The Mindful Leadership Blog

Just In! Agreeableness: A powerful leadership trait

March 18th, 2022

What’s hot?      

Recent research reveals that agreeableness has a desirable effect on hundreds of physical, psychological and occupational metrics that impact not only job performance but general life success*

So what?  

The lead researchers state that “this is important — perhaps now more than ever — because agreeableness is the personality trait primarily concerned with helping people and building positive relationships, which is not lost on organizational leaders.”

What to do?

1. Start with common ground. Even though you may disagree with another’s conclusion/idea/direction, you both work for the same organization.  Start with a statement of mutual agreement such as “we both want to get this new product to market ASAP…”
2. Avoid the statement I disagree. Instead, use language like Let’s explore a few more options.
3. Demonstrate a willingness to craft a resolution that is different from anything that has been suggested to date.
4. Use care in discussing opposing or different opinions in negative or dismissive language.
5. Demonstrate genuine appreciation for the work that people have invested in developing ideas/approaches.
6. Develop the skill of disagreeing without being disagreeable.

Need assistance helping your leaders or organization take the courageous steps that unlock hidden potential and create significant and lasting change?  Contact us.  

* Michael P. Wilmot, Deniz S. Ones. Agreeableness and Its Consequences: A Quantitative Review of Meta-Analytic Findings. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2022; 108886832110730 DOI: 10.1177/10888683211073007