Workplace Success and Performance Character

Reflect for a moment on your last job interview. Was most of that time spent on determining if you had the skills to accomplish the job? Or, was most of the time spent with the interviewer trying to determine if you had the integrity, social intelligence, grit, or creativity to succeed in the job? It is a safe bet that most of you had the experience of the latter. It is interesting to note that most workplace problems are a result of a deficiency in Performance Character traits. Whether is it a lack of grit, social intelligence, leadership, integrity, humility, or courage, you can generally track employee issues back to a lack of a Performance Character trait. Even though we know this to be true so much effort in the workplace is spent on job training programs that are competency based and not Performance Character based. There is no question that if an employee does not have the competency or the skill in a specific area they are going to fail. Even though basic skills and competencies should be addressed in the workplace, the greater impact on the lives of employees lies in their ability to harness and use Performance Character traits in their daily life. This recognition of the importance of character development among employees in the workplace is part of why we make it a focal point in our Athlos curriculum. We believe (through our research and experience) that students’ success in employment, family, and personal life is most greatly impacted by the Performance Character traits that they learn at an early age.

Take a Survey—ask five of your fellow employees what they admire most about a co-worker. Listen closely to the words they use. You will find that most generally the successful and admired employees are described by words that reflect Performance Character traits (grit, leadership, social intelligence, etc.). Try to spend time focusing on your own use of Performance Character traits. We believe this focus will have a positive impact on your success and will provide a deeper sense of happiness in your work, at home, and in your life.

By: Kelly Shaw

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