UNIT I INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

The concept of personality - Dimensions of personality – Theories of Freud & Erickson-Significance

of personality development. The concept of success and failure: What is success? - Hurdles in
achieving success - Overcoming hurdles - Factors responsible for success – What is failure - Causes
of failure - SWOT analysis.

1.1 THE CONCEPT OF PERSONALITY- DEFINITION:

“Personality is that pattern of characteristic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that distinguishes one person
from another and that persists over time”

“It is the sum of biologically based and learnt behavior which forms the person's unique responses to
environmental stimuli”

1.2 DIMENSIONS OF PERSONALITY:

The Big Five personality traits, also known as the five factor model (FFM), is a model based on common
language descriptors of personality (lexical hypothesis). These descriptors are grouped together using a
statistical technique called factor analysis (i.e. this model is not based on scientific experiments).

This widely examined theory suggests five broad dimensions used by some psychologists to describe the
human personality and psyche. The five factors have been defined as openness to experience,
conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, often listed under the acronyms “OCEAN”.

Dimension of Personality High Level Low level

Openness to experience Inventive, Curious Cautious, Conservative

Conscientiousness Efficient, Organized Easy going, Careless

Extraversion Outgoing, Energetic Solitary, Reserved

Agreeableness Friendly, Compassionate Competitive, Outspoken

Neuroticism Sensitive, Nervous Secure, Confident

These five factors are assumed to represent the basic structure behind all personality traits. They were defined
and described by several different researchers during multiple periods of research.

Employees are sometimes tested on the Big Five personality traits in collaborative situations to determine
what strong personality traits they can add to a group dynamic. Businesses need to understand their people
as well as their operations and processes. Understanding the personality components that drive the employee
behavior is a very useful informational data point for management.

THE FIVE DIMENSIONS OF PERSONALITY: (THE FIVE FACTOR MODEL)

a. Openness to experience: (inventive/curious vs. consistent/cautious):

Openness to experience describes a person's degree of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and appreciation for
art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, curiosity, and variety of experience. It is also described as the extent
to which a person is imaginative or independent, and depicts a personal preference for a variety of activities
over a strict routine. High openness can be perceived as unpredictability or lack of focus. Moreover, individuals
with high openness are said to pursue self-actualization specifically by seeking out intense, euphoric
experiences, such as skydiving, living abroad, gambling, etc. Conversely, those with low openness seek to
gain fulfilment through perseverance, and are characterized as pragmatic and data-driven—sometimes even
perceived to be dogmatic and closed-minded. Some disagreement remains about how to interpret and
contextualize the openness factor.

b. Conscientiousness (efficient/organized vs. easy-going/careless):

Conscientiousness is a tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement.
Conscientiousness also refers to planning, organization, and dependability. High conscientiousness is often
perceived as stubbornness and obsession. Low conscientiousness is associated with flexibility and
spontaneity, but can also appear as sloppiness and lack of reliability.

c. Extraversion: (outgoing/energetic vs. solitary/reserved):

Extraversion describes energy, positive emotions, assertiveness, sociability, talkativeness, and the tendency
to seek stimulation in the company of others. High extraversion is often perceived as attention-seeking, and
domineering. Low extraversion causes a reserved, reflective personality, which can be perceived as aloof or
self-absorbed.

d. Agreeableness: (friendly/compassionate vs. analytical/detached):

Agreeableness is a tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic
towards others. It is also a measure of one's trusting and helpful nature, and whether a person is generally
well-tempered or not. High agreeableness is often seen as naive or submissive. Low agreeableness
personalities are often competitive or challenging people, which can be seen as argumentative or
untrustworthy.
e. Neuroticism: (sensitive/nervous vs. Secure/confident).

Neuroticism is a tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily, such as anger, anxiety, depression, and
vulnerability. Neuroticism also refers to the degree of emotional stability and impulse control and is sometimes
referred to by its low pole, "emotional stability". A high need for stability manifests as a stable and calm
personality, but can be seen as uninspiring and unconcerned. A low need for stability causes a reactive and
excitable personality, often very dynamic individuals, but they can be perceived as unstable or insecure.

1.3 PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT:

Personality development includes activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and
potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the
realization of dreams and aspirations.

When personal development takes place in the context of institutions, it refers to the methods,
programs, tools, techniques, and assessment systems that support human development at the
individual level in organizations.

Personality development includes activities that develop talents, improve awareness, enhances
potential and looks to improve the quality of life. It involves formal and informal activities that put
people in the role of leaders, guides, teachers, and managers for helping them realize their full
potential.

Hence, it can be concluded that the process of improving or transforming the personality is called
personality development.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OR IMPORTANCE OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT:

Most people underestimate the importance of having a pleasing personality. Majority think it just
means being born good-looking, that there isn’t anything much to do about it. But this is not true. The scope
of personality development is quite broad. It includes knowing how to dress well, social graces, grooming,
speech and interpersonal skills. Whatever your career, these are very important skills that will promote your
objectives.

To better appreciate its importance, some of the key benefits of developing your personality include the
following:

a. Confidence:

Personality development gives more confidence to people. When you know you are appropriately attired and
groomed, this makes you less anxious when meeting a person. Knowing the right things to say and how to
conduct yourself will increase your confidence.
b. Credibility:

Personality development makes people more credible. Despite the saying that you don’t judge a book by its
cover, people do tend to judge people by their clothing and how it is worn. This does not mean buying
expensive clothes. We all know people who look shabby in expensive clothes. There are also people who
look great even if their attire is inexpensive. Because of this, you must know what to wear and you must be
aware of other aspects of enhancing your physical features.

c. Interaction:

Personality development encourages people to interact with others. Studies have consistently shown that
people communicate more openly with people they are comfortable with. If your hygiene and social graces
are unrefined, then expect to have a much harder time connecting with people.

d. Leading and Motivating:

Personality development enhances the capacity to lead and motivate. A person with a winning personality will
be able to motivate better. People are less likely to get bored, and our ideas will have more credibility. We
can lead better if we project an aura of confidence and credibility.

e. Curiosity:

A single wrong word can destroy a business relationship. Knowing the right things to say shows both respect
and intellectual sophistication. This is especially the case if you are dealing with foreigners or if you conduct
business outside the country. The right thing to do in our country could be horrible blunders in a different
culture. These are the soft skills that may break or make a deal.

f. Communication skills:

It improves your communication skills. People are more receptive to what you say if they are impressed with
your personality. Verbal communication skills are also part of personality development; improving your speech
will strengthen the impact of your message.

You cannot win by talent and hard work alone. Personality development is a crucial ingredient that you must
obtain. Most of the people you see as models of great personality have taken a lot of effort in developing their
natural features.
1.5 THEORIES OF PERSONALITY:

Many psychologists have developed theories about personality—how to describe it, how it emerges, what
influences it, how it changes, and what constitutes a healthy or an abnormal personality. Here you will learn
about the three most important personality theories: psychoanalytic theory, behaviourism and humanism.

The first of the modern personality theories was developed by Sigmund Freud and is known as psychoanalytic
theory. The psychiatric practice of this theory is called psychoanalysis. Freud’s ideas were plentiful, profound,
and often controversial. His theory about personality has had tremendous influence on societies around the
world through many different disciplines. Not only psychology has been influenced and informed by the ideas
of Freud, but also literature, art, philosophy, cultural studies, film theory, and many other academic subjects.
Freud’s theory represents one of the major intellectual ideas of the modern world. Right or wrong, these ideas
have had a lasting and enormous impact.

1.5.1 FREUD THEORY:

Freud theorized that personality contains three structures—the id, ego, and superego—and that the mind is
like an iceberg, the unconscious making up 90% while the conscious (like the tip of the iceberg floating above
water) makes only 10% of the mind.

Freud suggested an analogy about the mind. He said that the mind is like an iceberg in the ocean, floating
10% above the water and 90% below. The unconscious, Freud proposed, makes up the vast majority of our
mind. In Freud’s view, only about 10% of our behaviours are caused by conscious awareness—about 90%
are produced by unconscious factors.

According to psychoanalytic theory, most of what controls our behaviours, thoughts, and feelings is unknown
to our aware minds. Normally, the unconscious guides us. Freud said that the mind could be divided into three
abstract categories. These are the id, the ego, and the superego.
1. The id:

Latin for the term “it,” this division of the mind includes our basic instincts, inborn dispositions, and animalistic
urges. Freud said that the id is totally unconscious, that we are unaware of its workings. The id is not rational; it
imagines, dreams, and invents things to get us what we want. Freud said that the id operates according to the
pleasure principle—it aims toward pleasurable things and away from painful things. The id aims to satisfy our
biological urges and drives. It includes feelings of hunger, thirst, sex, and other natural body desires aimed at
deriving pleasure.

2. The ego:

Greek and Latin for “I,” this personality structure begins developing in childhood and can be interpreted as the
“self.” The ego is partly conscious and partly unconscious. The ego operates according to the reality principle;
that is, it attempts to help the id get what it wants by judging the difference between real and imaginary. If a person
is hungry, the id might begin to imagine food and even dream about food. (The id is not rational.) The ego,
however, will try to determine how to get some real food. The ego helps a person satisfy needs through reality.

3. The superego:

This term means “above the ego,” and includes the moral ideas that a person learns within the family and society.
The superego gives people feelings of pride when they do something correct (the ego ideal) and feelings of guilt
when they do something they consider to be morally wrong (the conscience). The superego, like the ego, is partly
conscious and partly unconscious. The superego is a child’s moral barometer, and it creates feelings of pride and
guilt according to the beliefs that have been learned within the family and the culture.

Conclusion:

Although these are known as structures, do not take the term literally. Freud did not mean that these are physical
parts of our bodies or our brains. He coined these terms and proposed this division of the mind as abstract ideas
meant to help us understand how personality develops and works, and how mental illnesses can develop.

Freud theorized that healthy personality development requires a balance between the id and the superego. These
two divisions of the mind are naturally at conflict with one another: The id attempts to satisfy animal, biological
urges, while the superego preaches patience and restraint. The struggle between these two is an example of
intrapsychic conflict—conflict within the mind.

According to psychoanalytic theory, defense mechanisms are automatic (unconscious) reactions to the fear that
the id’s desires will overwhelm the ego. Freud believed that a healthy personality was one in which the id’s
demands are met but also the superego is satisfied in making the person feel proud and not overwhelmed by
guilt. If the id is too strong, a person will be rude, overbearing, selfish, and animalistic. If the superego is too
strong, a person is constantly worried, nervous, and full of guilt and anxiety and is always repressing the id’s
desires.

An overly strong id makes one a psychopath, lacking a conscience, or an ogre, selfishly meeting one’s needs
without concern for others. An overly strong superego, on the other hand, makes one a worrier, a neurotic, and
so overwhelmed by guilt that it is difficult to get satisfaction.

1.5.2 ERIKSON THEORY:

Erikson converted Freud’s emphasis to a focus on social relationships into eight psychosocial stages. These
stages became known as the Eight Ages of Man. (As you know, at that time in history, the word man was
used to apply to all human beings.)
Each of Erikson’s eight stages was described as a time of crisis—a time when the personality would go one
way or the other. For example, you’ve likely heard of the identity crisis. Erikson theorized that during
adolescence, we all face a crisis of figuring out who we are. Each of the stages has this either-or quality.

Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages: (Eight Ages of Man)

Trust Babies whose needs are met develop a feeling of trust for the
1. Infant versus environment. If infants have frustration and deprivation, they learn a
Mistrust basic mistrust for the world that will stick throughout life.

When toddlers learn to act independently and to control and doubt their
Autonomy
bodies (toilet training, walking, etc.), they learn self confidence and a
2. Toddler versus
feeling of autonomy. Failure leads to feelings of inadequacy and
Shame
therefore a sense of basic shame and doubt.

Initiative The preschooler is ready to take action—in play, in imagination and in

3. Preschool versus running his or her life. Success here leads to good self-esteem; problems
Guilt lead to feelings of guilt.

The school-aged child is ready for learning many new skills and, if
Industry
4. Early successful, will develop a sense of industry—being good at things.
versus
school age Failures at this stage result in a deep sense of being no good, of being
Inferiority
inferior to others—a feeling that might carry into adulthood.

An adolescent is beginning to think abstractly and can conceptualize his

Identity versus
or her self-identity and personality. The adolescent begins to consider
5. Adolescent Role of
questions of identity such as: Who should I be? What should I value?
confusion
And what interests should I have? The teen must answer these to
 develop a good sense of self-identity. Exploration of various roles and
personalities is common in this stage.

A young adult faces the challenge of developing close emotional

Intimacy relationships with other people. Here the term intimate does not mean
6.Young adult versus sexuality, but social and emotional connections with others. The
Isolation opposite result, for those who do not develop a sense of intimacy, is to
become isolated from social contact.

Middle-aged adults feel an urgency to leave a mark on the world, to

Generativity generate something of lasting value and worth. Finding a purpose in life
7.Middle-aged
versus is a central theme. To fail at generating something significant means a
adult
Stagnation person becomes stagnant and stops moving forward; this person may
become selfish and self-absorbed.

In old age, it is common to look back on life and reflect on what was
Integrity
accomplished. People who feel good about what they have done build a
8. Old adult versus
sense of integrity. For those whose evaluations are not so good, there is
Despair
despair, the feeling of regret and remorse for the life they led.

1.6 CONCEPT OF SUCCESS:

1.6.1 DEFINITION:

What makes a person successful? How do we recognize success?

To some people, success might mean wealth. To others, it is recognition, good health, good family, happiness,
satisfaction, and peace of mind. What this really tells us is that success is subjective. It can mean different
things to different people.

The best definition for success is

“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal”

Let's look at these definitions carefully.

"Progressive" means that success is a journey, not a destination. We never arrive. After we reach
one goal, we go on to the next and the next and the next.

"Realization" means it is an experience. Outside forces cannot make me feel successful. I have to
feel it within myself. It is internal not external.
 "Worthy" refers to our value system. Which way are we heading? Positive or negative? Worthiness
determines the quality of the journey. That is what gives meaning and fulfilment. Success without
fulfilment is empty.

"Goals" are important. Because they give us a sense of direction.

1.6.2 GOALS:

Why Goals are important?

In a study conducted on students in the 1979 Harvard MBA program, only three percent of the
graduates had written goals and plans; 13 percent had goals, but they were not in writing; and 84 percent had
set no goals at all.

Ten years later, the findings revealed that 13 percent of the class who had goals were earning up to
84 percent compared to those who had not set any. For the three percent who defined their goals and wrote
them down, they were earning on average, ten times as much as the other 97 percent put together.

Goal Setting:

Most People don't know how to set goals. Some set goals that are too general. These are, in reality, fantasies
common to everyone. Goals, on the other hand, are clear, written, specific, and measurable.

Most People fear failure. Failure hurts, but it is often necessary to experience failure in order to
achieve the greatest success. Do not unconsciously sabotage yourself by not setting any goals in which you
might fail. They fear rejection. People are often afraid that if they are unsuccessful at achieving a goal, others
will be critical of them. This is remedied by keeping your goals to yourself at the outset; let others see your
results and achievements once you've accomplished your goals.

Some goals are called away from goals. These are usually framed in the negative. Here are a few examples.

• I don’t want to smoke anymore

• I don’t want to be unfit

• I don’t want to be overweight

• I don’t want to be broke

• I am a non smoker

• I am fit and healthy

• I am at my ideal weight

• I can cover my bills

Notice the difference. They are stated in the positive and take on the assumption that you have
achieved it already. By assuming “as if” your behavior changes so that you are acting like to have already
achieved what you wanted to do. What a great feeling to have even before you have got there. It also bolsters
your motivation.

So now we have determined if our goal is towards something, or away from something. We have now
stated it in the positive. This however is still not a very well detailed goal. We will now look at how we can
make it more specific.
 An ideal goal should be expressed in the positive, be time bound and specific. You may also like to
consider, how will you know when you have achieved it, what will it feel like, what will the people around you
be like? What will you do to celebrate it?

A goal must be time bound. When do I want to have achieved it? If that’s when I want to achieve it,
then when must I start? What is the first step I need to take? Who should I tell? Should telling that person be
the first step? What skills or knowledge do I need to acquire along the way?

Goal size, is the goal too big to achieve? If so then breaking it down into smaller bite sized pieces
may be the right approach.

1.6.2 FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCCESS:

1. Desire:

The motivation to success comes from the burning desire to achieve a purpose.

Napoleon Hill wrote, "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve."

A young man asked Socrates the secret to success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near
the river the next morning. They met. Socrates asked the young man to walk with him toward the river. When
the water got up to their neck, Socrates took the young man by surprise and ducked him into the water. The
boy struggled to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy started turning blue. Socrates
pulled his head out of the water and the first thing the young man did was to gasp and take a deep breath of
air. Socrates asked, 'What did you want the most when you were there?" The boy replied, "Air." Socrates said,
"That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it."
There is no other secret.

A burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishment. Just like a small fire cannot give much
heat, a weak desire cannot produce great results.

2. Commitment:

Integrity and wisdom are the two pillars on which to build and keep commitments.

This point is best illustrated by the manager, who told one of his staff members, "Integrity is keeping your
commitment even if you lose money and wisdom is not to make such foolish commitments."

Prosperity and success are the result of our thoughts and decisions. It is our decision what thoughts
will dominate our lives. Success is not an accident. It is the result of our attitude.

There is a big difference between playing to win and playing not to lose. When we play to win, we
play with enthusiasm and commitment; whereas when we play not to lose, we are playing from a position of
weakness. When we play not to lose, we are playing to avoid failure. We all want to win, but very few are
prepared to pay the price to prepare to win. Winners condition and commit themselves to winning. Playing to
win comes out of inspiration, whereas playing not to lose comes out of desperation.

There are no ideal circumstances. There will never be. To reach anywhere we cannot just drift nor lie
at anchor. We need to sometimes sail with the wind and sometimes against it, but sail we must.
Ask any coach or athlete what the difference between the best and the worst team is. There would be very
little difference in their physique, talent and ability. The biggest difference you will find is emotional difference.
The winning team has dedication and they make the extra effort. To a winner, the tougher the competition

3. Responsibility

A duty which becomes a desire will ultimately become a delight. --George Gritter

People with character accept responsibilities. They make decisions and determine their own destiny in life.

Accepting responsibilities involves taking risks and being accountable which is sometimes uncomfortable.

Most people would rather stay in their comfort zone and live passive lives without accepting
responsibilities. They drift through life waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen. Accepting
responsibilities involves taking calculated, not foolish, risks. It means evaluating all the pros and cons, then
taking the most appropriate decision or action. Responsible people don't think that the world owes them a
living.

4. Hard Work:

Success is not something that you run into by accident. It takes a lot of preparation and character.
Everyone likes to win but how many are willing to put in the effort and time to prepare to win? It takes sacrifice
and self-discipline. There is no substitute for hard work.

Henry Ford said, "The harder you work, the luckier you get."

The world is full of willing workers, some willing to work and the others willing to let them.

“I like to work half a day. I don't care if it is the first 12 hours or the second 12 hours.”

--Kammons Wilson, CEO of Holiday Inn

One cannot develop a capacity to do anything without hard work, just as a person cannot learn how to spell
by sitting on a dictionary. Professionals make things look easy because they have mastered the fundamentals
of whatever they do.

“If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem wonderful at all.” --
Michaelangelo

An executive called a company to check on a potential candidate. He asked the candidate's supervisor, "How
long has he worked for you?" The man replied, "Three days." The executive said. "But he told me he was with
you for three years." The man replied, "That is right, but he worked three days."

5. Character

Character is the sum total of a person's values, beliefs and personality. It is reflected in our behavior,
in our actions. It needs to be preserved more than the richest jewel in the world. To be a winner takes
character. George Washington said, "I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain
what I consider the most valuable of all titles, the character of an honest man."
 It is not the polls or public opinions but the character of the leader that determines the course of
history. There is no twilight zone in integrity. The road to success has many pitfalls. It takes a lot of character
and effort not to fall into them. It also takes character not to be disheartened by critics.

How come most people love success but hate successful people? Whenever a person rises above
average, there will always be someone trying to rip him apart. Chances are pretty good when you see a
person on top of a hill, that he just didn't get there, but had to endure a tough climb. It's no different in life.

In any profession, a successful person will be envied by those who are not. Don't let criticism distract
you from reaching your goal. Average people play it safe to avoid criticism, which can be easily avoided by
saying, doing or being nothing. The more you accomplish, the more you risk being criticized. It seems there
is a relationship between success and criticism. The greater the success, the more is the criticism.

Critics have always been sitting at the sidelines. They are underachievers who shout at doers, telling them
how to do it right. But remember critics are not the leaders or doers and it is worthwhile asking them to come
down to where the action is.

“The critic is one who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

6. Positive Believing:

What is the difference between positive thinking and positive believing? What if you could actually
listen to your thoughts? Are they positive or negative? How are you programming your mind, for success or
failure? How you think has a profound effect on your performance.

Having a positive attitude and being motivated is a choice we make every morning.

Living a positive life is not easy; but then neither is negative living. Given a choice, I would go for
positive living.

Positive thinking is better than negative thinking and it will help us use our abilities to the fullest.
Positive believing is a lot more than positive thinking. It is having a reason to believe that positive
thinking will work. Positive believing is an attitude of confidence that comes with preparation. Having
a positive attitude without making the effort is nothing more than having a wishful dream. The following
illustrates positive believing.

7. Give More Than You Get

It is easy to succeed today. We have no competition. If you want to get ahead in life, go the extra mile. There
is no competition on the extra mile. Are you willing to do a little more than you get paid for? How many people
you know are willing to do a little bit more than what they get paid for? Hardly any. Most people don't want to
do what they get paid for and there is a second category of people who only want to do what they can get by
with. They fulfil their quota just to keep their jobs. There is a small fraction who are willing to do a little bit more
than what they get paid for.

Why do they do more? If you fall into the last category, then where is your competition?
The advantages of doing more than you get paid for are:

You make yourself more valuable, regardless of what you do and where you work. It
gives you more confidence.

People start looking at you as a leader.

Others start trusting you.

Superiors start respecting you.

It breeds loyalty from both your subordinates and your superiors. It

generates cooperation.

8. The Power of Persistence

Nothing will take the place of persistence.

Talent will not: Nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.

Genius will not: Unrewarded genius is a proverb.

Education will not: The world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. --Calvin Coolidge

The journey to being your best is not easy. It is full of setbacks. Winners have the ability to overcome and
bounce back with even greater resolve.

Fritz Kreisler, the great violinist, was once asked, "How do you play so well? Are you lucky?" He
replied, "It is practice. If I don't practice for a month, the audience can tell the difference. If I don't practice for
a week, my wife can tell the difference. If I don't practice for a day, I can tell the difference."

Persistence means commitment and determination. There is pleasure in endurance. Commitment

and persistence is a decision. Athletes put in years of practice for a few seconds or minutes of performance.

Persistence is a decision. It is a commitment to finish what you start. When we are exhausted, quitting
looks good. But winners endure. Ask a winning athlete. He endures pain and finishes what he started.

1.6.3 HURDLES IN ACHIEVING SUCCESS:

Although there are lot of potential obstacles, the following hurdles are more common.

1. Lack of information

2. Lack of skill

3. Limiting beliefs

4. Well being

5. Other people

6. Own motivation
7. Time

8. Money

9. Fear
1. Lack of Information:

Information can have one of two effects. With too much you can be overwhelmed, and can stop you
from making a decision or taking the next steps. With too little information you are not able to put things into
perspective, or look at the bigger picture. Identifying where you have gaps in your knowledge, and including
this as part of your goal will move you closer to achieving it. There are several ways to obtain new information.
Research, planned reading, listening to CD’s, DVD’s on a specific topic or networking with individuals who
have the knowledge to share with you.

2. Lack of Skill:

In order to move forwards you may have to pick up skills along the way. This need not be an enormous
challenge. As part of your goal setting, understanding what skills you need to acquire, and how you will acquire
them will form steps of your plan. This does not necessarily mean that you need to enrol on a course, although
that is a great idea. Other alternatives such as on-line study, planned reading, shadowing a colleague in the
workplace, or seeking advice from a friend can also help you obtain the skills you need.

3. Limiting beliefs:

We all have a set of beliefs by which we live our lives. These are set in our subconscious at an early
age. Sometimes these beliefs can hold you back and limit your ability to achieve you goals. Some common
examples may be familiar to you. Indecision or Procrastination- should I do one thing or another? This often
results in you doing nothing. The limiting belief manifests itself as “I am not able to make decisions”.

Unable to make progress or stuck – when a way of working is no longer effective, you continue to
use it and often forms a comfort zone, the limiting belief here could be “ I can’t/ won’t change”. Often people
will state that “I don’t deserve to be successful”, or “that shouldn’t work for me”. Here we are seeing self
sabotage and not valuing themselves and their own ability.

4. Well being:

Despite your best efforts, there may be times when you are simply not able to pursue your goals.

A sudden illness or injury can put set you back. When this happens you need to be realistic.

Beating yourself up will not help, nor simply giving up. Take a little time to re assess your goal and
consider what your options are now. How important is it that this goal is achieved within the original timeframe.
Also consider how else you goal can be pursued, and who can help you during these times.

5. Other People:

Quite often the people that are closest to us fear us achieving our goals. For them this means that you may
change and that will also mean change for them. They may not be aware how important your goals are to
you. If the people you share your time with for example family, friends, colleagues to not understand and
support your goals, there is a chance that you may be influenced by this. If these people are adverse to
change then they may well sabotage you plans.

6. Own Motivation:

Although you may see out with the best intentions, after a while the novelty may wear off or there are
other distractions. This may be down to a number of factors. Perhaps the goals that you set were too large,
and needed to be broken down into smaller manageable chunks.

Perhaps you are not getting the results, and need to consider what you doing that is are preventing
you from moving forward. After continued effort you may feel that the goal is now actually something that do
don’t want, or at least the outcome.

In this case the goal needs to be reassessed. If it requires modification because circumstances have
changed, then change it. If it no longer serves you, then don’t waste your energy following up on something
just because you started it.

7. Time:

We all live in a world where we don’t seem to have enough time. Many of us are “time poor”, which
means that we do not manage our use of time to get the best results. Quite often I hear from the people
around me “I just don’t have time to do x”. How true is this statement really? Have we taken on too much,
overcommitted ourselves and are embarrassed to say no? Perhaps, but I have another view.

If we approach our use of time without any structure we may just leap from one thing to another in no
particular order. Without priority we will move from one thing to the next urgent thing.

There is also the aspect of distractions. This can be distraction from others who do not have the same
aspirations as you. There is the distraction of telephone calls and emails. Quite often we busy ourselves with
those things that are nice to do, but do not take us any further forward to achieving our goals.

8. Money:

Money is a common reason for not pursuing your goal. Usually it is the lack of money that stops you.
When you hear someone say “I can’t afford it” or “I just don’t have the money”. These statements are usually
offered up without much hesitation.

While I agree that it may well be true to some extent, what alternatives have they really explored and
how else could the money be found? If you are really serious about achieving this goal, what lengths would
you go to in order to find the money (legally)!

Let’s turn this around and look at it from another perspective. What is it costing you to not have that
goal in your life right now? For example being in that bad relationship or enduring bad health. If in achieving
this goal it was going to get you that next job, or mean that you would get that 10% performance bonus at
work, what efforts would you go to?
9. Fear:

What do I mean by fear? There are the more straightforward examples. If you need to do something
that takes you right outside of your comfort zone for the first time, which may well install fear into you.

Then there is the fear of failure. What will those around you think if you don’t achieve you goal. How
will you face them and maintain your integrity. Better to quit now that to see it through right? That way no-one
will be able to judge me.

Another type of fear is the fear of success. What if I actually do it, and people find out I am a fraud?
Is this goal something that I really want anyway? Self doubt comes into play and you try to talk yourself out of
it.

1.7 FAILURE:

Failure can be defined as the state or condition of not achieving a desirable or intended objective; it
can be considered the opposite of success. Failure is just a state of mind. You are a failure only if you think
that you failed. Your attitude towards a certain situation determines whether or not you have failed. The fact
is that everyone fails in something or the other at some point in their lives.

It is easy to think negatively when it seems that everything that you do is not good enough.

Look at the following failures and come to a conclusion yourself:

1. Only 400 Cokes were sold in its first year of production.

2. Albert Einstein’s Ph.D dissertation was rejected.

3. Henry Ford had two bankruptcies before his famous success.

4. Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of the electric bulb failed no less than 10000 times before

succeeding. But he said “I have not failed. I have just found 10000 ways that won’t work.

Disappointments, Rejections, Unsuccessful attempts were not failures to the successful people. They
used them as stepping stones to success. This is the difference between people who win and people who
don’t. Failure is not the lack of success.

People are looking only the successes of others. They are not seeing the struggles, frustrations and
disappointments they faced.

Ralph Waldo Emerson who was a successful American essayist, lecturer and poet told “Men succeed
when they realise that their failures are the preparation for their victories”

Successful people don’t blame others for what has happened to them and they don’t use other people’s
definitions for success and failure. They use their own. They just change paths, re- assess goals, try
something new or adjust direction. To them, failure happens when they stop trying to achieve their personal
best.
1.7.1 CAUSES OF FAILURE:

The following factors can be considered as causes of failure. The most common failure-causing problems and
their solutions:

1. Lack of Persistence:

More people fail not because they lack knowledge or talent but because they just quit. It’s important
to remember two words: persistence and resistance. Persist in what must be done and resist what ought not
to be done.

Try new approaches. Persistence is important, but repeating the same actions over and over again,
hoping that this time you'll succeed, probably won’t get you any closer to your objective. Look at your previous
unsuccessful efforts and decide what to change. Keep making adjustments and midcourse corrections, using
your experience as a guide.

2. Lack of Conviction:

People who lack conviction take the middle of the road. But what happens in the middle of the road?
You get run over. People without conviction go along to get along because they lack confidence and courage.
They conform in order to get accepted, even when they know that what they are doing is wrong.

Decide what is important to you. If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right and doing well. Let
your passion show even in mundane tasks. It’s OK to collaborate and cooperate for success, but it’s not OK
to compromise your values—ever.

3. Rationalization:

Winners might analyze, but they never rationalize. Losers rationalize and have a book full of excuses
to tell you why they couldn’t succeed.

Change your perspective. Don’t think of every unsuccessful attempt as a failure. Few people succeed
at everything the first time. Most of us attain our goals only through repeated effort. Do your best to learn
everything you can about what happened and why.

4. Dismissal of Past Mistakes:

Some people live and learn, and some only live. Failure is a teacher if we have the right attitude.

Wise people learn from their mistakes—experience is the name they give to slipups.

Define the problem better. Analyze the situation—what you want to achieve, what your strategy is,
why it didn’t work. Are you really viewing the problem correctly? If you need money, you have more options
than increasing revenue. You could also cut expenses. Think about what you’re really trying to do.

5. Lack of Discipline:

Anyone who has accomplished anything worthwhile has never done it without discipline. Discipline takes self-
control, sacrifice and avoiding distractions and temptations. It means staying focused.
 Don’t be a perfectionist. You might have an idealized vision of what success will look and feel like.
Although that can be motivational, it might not be realistic. Succeeding at one goal won’t eliminate all your
problems. Be clear on what will satisfy your objectives and don’t obsess about superficial details.

6. Poor Self-Esteem:

Poor self-esteem is a lack of self-respect and self-worth. People with low self-confidence are
constantly trying to find themselves rather than creating the person they want to be.

Don’t label yourself. You might have failed, but you’re not a failure until you stop trying. Think of
yourself as someone still striving toward a goal, and you’ll be better able to maintain your patience and
perseverance for the long haul.

7. Fatalistic Attitude:

A fatalistic attitude prevents people from accepting responsibility for their position in life. They attribute
success and failure to luck. They resign themselves to their fate, regardless of their efforts, that whatever has
to happen will happen anyway.

Look in the mirror every day and say, I am in charge. You might not have control over every phase of
your life, but you have more control than you realize, and you are responsible for your own happiness and
success. Your attitude determines your altitude, and you can turn “down” into “up”.

1.8 SWOT ANALYSIS:

SWOT stands for: Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat. A SWOT analysis guides you to
identify your organization’s strengths and weaknesses (S-W), as well as broader opportunities and threats
(O-T).

A SWOT analysis can offer helpful perspectives at any stage of an effort. You might use it to:

Explore possibilities for new efforts or solutions to problems.

Make decisions about the best path for your initiative. Identifying your opportunities for success in context
of threats to success can clarify directions and choices.

Determine where change is possible. If you are at a juncture or turning point, an inventory of your strengths
and weaknesses can reveal priorities as well as possibilities.

Adjust and refine plans mid-course. A new opportunity might open wider avenues, while a new threat could
close a path that once existed.

SWOT also offers a simple way of communicating about your initiative or program and an excellent way to
organize information you've gathered from studies or surveys.

SWOT analysis can help the following people.

Students

Managers and Owners

Professionals, Executives
 Career Starters

Practitioners and HR

Doctors and Engineers

Employees

Husband and Wife

Parents

1.8.1 THE ADVANTAGES OF CONDUCTING A PERSONAL SWOT ANALYSIS:

The main purpose of a SWOT is to promote the identified strengths, reduce weaknesses, exploiting the
opportunities and having contingency plans to minimize threats.

There are many benefits and advantages of using SWOT Analysis for personal development. It is good for
your success and betterment. Some of the most common benefits of conducting a personal SWOT analysis
have been mentioned below.
Helps to develops strategies to attain your goals

You can be better than your friends and colleagues

Shows where you currently stand on the path of success

Measures your scopes of reaching desired goals

Boosts your career, life and personality

Helps to better understand who you really are as a person

Maximizes your strengths and diminishes your weaknesses

Explores and also enhances your soft skills and hard skills

It helps you understand your preferences and personality traits.

Focuses on your attitudes, abilities, skills, capabilities and capacities

1.8.2 USING THE SWOT ANALYSIS TOOL:

Strengths:

These are the traits or skills that set you apart from others. Questions to ask include:

What benefits do you have which others do not have? This could include skills, education, or
connections.
 What are you better at than anyone else?

What personal resources do you have access to?

What do other people see as your strengths?

Which achievements are you most proud of?

What values do you believe in that others fail to show?

Are you part of a network no one else is involved in? What connections do you have with powerful
people?
Weaknesses:

This part examines the areas in which you need to improve and the things that will set you back in your career.
Questions to consider include:
What work do you usually avoid because of lack of confidence?

What do people think you weaknesses are?

Are you happy with your education and skills training?

Do you have any negative work habits?

Which of your personality traits hold you back?

Opportunities:

For the opportunities section, look at the external factors you can take advantage of to pursue a promotion,
find a new job or determine a career direction.
What new technology can assist you?

Can you take advantage of the market in its present state?

Do you have a network of strategic contacts to offer good advice or help you?

Is any of your competitors failing to do something important? Can you take advantage of it?

Is there a need in your company which no one is filling?

Could you create an opportunity by offering solutions to problems?

Threats:

This part takes into account the external factors that could hurt your chances to attain your goals. The factors
to take into account include:
What hindrances do you currently face at work?

Is any of your co-workers competing with you for projects or roles?

Is your job changing?

Can technological changes threaten your position?

Could any of your weaknesses lead to threats?

1.8.3 EXAMPLE OF SWOT ANALYSIS:

SWOT tool used by a small independent book store:

HELPFUL HARMFUL

STRENGTHS: WEAKNESSES:
Our workers are well educated Space is tight
students who love books Bank gave us a limited loan
The space is attractive and inviting Business is slower during summer
INTERNAL
Customers are supportive of small vacation
book store
Popular cafe makes it easy for
customers to linger and find
something to buy.

OPPORTUNITIES: THREATS:

We can have local authors give Large chains have more buying
lectures and book signings. power
Wecanmake personalized E-books and e-book readers
recommendations to long term Younger generations don’t read as
customers much
EXTERNAL
We can deliver the same day to Nearby public library reopened
mobility impaired customers after two years.
We can feature things that appeal to
summer tourists
We can start a frequent buyer
program