But some of us are better at reading and reacting to personality than others.
This post was originally published onFast Company.
University of New Hampshire psychologist,John D. Mayercalls this abilitypersonal intelligence.
How is that persons system functioning and who are they?
Mayer spoke with us about elements ofpersonal intelligence and its importance in the workplace.
For example, people vary when it comes to how excitement seeking they are.
Some people like to take more risk while others are extremely cautious, says Mayer.
Everyones mental models are different because theyre founded in different experiences from the past.
We all do this to a certain degree.
We need to understand very well whats driving us and the models we are using, says Mayer.
Tounderstand those mental models through which people look at thingsis a very deep way of understanding personality.
What Do You Notice First About Peoples Personalities?
When you meet someone for the first time, what personality traits do you tend to notice first?
I dont know that we can raise personal intelligence, says Mayer.
But we can surely get better at understanding people andunderstanding ourselves.
Agreeableness: How sympathetic, kind or affectionate is this person?
Conscientiousness: How organized and plan-oriented someone might be.
Neuroticism: How tense or moody vs. emotionally stable is this person?
Openness to new ideas: How imaginative, open-minded and insightful someone is.
But understanding the various dimensions of peoples personalities isnt a simple task.
People are very complicated, says Mayer.
We are all going to rush into the wrong situation based on our personality.
Illustration by Tina Mailhot-Roberge.
Additional photos bykatrinaket,Marcy Kellar,Al Abut(Flickr).
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