Should you reinvent yourself?

On a questionnaire measuring the OCEAN personality factors, which of the following statements is the most correct?

Nerve is likely inversely related to career success

Agreeableness measures traits including creativity and adaptability in the face of adversity

None of the other answers is correct

Openness to experience likely also measures the willingness to collaborate with stakeholders and confidence when speaking in front of audiences

The study by Mathew Harris showed that

It is difficult for someone with a desirable personality in their younger years to stay the same

Personalities are very malleable and can be reshaped through conscious effort at any age

More than one of the other answers are correct

Most aspects of our personalities are open to change

Imagine that a professional wishes to increase their openness to experience. Which of the following actions is most likely to result in change in this personality trait?

Reading more about finance and economics

Getting feedback from colleagues on the extent to which they perceive this individual as being open to experience

Choosing to speak up during meetings with ideas and recommendations

Watching videos about new trends in other sectors and industries

What is a major consequence of the research discussed in the article?

Change can be relatively straightforward so long as we have a strong desire to do so

Change is a multi-faceted process that requires committing to multiple actions in the real world as well as mental shifts

CBT and mindfulness are the only two major approaches that are fully backed by research evidence

Personality traits are difficult to change. However, it is possible to change so long as we get in-depth feedback from others first

How much should we rely on the results of the study by Harris and colleagues?

More than one of the other answers is correct

The study by Harris and colleagues should be quite reliable as it is also backed up by the investigation led by Nathan Hudson

The study should be quite robust as the researchers tracked people for such a long period of time

It would depend on the size of the sample and how representative the sample is in terms of people around the world

Which of the following approaches is likely to lead to the greatest degree of change?

Reflecting on the Ideal self and then getting feedback from others on perceived weaknesses as well as strengths

Asking colleagues for feedback before deciding on a series of small actions to be completed over a number of weeks

Asking colleagues for feedback on perceived flaws before using self-help methods based on mindfulness or cognitive behavioural therapy

Reflecting on the Ideal self and then planning a series of small actions to be completed over several months

In terms of the growth versus gifts (fixed) mindsets:

It is likely that people around the world respond fairly uniformly to interventions designed to promote more of a growth mindset

Teaching the growth mindset is likely to be more beneficial to people who come from wealthy families than to people who come from poorer backgrounds

It is possible that there is great variability in the extent to which people respond to interventions aimed at promoting more of the growth mindset

It is likely that the benefits of interventions aimed at teaching the growth mindset should be roughly equivalent to older workers as well as younger workers

Several neuroscientific studies are mentioned in the article. Which of the following statements is the most correct?

Neuroscientific studies provide strong evidence for the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of interventions because their results are unequivocal and cannot be misinterpreted

Neuroscientific studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques are the strongest proof available to modern scientists about the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of psychological interventions.

Two of the other answers are correct

Neuroscientific studies are just one source of evidence about the benefits of different psychological interventions and must be evaluated carefully just like other sources of evidence

Feedback is:

One of several development tools, the effectiveness of which likely depends greatly on how it is delivered and received

Substantially less useful than is commonly believed

Not useful unless combined with sufficient time for reflecting on the Ideal self

Probably less useful within organisations than is generally believed and should therefore be de-emphasised in settings such as performance appraisals

What are the implications of the research on planned hedonic deviations for professionals aiming to develop themselves?

Planning to have occasional days off from work or self-development activities may boost mental wellbeing but still allow people to achieve long-term results

People should avoid working on weekends in order to recover, maintain their motivation and avoid burnout

Taking all of one’s annual leave is important for supporting mental recuperation and therefore professional development

Individuals keen to sustain high levels of performance should allow themselves spontaneous breaks as and when needed