Why conscientiousness Matters at Work

Conscientiousness is an important part of the personality. Conscientiousness is described as the mental trait of being meticulous or determined. Conscientiousness suggests a tendency to do an important task very well, to be dedicated and committed to others, and to accept responsibility for tasks or projects. Conscientiousness people are highly organized and efficient compared to other people, while easy-going people are usually disorganized and undisciplined.


Conscientiousness was first explored in survey studies about work attitudes and employee productivity. The results showed that a person who is conscientious will be more productive and alert than a person who is disorganized. In a study about organizational behavior, the traits of conscientiousness were explored. Participants were asked questions about their behaviors such as whether they notice and try to keep cleanliness in their work area, do their jobs well, are efficient at work, and do their tasks safely. In addition, they were asked questions about the effect of wearing safety equipment on their performance and about their attitudes toward work and organization.

Participants were also asked questions about their religious background, their political beliefs, and their sex lives. Based on these responses, the researchers concluded that personality traits related to organizational behavior and personality traits related to religious and sex life beliefs are associated with religious and sex life involvement and conscientiousness. Interestingly, participants who were religious or had high moral standards were much less involved in ritualized behaviors and did not show the same level of conscientiousness. Participants with low religious or moral standards were more conscientious. Thus, the authors concluded that personality traits that are related to organizational behavior, such as conscientiousness, are positively associated with religious involvement and belief systems.

According to some research, conscientiousness can also lead to success. For example, if a person is disorganized but he or she knows how to get things done correctly, this person may have more potential than a person with disorganized but no knowledge on how to get things done right. Thus, a person with disorganization who is successful may have the ability to learn new organizational behaviors, while the disorganized will not. This means that a person with organizational skills and conscientiousness is more likely to succeed than someone with little organizational skills and conscientiousness.

However, it's important to note that just because a person has high levels of conscientiousness does not necessarily mean that he or she will be a success at work. A large percentage of individuals are low in conscientiousness. In fact, people who are highly conscientious may lack work ethics or other important qualities needed to effectively perform the tasks at hand.

How do we know whether an individual is high in conscientiousness? We can ask them detailed questions about their beliefs, work history, and occupational profile. We can also ask their peers and other people who they trust. These individuals should be able to provide clear answers about their conscientiousness. If these individuals are unable to provide clear answers, it may be reasonable to conclude that they are not the type of person who would be capable of following company policies or procedures.

People who are high in conscientiousness also tend to have high levels of self-esteem. Self-esteem is associated with motivation, assertiveness, and leadership. Individuals who possess high self-esteem are typically happier and less susceptible to peer conflict and other negative emotions.


Finally, individuals who are high in conscientiousness are better problem solvers. It has been shown that individuals who are good at problem solving are more successful at their jobs. They are better able to solve problems. In addition, high problem solvers are also more efficient at work. Thus, if an organization wants to increase productivity, they should encourage employees to exhibit high conscientiousness.