PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

1. Formerly Professor of English
Indian Institute of Technology,
Kharagpur
and
Personality
Development
SOFT
SKILLS
BARUN K. MITRA
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Formerly Professor of English
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Formerly Professor of English
Indian Institute of Technology,
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Indian Institute of Technology,
BARUN K. MITRA
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BARUN K. MITRA
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SKILLS
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SKILLS
BARUN K. MITRA
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BARUN K. MITRA
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SKILLS

2. 3
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© Oxford University Press 2011, 2016
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Second Edition published in 2016
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3. Features of
Illustrations
Illustrations, interspersed in the
chapters, make the book a more
lively and interesting read.
SOFT SKILLS: DEMANDED BY EVERY EMPLOYER 49
All employees need to know how to build and encourage congenial relationship
even in a most difficult and critical situation. People with this skill know the way
to connect with others effortlessly. As a result, interpersonal skills reduce stress
and conflict and enhance intimacy and understanding.
Illustrative Examples Where Interpersonal Skills are a Strength or a Weakness
Weakness I just can’t get along with my colleagues at work. We constantly
disagree on even trivial items. I also seem to be often at odds with others outside
my work group. In fact I prefer being a loner, and concentrate only on the work
assigned to me. Interacting with others is a complete waste of time.
Strength I get energy interacting with others. I get to know different perspectives,
share ideas and opinions during every such exchange. Every interaction with
people is an opportunity for me to learn, and is an enriching experience.
Weakness I focus entirely on programme execution. I excel in it. I do not care
about others in the team. My views are always superior to theirs—and my goal is
to get my point across.
Strength I balance my role between project and people focus. One without the
other is not sustainable. I can be great in programme execution, but without
Fig. 2.6 The ability to work in a team as well as guide it is an important soft skill
Featured Text
Key learnings/highlights
of the text have been
featured in boxes for
better comprehension.
Learning Objectives
All chapters in the book begin with
‘learning objectives’ setting the theme for
the subsequent text.
CHAPTER THREE
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 Understanding the proper use of
prepositions
 Using appropriate pronouns
 Learning about verbs that agree with
the subject
 Judging where articles are applicable
 Finding out about the power of
punctuation
 An essential check for capital letters
and conjoined words
 Clearing doubts about similar sounding
words
 A quick look at question tags
 Sorting through spellings—British and
American discrepancies
 Areas to watch out for in Indian English
 The most common errors in English
language
Beware of Pitfalls
Avoid Errors
CHAPTER TEN
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An essential check for capital letters
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An essential check for capital letters
and conjoined words
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and conjoined words
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Clearing doubts about similar sounding
words
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words
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4. the Book
Conclusion
The conclusion at
the end of each
chapter revisits all
the important points
discussed in them,
making for a fine
guide for revision
before exams.
Exercises
Different kinds of
review questions
at the end of each
chapter aim at
testing readers on
their understanding
of the topics.
ENHANCE YOUR WRITING SKILL TO CREATE AN IMPRESSION 180
It should be borne in mind, however, that sentences should neither be too long
nor too short (which will make it jerky). A sentence is the backbone of a scientific
or engineering communication and hence it must also be free of all grammatical
errors. It should be direct, consistent, methodical and interesting. The use of these
principles leads to brevity in the text. Such sentences are the main ingredients of
a well-written paragraph.
CONCLUSION
‘Write to express, not impress,’ goes a saying in high-impact communication.
Too many people use complex words instead of simple; passive voice
instead of active; redundant words; long paragraphs with multiple themes,
etc.
This chapter has clearly outlined fifteen principles that will help in
communicating crisply and effectively and help avoid the traps above. Following
these principles, one can master the art of putting forward to the reader an
impressive personality.
After writing any text, the key thing to follow is to take a break, short or
long, and then edit, edit and edit it again until it is sharpened. At every step
of the way, a quick check of the fog index or the Flesch reading ease index
(or the other indices presented in Chapter 9) tells us how much more we can
improve.
Several of these techniques for effective written communication are appli-
cable to verbal communication as well. The way to improve such communica-
tion has been stated in this chapter along with many examples.
Readability of text mirrors our thought process. It is a signal that others
see and assess our personality with. Hence, it is imperative that we give this
aspect serious consideration and consciously improve it over time.
EXERCISES
A. Edit Sentence Structure
Rewrite these sentences to improve clarity and comprehension:
1. In the early part of the month of July, we got together and made all our
papers relating to income tax ready so that we would not have to resort to a
mad scramble to meet the deadline which is 31st
July.
2. All the people who participated in the workshop were given a free
complimentary CD by the committee who organized the workshop.
3. We heard that there was a riot on the evening news.
4. We endeavoured to demonstrate how the problem could be solved in the
best possible manner.
5. From the results it would appear that there was no difference between the
two treatments.
ENHANCE YOUR WRITING SKILL TO CREATE AN IMPRESSION 180
It should be borne in mind, however, that sentences should neither be too long
nor too short (which will make it jerky). A sentence is the backbone of a scientific
or engineering communication and hence it must also be free of all grammatical
errors. It should be direct, consistent, methodical and interesting. The use of these
principles leads to brevity in the text. Such sentences are the main ingredients of
a well-written paragraph.
CONCLUSION
‘Write to express, not impress,’ goes a saying in high-impact communication.
Too many people use complex words instead of simple; passive voice
instead of active; redundant words; long paragraphs with multiple themes,
etc.
This chapter has clearly outlined fifteen principles that will help in
communicating crisply and effectively and help avoid the traps above. Following
these principles, one can master the art of putting forward to the reader an
impressive personality.
After writing any text, the key thing to follow is to take a break, short or
long, and then edit, edit and edit it again until it is sharpened. At every step
of the way, a quick check of the fog index or the Flesch reading ease index
(or the other indices presented in Chapter 9) tells us how much more we can
improve.
Several of these techniques for effective written communication are appli-
cable to verbal communication as well. The way to improve such communica-
tion has been stated in this chapter along with many examples.
Readability of text mirrors our thought process. It is a signal that others
see and assess our personality with. Hence, it is imperative that we give this
aspect serious consideration and consciously improve it over time.
EXERCISES
A. Edit Sentence Structure
Rewrite these sentences to improve clarity and comprehension:
1. In the early part of the month of July, we got together and made all our
papers relating to income tax ready so that we would not have to resort to a
mad scramble to meet the deadline which is 31st
July.
2. All the people who participated in the workshop were given a free
complimentary CD by the committee who organized the workshop.
3. We heard that there was a riot on the evening news.
4. We endeavoured to demonstrate how the problem could be solved in the
best possible manner.
5. From the results it would appear that there was no difference between the
two treatments. complimentary CD by the committee who organized the workshop.
3. We heard that there was a riot on the evening news.
4. We endeavoured to demonstrate how the problem could be solved in the
best possible manner.
FOG INDEX: PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR PROPER WRITING 196
B. Simple for Complex
The student is asked to replace each of the words below by a simpler word.
1. Assistance 14. Effectuate
2. Endeavour 15. Employ
3. Access 16. Facilitate
4. Accordingly 17. Feasible
5. Ameliorate 18. Formulate
6. Analogous 19. Fundamental
7. Append 20. Henceforth
8. Apprise 21. Inception
9. Augment 22. Mitigate
10. Basically 23. Operational
11. Commence 24. Peruse
12. Consequently 25. Terminate
13. Disseminate
C. Trimming Sentences
The following sentences are too verbose. The students need to rewrite these to
increase clarity and make them less complex.
1. I shall be deeply obliged if you would afford me an opportunity to make a
presentation of my written paper.
2. The lawyer and the client came to an agreement that the registrar would
carry out an evaluation of the papers and effect any changes for the purpose
of betterment of the client.
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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EXERCISES
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cable to verbal communication as well. The way to improve such communica-
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the important points
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(or the other indices presented in Chapter 9) tells us how much more we can
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Companion Online Resource
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both teaching and learning solutions online.
Online Resources
The following resources are available to sup
the faculty and students using this text:
For Faculty
• Instructor’s Manual
• PowerPoint Slides
• Multiple Choice Questions
• Additional Self-assessment Tests
For Students
• Flashcard Glossary
• Additional Reading Material
Step 1: Getting Started
 Go to india.oup.com
Step 2: Browse quickly by
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Companion Online Resources
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both teaching and learning solutions online.
Online Resources
The following resources are available to support
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For Faculty
• PowerPoint Slides
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• Personality Tests
For Students
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• Flashcard Glossary
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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6. Preface to the Second Edition
Personality development and soft skills are two essentials for enhancing one’s
employability prospects. Therefore, it is encouraging to note that a diverse cross-
section of readers have benefitted from the first edition of this book.
In my recent interactions with many people from the corporate world and
academia, what has additionally emerged is the growing influence of e-learning
as a new aspect of career growth. In line with this trend, I have put focus on
e-learning in this second edition with the inclusion of two new chapters on this
key topic.
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) form a key component of e-learning
andhascaughtontheworldover.Thereareseveralorganizationsinthegovernment,
academia, and the corporate world in India that are also playing a key role in
e-learning and MOOCs. Thus, with its inclusion, personality development, soft
skills, and e-learning form a sort of trilogy for career growth.
The new chapters 12 and 13 acquaint the reader with the world of e-learning,
the different e-learning technologies, the varying roles of e-learning at different
stages of one’s career, a structured approach to mapping relevant MOOCs to one’s
career goals, and multi-year skill development plans.
In addition to e-learning, this edition also provides updates on the new trends
in preparing oneself for a successful professional journey. Topics such as modern
trends in writing curriculum vitae have been included to benefit the readers.
I hope the readers will acquire enhanced value from this new edition of the
book while planning various facets of their career graph.
New to this Edition
• New chapters on e-learning for career growth
• New section on non-traditional résumés
• An audio on phonetics, and videos related to personality development on
the companion website
• Augmented web resources with test bank, flashcard glossary, and personality
tests
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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e-learning and MOOCs. Thus, with its inclusion, personality development, soft
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e-learning and MOOCs. Thus, with its inclusion, personality development, soft
form
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w chapters 12 and 13 acquaint the reader with the world of e-learning,
the different e-learning technologies, the varying roles of e-learning at different
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the different e-learning technologies, the varying roles of e-learning at different
career,
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career, a
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with many people from the corporate world and
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academia, what has additionally emerged is the growing influence of e-learning
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as a new aspect of career growth. In line with this trend, I have put focus on
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e-learning in this second edition with the inclusion of two new chapters on this
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book.
with many people from the corporate world and
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with many people from the corporate world and
academia, what has additionally emerged is the growing influence of e-learning
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academia, what has additionally emerged is the growing influence of e-learning

7. viii PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
Coverage and Structure
The book has been divided into 13 chapters.
Chapter 1 deals with the concept of personality, its various traits and
characteristics, and types. Personality tests and their assessment have also been
covered. Chapter 2 discusses the importance of soft skills in the professional
world. It classifies soft skills into two categories: personal and interpersonal traits.
The need for effective communication skills has been explained in Chapter 3.
It also emphasizes on the various nuances of English language such as syllable,
accent, and intonation.
Chapter 4 covers the structure, strategies, and types of an effective résumé.
Chapter 5 is on group discussion (GD). The different types of GDs, conducting
a GD, its types, and opening and summarizing a GD are covered in this chapter.
Job interview, a crucial component of the recruitment process, has been
explained in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 elaborates upon body language, which is an
essential element of effective communication. Chapter 8 and 9 on writing skills
will teach the learner to enhance their communication clarity.
Chapter 10 helps readers identify common errors made while speaking and
writing English and suggests how to avoid such errors.
An overview of modern means of communication and language laboratory is
provided in Chapter 11.
Chapter 12 highlights the growing importance of e-learning, its pros and cons,
and usefulness in various stages of one’s career.
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), a vital component of e-learning, is
discussed in Chapter 13.
Online Resources
The following resources are available to support the faculty and students using
this text.
For Faculty
• PowerPoint Slides
• Test Bank, which includes multiple choice and true/false questions
• Personality Tests
For Students
• Multimedia resources, which includes an audio on phonetics, and
videos related to personality development
• Flashcard Glossary
Acknowledgements
I convey my blessings to Basundhara, my daughter-in-law, who is a bright alumna
of Jadavpur University, Kolkata, and presently residing at California, for keeping
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Online Resources
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Online Resources
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The following resources are available to support the faculty and students using
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The following resources are available to support the faculty and students using
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career.
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, a crucial component of the recruitment process, has been
explained in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 elaborates upon body language, which is an
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explained in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 elaborates upon body language, which is an
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errors
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errors made
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made

8. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION ix
me informed of the latest developments in the field of e-learning. This current
information was of great help in keeping me updated about the major strides
being made in this sphere.
I thank Shibshankar Bhattacharyya, formerly Professor of Physics, Indian
Association for the Cultivation of Science, for the discussions I had with him at
various stages of writing the book.
I also extend my thanks to the editorial staff of Oxford University Press, who
worked very diligently on the revisions for this second edition, for their excellent
work.
Barun K. Mitra
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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9. Preface to the First Edition
What prompted me to write this book is the oft-quoted remark of an industry
leader: ‘They (our students) are not unemployed; they are unemployable.’
But why? Our students graduate from good colleges with good grades. In spite
of that why are they unemployable? The answer lies in the fact that they lack
two essential attributes: personality and soft skills. The encouraging news is that
many colleges today have recognized this need and have begun to focus on these
essential aspects.
These aspects include not only the domain knowledge (hard skills), but also
their personality and soft skills. Just having these inherent assets is not sufficient.
It needs to be presented effectively to the employer (through resume, group
discussion, interview, presentation, etc.). I had been discussing this need for
many years through my interaction with students and professionals, as well as
with employers from many multinational and Indian companies.
The objective of writing this book is to acquaint young men and women
of the present generation with the details of soft skills and the importance of
personality. These have been explained with several case-studies and examples.
Several important topics have also been covered in this book such as writing an
impressive curriculum vitae (CV), being effective in group discussions (GD) and
interviews.
An important aspect of one’s personality is derived from communication skills.
Both verbal and non-verbal (also referred to as ‘body language’) have been dealt
with in this book. Many examples of phonetics and accent have also been given to
help improve one’s communication. A section on potpourri of commonly misused
phrases has been included to help avoid the pitfalls during communication.
This wide gamut of topics related to developing one’s personality and soft skills
will help a person’s career growth in any organization.
As a former Professor of English, IIT Kharagpur, and having imparted technical
communication skills to generations of students I have conducted several courses
sponsored by the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) and Quality
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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discussion, interview, presentation, etc.). I had been discussing this need for
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discussion, interview, presentation, etc.). I had been discussing this need for
many years through my interaction with students and professionals, as well as
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many years through my interaction with students and professionals, as well as
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with employers from many multinational and Indian companies.
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with employers from many multinational and Indian companies.
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discussion, interview, presentation, etc.). I had been discussing this need for
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10. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION xi
Improvement Program (QIP). I also worked on a language project at Minneapolis
and as the Director and Vice President of South Asia Hankes Foundation, Kolkata.
Over these years, I have been discussing the importance of personality and soft
skills with several senior management employers who had graduated from IIT.
Quite naturally these in-depth discussions gave the fillip to writing this book.
This book will hopefully benefit a large number of students and professionals
in their career through a deeper understanding of personality and soft skills. It will
assist them in acquiring employability assets which they can present to their employer.
I have been encouraged very much by the positive feedback and extensive use of
my earlier book Effective Technical Communication (Oxford University Press) from
students and professionals. I hope this book will also serve the needs of those who
aspire for a sharp growth in their professional career. A thorough understanding
of the techniques illustrated in this book will help enhance personality, infuse
confidence, and increase employability in any chosen career.
Organization and Content
The book has been divided into eleven chapters, covering the spectrum of personality
and soft skills attributes. A brief overview of each chapter is provided below.
Chapter1 introduces the concepts of personality and discusses various person-
ality traits and their characteristics. Analyses of personality such as Freudian anal-
ysis and Swami Vivekananda’s vedantic concept are presented next. It then focuses
on describing various attributes such as leadership, interpersonal, decision mak-
ing; various personality types are also mapped. Finally, it provides and overview of
personality tests and their assessment.
Chapter 2 introduces the concept of soft skills and emphasizes the importance
of developing them. It classifies soft skills into several personality traits and
discusses each one in detail along with a strength-weakness analysis.
Chapter 3 focuses on communication skills. It starts with an explanation of
the communication process. Speaking skills are discussed next with guidelines
for speaking effectively. It explains speaking etiquette and provides an overview
of phonetics, and various nuances of the English language such as syllable, stress,
rhythm, and intonation.
Chapter 4 deals with the importance of writing an effective resume. It explains
three strategies for structuring and writing good resumes. It provides insight into
what the requirements of most employers are and how to use words and phrases
convincingly. It discusses various types of resumes, especially those for beginners.
Finally, a few examples of well written resumes are provided.
Chapter 5 explains how one should conduct oneself in a group discussion.
It explains the purpose of a GD and brings out various personality traits which
one exhibits in a GD through three case studies. It emphasizes on the ability to
work as a team, verbal/non-verbal communication, leadership, reasoning, ability
to influence, innovation and lateral thinking, and flexibility. It explains various
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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personality tests and their assessment.
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personality tests and their assessment.
concept
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spectrum

11. xii PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
types of GD and how to prepare for each of them. It also discusses the importance
of the first speaker and proper summing of the discussion.
Chapter 6 lays emphasis on the importance of job interviews. It explains what
interviewers look for in a candidate and how to prepare oneself accordingly. It
explains various types of interviews and the importance of doing ground work, and
appropriate dressing style, body language, and speaking skills. It discusses various
standard as well as tricky interview questions and suggests appropriate responses for
them. It also discusses how to conduct oneself in a video/teleconference. Finally, it
provides a comprehensive case study with analysis explaining the concepts covered.
Chapter 7 deals with body language. It starts by explaining the nine emotions
displayed through body language. It covers other aspects such as types of
handshakes, zones of intimacy and desirable/undesirable body language in several
professional situations.
Chapters 8 and 9 provide insight into improving one’s writing and reading
skills. Several examples are provided to explain how one can improve clarity of
communication and write more effectively. Chapter 9 deals with the concept of
Fog indices, which help in determining how easy or difficult it is to read a passage.
It also discusses the importance of clarity in verbal communication.
Chapter 10 gives crucial tips on how to avoid common errors one makes
through the incorrect usage of English words and phrases.
Chapter 11 provides a short overview of modern means of communication and
the growing importance of Language Laboratory, which is a self-improvement aid
that one can practise even at home.
Acknowledgement
I thank my son Bobby for his help and guidance in developing this book. It
was he who first pointed out to me the increasing criticality of soft skills and
personality traits in today’s world.
I thank Prof. Ajoy Kumar Ray, Vice Chancellor, Bengal Engineering and Science
University, for his enthusiastic support and encouragement in bringing out this book.
I also thank Rabindra (Rob) Roy, Vice President of a company in California for his
great interest in the publication of such a book. I take this opportunity to convey my
thanks to my former students of IIT who are now in senior management positions in
many companies. My discussions with them have helped enrich the content of this
book. I also thank Ms Kusumita Bhattacharyya, a reputed artist, for drawing many
lively sketches which served as a reference for the illustrations.
I feel happy to bless Basundhara, my daughter-in-law, who helped me
significantly. She diligently went through each of the chapters, and made the
needed corrections. My daughter, Swagata (Gopa), always encouraged me while I
was writing the book. Thank you Gopa!
Finally, I would like to thank the editorial team at Oxford University Press, for
their feedback and suggestions at every stage of this book.
Barun K. Mitra
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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erbal communication.
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the growing importance of Language Laboratory, which is a self-improvement aid
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that one can practise even at home.
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Chapter 9
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erbal communication.

12. Brief Contents
Features of the Book iv
Preface to the Second Edition vii
Preface to the First Edition x
Detailed Contents xiv
Introduction 1
1. Personality Development: A Must for Leadership and Career Growth 9
2. Soft Skills: Demanded by Every Employer 30
3. Communication Skills: Spoken English, Phonetics, Accent, Intonation 60
4. Your Résumé or Curriculum Vitae: The First Step Forward 77
5. Group Discussion: A Test of Your Soft Skills 100
6. Job Interviews: The Gateway to the Job Market 122
7. Body Language: Reveals Your Inner Self and Personality 145
8. Enhance Your Writing Skill to Create an Impression 167
9. Fog Index: Provides Guidance for Proper Writing 183
10. Beware of Pitfalls: Avoid Errors 199
11. Language Laboratory: Facilitating Self-improvement 216
12. Acquaintance with E-learning Concepts and Techniques 226
13.
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): Skill Development 240
and Career Growth
Index 254
About the Author 257
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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The First
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First Step
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Soft Skills
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Skills
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Job Market
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Your Inner
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Inner Self
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Create
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Career

13. Introduction 1
The Changing Scenario—A Raised Bar 1
The Right Personality for the Job 1
Résumé, Group Discussion, Job Interview—Reflect Your Personality 2
Soft Skills for First Job or in Early Stages of Career Advancement 3
Personality Traits and Soft Skills for Future Career Advancement 4
Values and Ethics 7
Personality and Soft Skills for Career Growth 7
1. Personality Development: A Must for Leadership and Career
Growth 9
Case 1: One’s Personality Sends Out a Signal that Others Read 11
Case 2: Same Person: Consciously Different Personalities can be Powerful 13
Case 3: There isn’t One Right Personality; It Differs by Role 13
Learnings About Personality Development from the Three Cases 14
Personality Analysis 14
Freudian Analysis of Personality Development 15
Swami Vivekananda’s Concept of Personality Development 16
Physical Self 17
Energy Self 17
Intellectual Self 17
Mental Self 17
Blissful Self 17
Personality Begets Leadership Qualities 18
Interpersonal Skills 18
Detailed Contents
Features of the Book iv
Preface to the Second Edition vii
Preface to the First Edition x
Brief Contents xiii
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Personality Development: A Must for Leadership and Career
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Interview
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14. Resolving Conflict 18
A Smiling Face 19
Appreciative Attitude 19
Assertive Nature 19
Communication Skills 19
Listening Skills 20
Developing Empathy 20
The Personality Attribute of Taking Bold Decisions 20
Personality Types and Leadership Qualities 21
Mapping the Different Personality Types 22
Perfectionists 22
Helpers 22
Achievers 23
Romantics 23
Observers 24
Questioners 24
Enthusiasts or Adventurers 25
Bosses or Asserters 25
Mediators or Peacemakers 26
Personality Tests 26
Example of a Personality Test: Jung Typology Test 27
Personality Assessment 27
2. Soft Skills: Demanded by Every Employer 30
Case I: Dr Devi Shetty 31
Case II: Abraham Lincoln 32
Case III: Jeff Immelt 33
Lessons from the Three Case Studies 34
Change in Today’s Workplace: Soft Skills as a Competitive Weapon 35
Antiquity of Soft Skills 37
Classification of Soft Skills 37
Time Management 38
Attitude 41
Responsibility 43
Ethics, Integrity, Values, and Trust 43
Self-confidence and Courage 45
Consistency and Predictability 47
Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills 48
DETAILED CONTENTS xv
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Soft Skills: Demanded by Every Employer
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Soft Skills: Demanded by Every Employer
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15. Communication and Networking 50
Empathy and Listening Skills 51
Problem Solving, Troubleshooting and Speed-reading 53
Leadership 55
3. Communication Skills: Spoken English, Phonetics, Accent,
Intonation 60
Code and Content 61
Stimulus and Response 62
Source 62
The Encoding Process 63
The Channel 63
The Decoding Process 63
The Receiver 63
Speaking Skills 63
Phonetics 65
Phonetic Chart 66
Syllables 67
Stress 67
Accent 69
Rhythm 69
Intonation 70
Communicating Soft Skills: A Self-assessment 72
4. Your Résumé or Curriculum Vitae: The First Step Forward 77
The Strategy of Résumé Writing—From an Employer’s Perspective 79
Strategy I: The Résumé Should Reveal Those Personality Traits that Align with the
Organization’s Values 79
Strategy II: The Résumé Should Convince the Potential Employer of Right Fitment to
the Opening 81
Strategy III: The Résumé Should Show to the Employer the Benefits that the
Candidate Will Bring in 83
A Favourable First Impression—The ‘Career Objective’ in the Résumé 85
The Main Body of the Résumé 85
Clarity and Crispness of the Résumé 85
Format and Content of the Résumé 86
A Fresher’s Résumé 87
Examples 89
Example of a Well-written Résumé by an Experienced Professional 89
xvi DETAILED CONTENTS
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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16. Example of a Well-written Résumé of a Fresh Graduate 91
Example of a Poorly Written Résumé 92
Writing a Modern Résumé 93
How is the Modern CV Different from the Traditional One? 93
Various Modern Résumé Formats 94
5. Group Discussion: A Test of Your Soft Skills 100
Case Studies 101
Learnings from the Three Case Studies 107
Ability to Work as a Team 108
Communication Skills, Including Active Listening 109
Non-verbal Communication 110
Leadership and Assertiveness 112
Reasoning 113
Ability to Influence 114
Innovation, Creativity and Lateral Thinking 114
Flexibility 115
Group Discussion Types 115
The Responsibility of the First Speaker 116
Concluding the Discussion—The Technique of Summing Up 117
6. Job Interviews: The Gateway to the Job Market 122
Types of Interviews 123
Groundwork Before the Interview 124
Abide by the Dress Code 124
Importance of Body Language in Interviews 125
Need for Proper Articulation 127
Probable Interview Questions 128
Tell Us about Yourself 128
Would You Call Yourself a Team Player? 128
Few Tricky Questions and Possible Answers 129
Why Should We Employ You? 129
Do You Have Offers from Other Companies? 129
What Salary are You Expecting? 130
How Much do You Think You are Worth? 130
What Kind of a Culture are You Comfortable with? 130
What is More Important to You—Salary or Growth Opportunities? 130
What do You Know about Our Company? 130
Tell Us about Your Strengths and Weaknesses 130
DETAILED CONTENTS xvii
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Technique
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17. Where do You See Yourself in 5 or 10 Years? 131
What are Your Plans for Higher Studies? 131
When Leading a Team, How Will You Motivate Your Team Members and Resolve
Any Differences between Them? 131
What Has Been the Biggest Challenge You Have Faced, and How Did You Handle
It? 132
What Do You Think are the Essential Qualities of a Good Employee? 132
You Claim to be Computer-savvy. Can You Mention Any Innovative Way to Enhance
the Sales of the Company Using Your Computer Knowledge and Skills? 133
Concluding an Interview 134
Telephonic or Video Interview—A Growing Trend 134
Disadvantages of Telephonic or Video Interview 136
A Mock Interview 136
Why did the Interview Team Select Vikram? 136
Why did the Interview Team not Select Chandra and Amit? 140
7. Body Language: Reveals Your Inner Self and Personality 145
Emotions Displayed by Body Language 147
Aggressive 147
Submissive 148
Attentive 148
Nervous 148
Upset 149
Bored 149
Relaxed 150
Power 150
Defensive 150
Handshake—The Most Common Body Language 151
Eyes—A Powerful Reflection of One’s Inner Self 152
Entry to My Space—Personal Zones May Vary 153
Intimate Zone 153
Personal Zone 153
Social Zone 154
Public Zone 154
Typical Body Language when Zones are Intruded 155
Body Language Exhibited During Different Professional Interactions 155
Interview 155
Manager’s Discussions with a Subordinate Employee 156
Discussions with Supervisor 157
xviii DETAILED CONTENTS
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Body Language: Reveals Your Inner Self and Personality
Language
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Language 147
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Body Language: Reveals Your Inner Self and Personality
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Body Language: Reveals Your Inner Self and Personality

18. Presentation to a Large Audience 158
Group Discussions 160
Video-conference 160
8. Enhance Your Writing Skill to Create an Impression 167
Fifteen Principles to Increase Clarity of Communication 168
Use Short, Simple and Clear Words 168
Use Short Sentences 168
Do not Cram Different Points into One Sentence 169
Using Compact Substitutes for Wordy Phrases 170
Remove Redundant Words and Expressions 171
Avoid Use of Mixed Metaphors 173
Avoid Hackneyed and Stilted Phrases 173
Avoid Verbosity in the Use of Common Prepositions 174
Do not Twist the Word Order 174
Present Similar Ideas in a Sentence with Same Structural and Grammatical
Form 174
Make Positive Statements Without Being Hesitant or Non-committal 175
Avoid Pompous Words and Phrases 175
Use Active Instead of Passive Voice 175
Ensure Correct Spelling and Grammar in the Text 176
Substitute Easily-understood Words for Words Imported from Other Fields 176
Edit-Edit-Edit 176
The Reader’s Perspective 176
Clarity of Thought 177
Clarity of Text 178
Example of Poorly and Well-written Texts 179
9. Fog Index: Provides Guidance for Proper Writing 183
Fog Index or Clarity Index 184
Examples of Passages with High and Low Fog Index 186
Infogineering Clarity Rating 189
Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease Index 190
Other Readability Indices 192
Checking Grammar, Spelling and Voice 193
Clarity of Verbal Communication 193
Case 1 193
Case 2 194
DETAILED CONTENTS xix
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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19. 10. Beware of Pitfalls: Avoid Errors 199
Perplexing Prepositions 200
Proper Pronouns 201
Valid Verbs 201
Articles—To be or Not to be 202
The Power of Punctuation 202
Capital Check 203
Words that are Single or Couple 203
Similar But Not Quite the Same 204
Self-check 206
Questions About Question Tags 206
Sound Spellings 207
Indianisms in English 208
Most Common Errors in the World 211
Comparatives 213
11. Language Laboratory: Facilitating Self-improvement 216
Language Laboratory Lesson Types 218
Preparing for a Language Laboratory Session 220
Advanced Language Laboratory 220
A Language Laboratory of Your Own at Your Home 221
Language Laboratory Material 223
12. Acquaintance with E-learning Concepts and Techniques 226
What is E-learning? 227
Benefits of E-learning 227
Disadvantages of E-learning 228
Types of E-learning 229
Synchronous Learning 229
Asynchronous Learning 229
The evolution and Three Generations of E-learning 229
E-learning Technologies 230
Smart Classroom 230
Smartphone, Tablet or E-books 231
Multi-location Intelligent Videoconferencing 231
Video Streaming—Live and Recorded 232
Satellite Broadcast 232
Audio is not Dead! How to Listen and Improve Skills on the Move! 233
xx DETAILED CONTENTS
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E-learning?
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Laboratory
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Laboratory 220
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20. Online Content by Universities—OCW to MOOCs 233
Career Growth Benefits from E-Learning 234
Students at the Threshold of Starting a Career 235
Career Progression within a Corporate Setting 235
Career Progression While Switching a Company 235
Professional Development for High Potential Employees 236
The Future of E-Learning 236
13. Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): Skill Development and
Career Growth 240
Introducing Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) 241
MOOCs Integrate Soft Skills and Hard Skills into One Platform 241
MOOCs—Bringing the Power to You! 243
Large Scale Skill Development:
A Priority for India 244
Launch of MOOC Platform Swayam 245
MOOCs Gaining Momentum in India 246
Integrating MOOCs as Part of Individual Skill Enhancement Plan for Career
Growth 247
Linking Career and Skill to MOOCs 247
Write Down Your Long-term and Short-term Career Goal 247
Develop Your Multi-year Skill Development Plan, in Line with Your Stated
Career Goals 248
Map Your Multi-year Skill Development Plan onto Appropriate
MOOCs 249
Researching the Available MOOC Options 249
MOOCs Enrich Your CV 250
MOOCs and vocational education 251
What is Vocational Education? 251
Vocational Skill Development in India 251
Role of the NSDC in Vocational Education and Training 251
Role of MOOCs in Vocational Education 251
Difference in MOOC Content and Delivery for Vocational Education 252
MOOCs—The Drag Factor 252
Index 254
About the Author 257
DETAILED CONTENTS xxi
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Individual
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Individual Skill
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Skill Enhancement
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Enhancement
OOC
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OOCs
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s 247
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and
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and Short-term
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Short-term
Development
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Development
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Platform
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Platform

21. CHAPTER THREE
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Grooming one’s personality
Personality as a signal that others read
Variation of personality with situation
Characteristics of different personality
attributes
Influence of heredity and environment
on personality
Different classifications of personality
Personality tests
Personality
Development
A Must for Leadership and
Career Growth
CHAPTER ONE
‘I knew that I had come face to face with someone whose
mere personality was so fascinating that, if I allowed it to do
so, it would absorb my whole nature, my whole soul, my very
art itself.’
— Oscar Wilde
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Personality as a signal that others read
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Personality as a signal that others read
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Variation of personality with situation
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Variation of personality with situation
Characteristics of different personality
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Characteristics of different personality
Influence of heredity and environment
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Influence of heredity and environment
Different classifications of personality
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Different classifications of personality
P
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22. 10 PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOFT SKILLS
When we do something again and again, we form a habit. Ultimately these
habits form a particular behaviour. If they recur frequently, they become a part of
our psyche. They are reflected in all our activities—what we say, what we do, how
we behave in certain circumstances and even in how we think. They become the
core of our personality.
Personality analysis is thus a methodology for categorizing the character and
behaviour of a person. Personality is made up of some characteristic pattern of
thoughts, feelings and behaviour that make one person different from others.
Each of these individual attributes has its own individual characteristics, as
indicated in Table 1.1.
TABLE 1.1 Personality attributes and their characteristics
Individual personality attributes Characteristics
Maturity Wisdom, sagacity, depth
Achievement-oriented Performance- and goal-oriented
Intellectual Sharp, intelligent
Emotional Excessive feelings
Energetic Active, agile
Physical attributes Healthy, robust, strong
Material attributes Spendthrift, possessive
P
ersonality is concerned with the psychological pattern of an individual—
the thoughts, emotions and feelings—that are unique to a person. In fact,
the totality of character, attributes and traits of a person are responsible
for moulding his personality. These inherent personality traits and the different
soft skills interact with each other and make a person what he or she is. It helps
bring out a number of intrinsic qualities of a person, which are a must in any
responsible position.
In simple words, personality is a set of qualities that make a person distinct
from another. The word ‘personality’ originates from the Latin word ‘persona’,
which means a mask. In the theatre of the ancient Latin-speaking world, the mask
was just a conventional device to represent or typify a particular character. It is
the sum of the characteristics that constitute the mental and physical being of a
person including appearance, manners, habits, taste and even moral character.
The personality of a person is how he presents himself to the world; it is how
others see him. It has been aptly said:
Reputation is what people think you are.
Personality is what you seem to be.
Character is what you really are.
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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circumstances
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core of our personality.
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core of our personality.
ersonality analysis
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ersonality analysis is thus a methodology for categorizing the character and
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is thus a methodology for categorizing the character and
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person. Personality
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feelings
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feelings and
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and
Each of these individual attributes has its own individual characteristics, as
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Each of these individual attributes has its own individual characteristics, as
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Reputation is what people think you are.
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Reputation is what people think you are.
Personality is what you seem to be.
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Personality is what you seem to be.
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When we do something again and again, we form a habit. Ultimately these
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When we do something again and again, we form a habit. Ultimately these
habits form a particular behaviour. If they recur frequently, they become a part of
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habits form a particular behaviour. If they recur frequently, they become a part of
our psyche. They are reflected in all our activities—what we say, what we do, how
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our psyche. They are reflected in all our activities—what we say, what we do, how
circumstances
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Character is what you really are.
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Character is what you really are.
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The personality of a person is how he presents himself to the world; it is how
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The personality of a person is how he presents himself to the world; it is how
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Reputation is what people think you are.
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Reputation is what people think you are.
Personality is what you seem to be.
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Personality is what you seem to be.

23. PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT: A MUST FOR LEADERSHIP AND CAREER GROWTH 11
According to a theory expostulated by Carl Jung (1875–1961), a contempo-
rary of Freud, all personal characteristics are a by-product of two fundamental
attitude types: introversion and extroversion. Extroverts are optimistic, outgo-
ing and confident, while introverts are averse to going out and facing the world
outside.
Besides introversion and extroversion, different temperaments of individuals
play an important role in determining their personality. Long ago, Greek
physician Hippocrates put forward the theory that the temperament of a person is
dependent on certain fluids (which he calls ‘humour’) present in the human body.
Disproportionate mixtures and increase of any of the humours causes a change in
the human temperament.
According to this categorization, human temperaments have been classified
into four categories:
Sanguine temperament — caused by excess of blood
Melancholic temperament — caused by excess of spleen
Phlegmatic temperament — caused by excess of phlegm
Choleric temperament — caused by excess of bile
Individual attributes of these temperaments are given in Table 1.2.
This ancient theory of Hippocrates has undergone many modifications but
the main principle still holds good. However, these individual attributes are not
the only factors that mould the personality: heredity and environment also play a
major part in influencing one’s personality.
Here are a few comprehensive case studies illustrating the points discussed.
Through the following three case studies, it will become clear that personality
is a multi-dimensional issue with the following key characteristics:
• One’s personality sends out a signal that others read.
• Consciously different personalities can be powerful.
• There is no ‘one right personality’; it differs by role.
Case 1: One’s Personality Sends Out a Signal That Others Read
Nelson Mandela had a towering personality. The world respects him, and knows
many aspects of his personality. Yet, as you read through the different anecdotes
of this great leader, what strikes you as a refreshing revelation is that Mandela very
TABLE 1.2 Attributes and temperaments
Attributes Temperaments
Sanguine temperament Optimistic, confident, hopeful, cheerful
Melancholic temperament Sad, miserable, gloomy
Phlegmatic temperament Placid, indifferent, apathetic
Choleric temperament Angry, irritable, hot tempered
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Melancholic temperament Sad, miserable, gloomy
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Melancholic temperament Sad, miserable, gloomy
Phlegmatic temperament Placid, indifferent, apathetic
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Phlegmatic temperament Placid, indifferent, apathetic
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Choleric temperament Angry, irritable, hot tempered
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Choleric temperament Angry, irritable, hot tempered
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Choleric temperament — caused by excess of bile
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Sanguine temperament Optimistic, confident, hopeful, cheerful
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Choleric temperament — caused by excess of bile

24. 12 PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOFT SKILLS
effectively ‘worked on’ his personality. He was conscious that his personality reflected
the confidence he exuded in others, and his demeanour was a signal to his people.
As stated in a TIME magazine article (2008), during a presidential election
campaign, Nelson Mandela’s propeller plane developed a snag a few minutes
before landing. Mandela, however, continued to be calm, reading a newspaper.
The plane had an emergency landing and Mandela came out safe.
Later Mandela said, ‘Man, I was terrified up there!..Of course I was afraid!...But
as a leader, you cannot let people know. You must put up a front.’
Richard Stengel wrote in this TIME magazine article about Mandela as he
reflected on this episode: ‘And that’s precisely what he learned to do: pretend and,
through the act of appearing fearless, inspire others. It was a pantomime Mandela
perfected on Robben island, where there was much to fear. Prisoners who were
with him said watching Mandela walk across the courtyard, upright and proud,
was enough to keep them going for days. He knew that he was a model for others,
and that gave him the strength to triumph over his own fear.’
Similarly, while Mandela was always bitter about his long imprisonment, he
always put up a positive demeanour about it.
India’s cricket captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni too sends a cool and composed
signal to his team at all times. Even in the most stressful situations, he appears com-
pletely in control and unruffled. Yet, internally he churns his thoughts at all times,
with a deft combination of planning his moves and being outright street-smart. He is
aware that his unflustered exterior is a signal that keeps his team composed and
focused, without losing their nerve in crunch situations.
For example, in preparation for an interview session, or in one’s professional
career, a person may have to work on his personality. Every role comes with
certain personality expectations. By consciously working on the desired traits over
time and projecting the desired ones, one can make a very tangible change to his
original self to meet the expectations.
Personality, unlike what many people believe, is not in-born and static. It can be
consciously developed and changed. With conscious effort, one can project the
desired personality.
One’s personality is a signal that others read at all times. This includes every
gesture and every articulation of the person. This signal is read by the interviewer
or by superiors in a professional world. In turn, opinion gets formed and selection
choices are made based on such impressions.
In one’s career, it is therefore important to recognize at all times that there is a
direct correlation between the personality signal one sends out and one’s career
growth. Those who do not align these expectations may get stunted in their careers.
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Personality, unlike what many people believe, is not in-born and static. It can be
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consciously developed and changed. With conscious effort, one can
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desired personality.
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sends

25. PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT: A MUST FOR LEADERSHIP AND CAREER GROWTH 13
Case 2: Same Person: Consciously Different Personalities can be Powerful
Mandela’s powerful personality always reached his people. Waving hands with a
smiling face and wearing bright coloured print shirts showed him as a fulfilled
patriarch of modern Africa. His tight fists during his run for the Presidency
showed his determined resolve. Wearing fatigues and sporting a beard while he
was the leader of the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) underground wing
showed his aggression (TIME 2008).
Thus, it is possible, and even desirable, to not have the same personality under
all conditions. Consciously working on, and demonstrating different personalities
under different conditions can be very powerful.
Case 3: There isn’t One Right Personality; It Differs by Role
In an interview for a global team leader position, an experienced candidate, Seema,
was pitted against a well-qualified and outspoken John. Seema had worked in
several companies, and led small teams. John, on the other hand, was a brilliant
researcher and had primarily worked in individual contributor roles.
During the interview for the team leader position, the interviewer presented a
case where the work to be done is split across two teams—one in India, the other
in the US. The team in India looked at their counterpart in the US as a threat, and
vice versa. Each team wanted to get a bigger share of the pie and own more of the
quality work than the other.
When John was asked how he would handle the leadership of the India
team, he said he would out-manoeuvre the US team by demonstrating clear
innovation excellence and superiority of his team over its counterpart. He
confidently articulated the many methods he would use to showcase to his
management how the work he did will clearly be of higher value and impact.
This would ensure increased ownership of the work by the India team, and
hence a larger share of the pie.
Seema, however took a completely different view. She said she would first call
for a joint face-to-face interaction session between the US and the India teams.
The intent would be to break any mental barriers and misgivings between the
teams and the respective leaders. She said it is critical that the teams on both
sides of the globe think of themselves as one team—since they both represented
the same company, working to win against the competition. Subsequent to that
session, the teams will work cohesively, supporting each other at all times, to win
more customer business. This way, she explained, the total work pie can be grown,
benefiting both the teams. It would give both the India team and the US team
more responsibilities.
In a corporate setting, appearance and body language matter. One’s attire, demeanour
and style reflect one’s personality. Hence, it is important to consciously work on
one’s appearance so that it creates the desired impression during an interview or
subsequently in one’s career.
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
O
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looked
O
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looked
vice versa. Each team wanted to get a bigger share of the pie and o
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vice versa. Each team wanted to get a bigger share of the pie and o
other.
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other.
was
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was asked
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asked how
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he would
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would
excellence
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excellence
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Case 3: There isn’t One Right Personality; It Differs by Role
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Case 3: There isn’t One Right Personality; It Differs by Role
position,
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position, an
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outspoken John.
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John.
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several companies, and led small teams. John, on the other hand, was a brilliant
in
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Case 3: There isn’t One Right Personality; It Differs by Role
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Case 3: There isn’t One Right Personality; It Differs by Role
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and style reflect one’s personality. Hence, it is important to consciously work on
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and style reflect one’s personality. Hence, it is important to consciously work on
one’s appearance so that it creates the desired impression during an interview or
P
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one’s appearance so that it creates the desired impression during an interview or

26. 14 PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOFT SKILLS
The interview team liked John’s aggression and confidence, but felt that these
personality traits, while valuable in many cases, were not appropriate for this role.
The current role required a strong ethic of teamwork and global collaboration.
John’s focus would lead to more internal strife and competition. He would
dissipate more energy on winning internal battles. Seema’s strategy was to build a
strong global team and to focus her energy externally to win against competitors.
LEARNINGS ABOUT PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT FROM THE THREE
CASES
The three case studies clearly bring out an important learning:
This is well-stated in a video on personality development by Economic Times
(2009), which states:
‘Personality development is a continuous process and the evolution of an
individual’s personality is linked to his personal and professional growth. It is
often multi-faceted, and individuals display different personalities at different
places and in different phases of their life.’
‘The need to develop your personality in line with people, place, time
etc., underlines the importance of personality development. The process of
personality development requires a set of skills that need to be learned and at
times unlearned.’
The three case studies bring out the following:
Thus, it is important for one to have a deep realization of the role one intends to
pursue and its expectations—and work on grooming the desired personality traits.
PERSONALITY ANALYSIS
Personality is determined by a number of factors. Of these, genetics and/or
heredity as well as environment play an important role. Personality is shaped
not only by heredity but also by environment. One may inherit intelligence
and quite a few personal qualities, but his personality is moulded by the type
Personality is our identity, as perceived by others. A particular personality can be
groomed.
There is no one right or wrong personality. It varies by the role and situation
at hand. An aggressive personality that is critical to achieve success in some
situations may be counterproductive in another situation. Similarly, an introverted
personality may be better-suited for some roles than an extroverted personality. It
is also important to be conscious that one’s personality constantly emits a signal
for others to read.
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
O
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requires
O
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requires
ee case studies bring out the following:
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ee case studies bring out the following:
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O
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O
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There is no one right or wrong personality. It varies by the role and situation
O
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f
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d
There is no one right or wrong personality. It varies by the role and situation
at hand. An aggressive personality that is critical to achieve success in some
O
x
f
o
r
d
at hand. An aggressive personality that is critical to achieve success in some
situations may be counterproductive in another situation. Similarly, an introverted
O
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situations may be counterproductive in another situation. Similarly, an introverted
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personal and
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and
often multi-faceted, and individuals display different personalities at different
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often multi-faceted, and individuals display different personalities at different
their
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their life.’
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life.’
elop your personality in line with people, place, time
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elop your personality in line with people, place, time
etc., underlines the importance of personality development. The process of
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etc., underlines the importance of personality development. The process of
requires
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This is well-stated in a video on personality development by
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This is well-stated in a video on personality development by
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s
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s

27. PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT: A MUST FOR LEADERSHIP AND CAREER GROWTH 15
of environment he faces. The genetic composition of a person brings with it
certain personality traits. As a result, one may inherit many mental and quite a
few physical traits.
Environment also has a profound influence on the personality of a person.
One’s personality can be shaped with proper care and attention right from the
early stages of one’s life. The way one is raised, for example, has a lot to do with
the way one speaks, makes choices and practically everything one does.
FREUDIAN ANALYSIS OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
According to Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), personality consists of three structures
(Fig. 1.1):
• Id
• Ego
• Superego
Of these three, the id is absolutely unconscious; it has nothing to do with
reality. It acts per the pleasure principle that demands immediate gratification
irrespective of the environment.
However, such instant satisfaction of the needs is not always realistic or socially
acceptable. Examples of id would be the instinct to grab a beautiful piece of
Conscious
Unconscious
ID
EGO
SUPEREGO
Preconscious
Fig. 1.1 Personality analysis
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Conscious
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Conscious
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that demands immediate gratification
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acceptable. Examples of id would be the instinct to grab a beautiful piece of
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f these three, the id is absolutely unconscious; it has nothing to do with
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f these three, the id is absolutely unconscious; it has nothing to do with
that demands immediate gratification
P
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s
that demands immediate gratification

28. 16 PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOFT SKILLS
artistry from a museum to satisfy our own craving. Another example could be to
want to hit a person in public as a reaction to an abuse.
Next is the ego, which is actively concerned with the reality principle. It intends
to realistically meet the demands of the id in accordance with the outside word.
Freud considered the ego to be very sensitive and prompt to react to anything
it considers unsavoury in the outside world that it confronts. However, having
a strong ego has the positive advantage of reacting positively to criticisms and
problems. It urges one to proceed forward with determination to achieve the
desired goal.
For example, the ego would make the person realize that there is armed security
in the museum and there is no way to grab the piece of artistry from the museum.
The ego, in the other example, would also tell the person that there is no way to
smack the other person who is much stronger physically than him.
Finally, the superego, according to Freud, is the moral branch of personality,
which goes beyond being the realistic. It reflects the values and judgement,
including the ones developed during one’s childhood upbringing that forces the
demands of the id to be met not only realistically but morally. Freud believed
that one’s personality is based on the dynamic interactions amongst these three
components.
The superego would reflect, and realize that the consequence of grabbing the
piece of artistry from the museum or smacking a person in public would not
only be construed as a criminal offence, but will be morally improper. The person
may instead choose to look at other options to procure at low cost a replica of
the same piece of art. Similarly, instead of hitting, stating a counter-point that
communicates strong displeasure may be more appropriate.
It is interesting to note that all-round development of the personality is also the
main theme of the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda.
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S CONCEPT OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
According to the Vedantic concept advocated by Swami Vivekananda, all-round
harmonious development of personality is possible if proper attention is given
to the five dimensions that are involved in forming and developing the human
personality.
These five dimensions, which are an integral part of the human personality, are as
follows:
1. Physical self 4. Mental self
2. Energy self 5. Blissful self
3. Intellectual self
Only a full and harmonious development of these five personality dimensions
can make possible the creation of an all-round human personality.
© Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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communicates strong displeasure may be mor
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communicates strong displeasure may be mor
It is interesting to note that all-round development of the personality is also the
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It is interesting to note that all-round development of the personality is also the
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philosophy
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philosophy
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SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S CONCEPT OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
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SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S CONCEPT OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
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other options
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