How I Develop Character Traits

Summary

• The best way to develop character traits is to see them as skills.
• Define the desired behavior clearly for a specific condition.
• Identify the sub behaviors that make up that characteristic.
• Focus on the condition where you fail to act the desired way.
• Practice the desired behavior repeatedly in that specific condition.
• Collect evidence of your behavior changing over time.

Video

How To Take Action

I would suggest implementing these strategies to improve your character traits by seeing them as skills. This approach works great for small businesses, entrepreneurs, or anyone interested in personal growth.

1. Define Desired Behavior Clearly

First, think of a character trait you want to develop, like being more patient or staying focused. Define what that behavior looks like in real life. Be specific. For example, "I want to be patient when dealing with customer complaints."

2. Identify Sub Behaviors

Break down the main behavior into smaller actions. For being patient, sub behaviors could include listening without interrupting, maintaining a calm tone, and taking deep breaths.

3. Focus on Trouble Spots

Identify situations where you usually struggle to act the desired way. For instance, you might lose patience when you’re stressed. This is the condition you need to focus on.

4. Practice in Specific Situations

When you find yourself in those tricky situations, practice the new behavior. If you tend to get impatient when you're busy, make it a point to practice patience consciously in those moments.

5. Collect Evidence of Behavior Change

Keep a journal or notes on your phone. Write down instances where you successfully acted in the new way. Over time, you’ll see proof of your improvement which reinforces the new behavior.

These steps don’t require a lot of money or time but can make a big difference. By treating character traits as skills you can practice, you'll achieve personal growth and improve your business interactions. Focus on one trait at a time and keep practicing until it becomes second nature.

Full Transcript

the best way to develop character traits is to stop seeing them as traits and see them as skills and so what we want to do is have a desired behavior in a specific condition and that creates a character trait basically you have to define the term and then think about all the all the sub behaviors that in your mind create or fit inside of that bucketed term and then you get laser pointed on what is the condition that I don't act that way and then when that condition presents itself again how do I want to behave and then that just comes from practice and evidence