Who do you think of when you hear the word personality? Barack Obama? Amitabh Bachchan? Jacinda Ardern?
Probably all three, right? All of them are famous for their striking personalities that make an impression on people. What makes them stand out is their distinctive personality that inspires millions of people.
What does personality mean? It’s a collection of traits, behaviors and attitudes that define a person. The word personality comes from the Latin word persona which refers to a theatrical mask worn by performers for different roles.
Today, it means much more than that.
When you say Amitabh Bachchan has personality, you think of everything about him that impresses you. His acting abilities, baritone voice, ageless fitness, choice of roles, hard work and determination, and body language.
It’s difficult, but not impossible, to improve your personality. Personality development investing in yourself, your qualities, and your growth.
WHAT IS PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT?
Personality development is about building your capacities, nurturing your talent, enhancing new skill sets, working on your weaknesses, and transforming them into strengths.
You, as an individual, have unique skill sets. Your potential is multi-faceted, and investing in personality development enables you to harness your strengths. Focusing on individual personality development adds to your capabilities and helps your dreams and aspirations turn into a reality.
To be a more charismatic person, you have to develop your inner self as well as your outer self. The importance of personality development is undisputed in personal and professional life.
Take Rajesh, a lawyer who had a meteoric rise to the top of his firm. His colleagues always wondered how he managed to climb the success ladder so fast. But only his boss knew how hard he had worked to better himself. He had stepped out of his comfort zone to become a better version of himself. Rajesh had understood the importance of personality development.
There is no substitute for hard work when it comes to personality development. The sooner you understand it, the better for you. Think about how to develop personality, chalk out a plan, set a goal, and work towards it every day.
IMPORTANCE OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
Let’s look at the reasons why it is important to develop one’s personality:
- Personality development enables you to discover your qualities
- It empowers you to make the right decisions and to choose wisely
- It builds that one winning quality in you- confidence. Confident people are more equipped to succeed in the long run
- It assists you in communicating clearly, convincingly, and precisely
- Once you know how to develop personality, you will be seen as a leader by your peers and colleagues
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT TIPS
Your personality is not static and unchangeable. You can develop it for the better. Play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses.
So are you ready to start creating a roadmap to becoming your best version? Here are some tips for personality development.
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LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Come out of your shell and explore the world. A comfort zone is limiting. Staying in the comfort zone will make one miss out on the opportunity to try new things and discover themselves. The next time you meet a group of people, try engaging with them more. Introduce yourself to someone and have a conversation with them. Don’t stay in the corner or play with your phone. Interact with people.
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MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT
Plan your time management strategy and make it stronger day by day. Begin your days right. Every morning take time out to read something inspirational. Chalk out what you are going to do that day. Keep in mind your larger goal and select activities accordingly.
Challenge yourself from time to time. Learn something new. Be creative. Do what you are passionate about. Take risks. Do not fear failure.
Remember the words of performance coach Dale Carnegie: “Today is life-the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.”
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DEFINE YOUR AREA OF EXCELLENCE
Define what you want to excel in and develop relevant skill sets. Maximize your time, energy, and resources to achieve the desired result. Say you want to be a video jockey. Seek personality development tips from a successful VJ and work on your communication skills.
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BE OPTIMISTIC
Learn to look at the future with positivity. Being optimistic will help you identify opportunities and work towards them. Optimistic people know how to see failures as setbacks. Even when there are challenges and setbacks, optimistic people work on finding a solution.
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EVALUATE YOURSELF
Some people are extremely popular at work. You may wonder what their magic formula is for being constantly appreciated by their superiors. It’s not magic. They simply focus on following tips for personality development such as seeking feedback, correcting mistakes, helping people, and solving problems.
Self-evaluation at regular intervals helps improve one’s personality. Evaluate your skills and areas of improvement by asking yourself: Is your public speaking effective? Are your confidence levels high? Is your behavior pleasant and cooperative? Start observing yourself, make notes, and identify the qualities you need to acquire.
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NETWORK
One of the best tips for personality development is to network. Networking has been made much easier by interactive and intelligent social media. So go ahead, create a network of dependable people who trust you, inspire you, lead you.
Meeting new people is helpful in many ways. It widens your horizons. You get a chance to observe the good qualities of several dynamic personalities and learn different ways to behave and interact.
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READ A LOT
Have you read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho? Regarded as a classic personal development novel, it takes you on an enchanting journey of self-discovery with a young shepherd who undertakes a heroic journey to find a treasure he’s been dreaming about.
Books such as The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, Inspiring Thoughts by Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, contain time-tested personality development tips and lessons.
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IMPROVE YOUR BODY LANGUAGE
Many people think that communication is simply about what is being said and heard. This is not true. nonverbal communication through body language and expressions makes a huge impact on others. Many times people use nonverbal cues without realizing it. However, it is possible to consciously improve one’s use of body language.
Having the right kind of body language is an important part of your personality development. It helps people to perceive you in a better light. Ensure that your standing and sitting position is upright. Make eye contact while speaking.
It is true that factors such as heredity, family upbringing, peer group influencers, societal culture do play a role in shaping your personality. But with proper tips for personality development and sincere efforts, you can bring a holistic change in your personality.