in defining personality.
• Employers view personality as a key factor for both an employee's success, and potential failure.
• Employers evaluate applicants for maturity, intelligence, poise, communication capabilities, and positive traits.

The Big Five Personality Traits

• Openness means openness to experience.
• "Variety is the spice of life" is shorthand for the openness trait.
• Conscientiousness includes being organized and having a strong sense of duty.
• People with conscientiousness are dependable, disciplined and achievement-focused, and are efficient planners.
• Extraversion is possibly the most easily recognizable personality trait.
• Extroverted people are considered chatty, sociable, and gain energy from crowds.
• Extroverted people tend to be assertive and display cheerful behavior in social situations.
• Introverted people require ample alone time, because they process social interaction uniquely.
• Shyness indicates a trepidation toward social interactions or an impaired function within social settings.
• Agreeableness gauges a person's warmth and niceness.
• The more agreeable a person is, the more trusting, helpful and compassionate they will likely be.
• Disagreeable people are viewed as cold and suspicious, and are less cooperative.
• People with neuroticism are usually moody and prone to emotions like anxiety, worry, fear, anger, frustration, envy, jealousy, guilt, depressed mood, and loneliness.

Determinants of Personality

• Heredity determines physical and biological traits like weight, eye color, build, skin tones, and hair.
• Environment encompasses individuals, groups, plus institutions a person interacts with while growing up.
• Experience creates lasting impressions which influence one's thoughts, feelings, and decisions.

Annoying Personal Traits and Behaviors

• Failure to greet people and check-in guests.
• Inability to provide a guest's required information.
• Not sharing responsibility for making conversations.
• Showing irritability when serving a guest.
• Not calling guests "Sir, Ma'am, Mr, or Ms".
• Shouting or fighting with the guest, and poor table manners.
• Failing to observe social amenities.
• Not paying shares on dates.
• Asking for suggestions on how to spend an evening then ignoring them.
• Putting an arm around someone in the theater.
• Taking a person’s arm while walking is considered bossiness.
• Applying makeup in crowds/public can be considered an annoying behaviour.

Characteristics of Personality

• Aspects of personality are needed in order to know the real attributes of a person.
• Personality is constructed psychologically, and is influenced by biological needs and other bodily processes.
• Personality is reflected in the way you act, talk, and behave.
• Personality is not revealed by actions but via consistent behavior patterns.

Acceptable Personality Traits and Behaviors

• Giving up seats for elders, women, and pregnant women while in crowds/public.
• Being respectful when talking to other people.
• Allowing others to speak when in group discussions.
• Listening when someone speaks.
• Respecting other's opinions.
• Greeting everyone in the workplace.
• Helping the guest with concern.
• Responding immediately to guest/queries.
• Providing service with a sincere smile and sincere enthousiasm.

Tips on How to Improve Personality

• Consciously consider other people.
• Assume that people like you.
• Avoid shyness and admit your issues.
• Admire your friends.
• Associate with successful and happy people.
• Attend social gatherings.
• Change your environment occasionally.