Traits - Interpretations Flashcards
1
Q
Optimism (OP) - what it means when LOW
A
- Tends to expect that things will not work out to their
favor and is therefore more
likely to have contingency
plans in place. - Sees the downside of
things, can identify potential
problems. - Can be a helpful in high
stake situations where the
cost of errors is very high
and preparing for the worst
case is preferred. - May spend more time
thinking about past failures
than successes. - Has a hard time getting over
setbacks. Focu
2
Q
Optimism (OP) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Takes a positive outlook
regarding most situations. - Remains positive even when
facing disappointment. - Looks forward to
opportunities and future
challenges. - Likely to be satisfied with
life. - Is excited about what lies
ahead including challenges. - Consistently sees
opportunities in challenges,
remaining positive and
upbeat, even in difficult
situations. - Gets past disappointments
and looks forward to things. - Unlikely to attribute failure
to personal characteristics
3
Q
Situational Self-Awareness (SS) - what it means when LOW
A
- Can be less aware of own
emotions and reactions
and how they affect
behavior, judgments and
the demands of changing
situations. - Tends to rely on the same
style and approach in
various situations. - Can overgeneralize or fail to
consider the unique aspects
of a situation. - Tends to focus on past or
future events rather than
the present moment. - May not take the time,
or have the insight, to
recognize and respond to
own thoughts or feelings in
a mindful way
4
Q
Situational Self-Awareness (SS) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Is attuned to their own
thoughts, perceptions and
feelings and understands
how to self-regulate. - Tends to focus on the
present moment rather than
let their mind wander to the
past or future. - Is perceptive of situational
cues and adjusts behavior
accordingly. - Recognizes the need for
different approaches in
different situations. - Adapts own behavior and
style to suit circumstances. - Accepts their internal states,
feelings, thoughts and
emotions non-judgmentally.
5
Q
Composure (CP) - what it means when LOW
A
- Tends to freely express
how they feel in the
moment (e.g., anger or
great excitement) and react
emotionally to a range of
situations. - Can exhibit an “open book”
style when working with
others. - May use emotional
transparency to inspire or
energize teams. - Seems to take comments
and criticism personally.
This may cause others to be
reluctant to say things that
might trigger a reaction. - Frequently displays
emotions in ways that
may be inappropriate or
disproportionate to the
situation.
6
Q
Composure (CP) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Tends to be calm, poised
and maintains composure
even under stressful or
challenging times. - Responds well to pressure
and is likely to work through
difficult situations without
showing anger or irritation. - Tends to appear composed,
and calm, seldom
expressing strong emotions
(positive or negative)
or reacting in ways that
detract from focusing on
the job at hand. - Can be difficult to read.
Is not prone to emotional
outbursts, but may also not
show enthusiasm, either. - Is likely viewed by others as
steadfast and professional
at all times.
7
Q
Credibility (CR) - what it means when LOW
A
- May ‘oversell’ capabilities.
- May make commitments
which are too ‘optimistic’
and are difficult to honor. - Perceives commitments as
more ‘flexible’ depending
on the situation at hand and
as result may appear less
consistent in meeting them.
8
Q
Credibility (CR) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Can be counted on to follow
through on commitments;
even when circumstances
indicate a change in
direction. - May at times appear as rigid
in following through on
what they say they will do. - May be very honest and
direct in their approach. - Maintains confidences
shared by others.
9
Q
Confidence (CF) - what it means when LOW
A
- May be reluctant to take a
stand due to self-doubt. - Relies on conventional
wisdom rather than own
insights. - Has little confidence in own
skills and abilities. - May regularly expect
failure, feel discouraged
and attribute failures to bad
luck.
10
Q
Confidence (CF) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Has a high level of
confidence in own abilities
and skills regardless of the
situation. - Believes anything can be
accomplished if the desire
and drive are there. - May believe they can
overcome just about any
obstacle and are willing
to take on unfamiliar
assignments. - Is confident that their future
is in their hands.
11
Q
Need for Achievement (NA) - what it means when LOW
A
- Tend not to work
energetically to exceed
expectations. - Set individual standards
that may not meet others’
expectations. - Be less motivated by
competition. - May not seek out difficult
challenges. - Set boundaries on
discretionary efforts. - Prefers to remain in a
comfort zone. - May respond more to
intrinsic than extrinsic goals.
12
Q
Need for Achievement (NA) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Sets high standards to
achieve goals. - Pursues tasks with energy
and drive despite obstacles
and setbacks. - Has a strong track record as
a high performer. - Pushes self and help others
to achieve results
13
Q
Persistence (PE) - what it means when LOW
A
- Be driven more by short term goals or more
immediate demands. - May change course in the
face of obstacles. - Takes a more spontaneous
approach to setting and
pursuing goals.
14
Q
Persistence (PE) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Stays committed when
faced with adversity. - Perseveres in pursuit of
long-term goals. - Stays composed and
forward-thinking despite
setbacks. - Is driven by a strong sense
of purpose.
15
Q
Affiliation (AF) - what it means when LOW
A
- May not seek assistance
when working on a
challenging task. - Most proud of individual
accomplishments. - Does their best work when
working autonomously. - Communicates most
effectively with only one
or a few key, trusted
colleagues.
16
Q
Affiliation (AF) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Has a strong team
orientation. - Cooperates with others to
achieve shared objectives. - Considers others’ interests
as well as their own. - Partners with others to get
work done. - Gives credit for team
accomplis
17
Q
Humility (HU) - what it means when LOW
A
- May find it difficult to admit
when wrong. - Tends to boast about own
accomplishments and
successes. - May be reluctant to admit
not having the knowledge
or answers.
18
Q
Humility (HU) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Appreciates the importance
and value of other people. - Tends to be open and
honest about own mistakes. - Appears modest and
unassuming
19
Q
Trust (TR) - what it means when LOW
A
- Tends to approach people
with some skepticism or
suspicion. - May be less willing to accept
other people at their word. - Questions others’ motives
and believe that most
people have hidden
agendas
20
Q
Trust (TR) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Expects that others will
be open, honest and treat
people fairly. - Maintains good intentions
when approaching others. - Finds it easy to trust others
and will give them the
benefit of the doubt. - Interacts with others in:
honest and straightforward
fashion.
21
Q
Openness to Difference (OD) - what it means when LOW
A
- May dedicate less time to
understand how different
people think and operate. - Gives more credence to
the contributions of those
similar to themselves. - Considers that others
should draw similar
conclusions. - May experience conflict
when working with people
whose cultures, values and
perspectives may differ
from own.
22
Q
Openness to Difference (OD) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Embraces new experiences.
- Finds it easy to develop
relationships with people
who have a range of
different personalities, views
and perspectives. - Seeks to learn from other’s
perspectives and cultural
backgrounds. - Prefers to work in a diverse
environment, where they
find ideas that differ from
their own to be intriguing
and engaging.
23
Q
Focus (FO) - what it means when LOW
A
- Prefers to focus on the big
picture rather than spending
time focusing on what they
consider minor details. - May, at times, underestimate
the complexity of issues and
the importance of details. - May miss checking for
errors or assume that a
process is in place to catch
them. - Is comfortable with
compromise or settling for
less-than-perfect. Focuses
more on the big picture
and/or getting results,
ignoring details and their
importance. - May rely on others to take
care of the details down the
road.
24
Q
Focus (FO) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Is meticulous and thorough
in their work. - Tends to focus on accuracy,
ensuring that every single
detail is attended to and
that work is completed
without errors. - Strives for perfection,
thorough planning and
flawless execution. - Will address all details, even
when they may not be an
important part of the work. - May spend too much time
on checking for detail
or perfecting their work,
when ‘good enough’ would
suffice.
25
Q
Curiosity (CU) - what it means when LOW
A
- Is likely to take issues at
face value without deeper
questioning. - May oversimplify potentially
complex or novel problems. - Defaults to the tried and
tested. - Seeks out common sources
of information. - Prefers conventional
solutions and sees the
connections that others
typically make. - Is likely to look at common
sources of information
rather than explore new and
alternative sources. - Is unlikely to seek out or
consider novel approaches. - May believe that looking at
ideas from too many angles
or introducing new ways of
problem solving confuses
the issue. - Tends to have a strong point
of view regarding how to
solve problems.
26
Q
Curiosity (CU) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Looks beyond face value.
- Tends to draw upon many
(and sometimes disparate)
sources of information to
solve a problem. - Thrives on complexity.
- Is highly flexible in thinking
and intellectually curious. - Considers multiple
perspectives when weighing
options or interpreting
information. - Tends to seek and identify
patterns in data. - Typically seeks new and
unusual connections and
insights. - Is likely to be energized
by work that allows for
creativity and invention. - Is open to exploring
multiple alternatives
and perspectives to get
the whole picture when
considering a problem. - Approaches problems in an
open, creative way. - Gathers information to
pursue a deep and broad
understanding.
27
Q
Adaptability (AD) - what it means when LOW
A
- Tends to stick to known
approaches that have
worked in the past. - Enjoys solving problems
where known solutions are
applicable and where tried
and tested methods can be
relied upon. - Likes established
procedures, but may
seem rigid, inflexible,
and unwilling to try new
approaches. - May impose existing
approaches too quickly as a
means to limiting surprises
and change. - When required to deal with
unanticipated issues, new
situations or new methods,
may require more time than
most to adjust. - Prefers status quo and
predictability and therefore
gravitates toward situations
where change is unlikely
28
Q
Adaptability (AD) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Likes a new challenge.
- Is flexible and adaptable.
- Actively and continuously
considers alternate ways of
doing things. - Prefers variety over routine
and readily adapts to
unfamiliar situations. - Alters approach or schedule
as needed to meet
changing requirements. - Thinks on their feet and
readily accepts last-minute
changes. - Welcomes experimentation
and questions the status quo. - Is open to new ways of
doing things, likes variety
and the opportunity to try
new methods. - Is willing to change approach
when asked or when
circumstances require it.
29
Q
Risk-Taking (RI) - what it means when LOW
A
- May prefer conservative,
prudent and familiar
approaches. - Does not typically seek risky
assignments. - Good at identifying things
that could go wrong. - May help minimize risk
through careful analysis and
preparation. - May miss opportunities due
to their careful approach. - Not likely to take risks
without sufficient
information. - Less willing to champion an
unpopular idea or solution. - Prefers caution and security
over possibility of greater
reward. - May be uncomfortable with
the possibility of failure
and prefers activities with
stronger probability of a
favorable outcome.
30
Q
Risk-Taking (RI) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Not afraid to fail.
- Prefers success over
security. - Is willing to consider but
not be deterred by public
scrutiny. - Willing to stand alone
and take responsibility for
successes and failures. - Willing to take risks to
potentially receive higher
returns. - Is drawn to high-stakes,
high-profile and high-visibility opportunities with potential for high reward (turnaround or
entrepreneurial situations). - Enjoys taking chances and
will occasionally make risky
decisions.
31
Q
Tolerance of Ambiguity (TA) - what it means when LOW
A
- Seeks conclusive
information before making a
decision. - Prefers to finish projects
before moving on. - Has a high need for
predictability, structure,
certainty, and clarity. - May feel stressed and
anxious in ambiguous
situations. - May procrastinate making
decisions in uncertain
conditions. - May appear stubborn and
unwilling to move on if there
is no clear path ahead. - Can find it uncomfortable
to work on projects where
their role is not clearly
defined, expectations are
not clear, and resources and
plans are not specified.
32
Q
Tolerance of Ambiguity (TA) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Willing to experiment.
- Willing to move forward
despite uncertainty. - Flexible, adaptable, and
willing to “shift gears” - Can remain productive in
uncertainty. - Is unflappable in volatile
and unpredictable settings,
seeing these as an
opportunity to create new
solutions. - Relishes the challenge of
bringing order to chaos. - Can be highly productive
despite the lack of a clear
view of the future. - In uncertain situations, is
able to marshal necessary
resources and provide
direction to keep things
moving ahead.
33
Q
Empathy (EM) - what it means when LOW
A
- Takes a rational view of
situations. - Less perceptive to social
cues and how those cues
affect the emotions and
reactions of others. - Less focused on navigating
social complexity. - May appear to be “all
business” when interacting
with others. - May get caught off guard
by others’ reactions to
events or statements. - May not know the best way
to show compassion. - May respond
inappropriately to situations.
34
Q
Empathy (EM) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Gives others the benefit of
the doubt. - Able to see things from
another’s perspective. - Show insight and
understanding even
for those who are less
respected or liked. - Is willing to help others.
- Comfortable discussing or
examining feelings. - Perceived by others as nonjudgmental.
35
Q
Assertiveness (AS) - what it means when LOW
A
- Less inclined to tell others
what to do and impose their
own goals or direction. - Is natural in a follower role
and can be a great team
player. - Chooses to step back rather
than interfere with the
group process. - Is happy to leave decision
making to others. - May be perceived as
passive, tentative or
indecisive. - May not step into a
leader role unless there is
significant pressure from
others to do so.
36
Q
Assertiveness (AS) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Can be counted on to
proactively take on
leadership roles. - Believes they should be in
control. - Enjoys having authority over
others. - Not afraid to take charge,
give clear direction and step
in to remove obstacles as
needed. - Does not hesitate to make
decisions or delegate
appropriately. - Seen by others as decisive
and sometimes aggressive.
37
Q
Sociability (SO) - what it means when LOW
A
- Reserved - less comfortable
in new social settings. - Relies on fewer, deeper
relationships as opposed
to a broad social network
Seems reserved or formal. - May be more task focused
when interacting with
people. - Likely to find social
interaction draining and
needs time to recharge after
social events. - Devotes little time to small
talk.
38
Q
Sociability (SO) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Exhibits warm, friendly
welcoming behavior. - Calls upon a variety of
tactics for relationship
building. - Is able to adjust his or her
style depending on the
situation or person. - Shows interest in others, ask
questions. Makes others feel
at ease quickly. - Is energized by meeting new
people and being involved
in social interactions. - Likely to have a broad
network of contacts.
39
Q
Influence (IN) - what it means when LOW
A
- Not view feelings and values
as relevant data points. - May lack confidence in
ability to articulate an
argument. - May not adjust rationale to
fit the audience. - May lean on authority, rather
than persuasion, to move
people to action. - Acts as if the right point of
view is self-evident. - Too easily swayed or lack
strong opinions.
40
Q
Influence (IN) - what it means when HIGH
A
- Use a variety of tactics to
influence others. - Viewed as persuasive
- Finds points of agreement
or synergy. - Wins concessions without
straining relationships. - Argues with flexibility.
- Understands individual
values, needs and goals and
uses this understanding to
persuade. - Uses skills to motivate
others to do what they
would like them to do. Can
be seen as inspirational.
