Introduction

Personality traits and proper attitude in the workplace are critical to the success of a sales associate. In a retail setting, those who possess specific personality traits will contribute to the business' success, as customers are drawn to a business where they enjoy interacting with it's employees.

Related Instructional Objectives

Activities in this Lesson

Charlie Brown & Lucy: Crabby Little Girl Hooks / Set

After students enter the classroom show the video clip of Charlie Brown & Lucy. Ask the students to share the personality traits that they could depict in Charlie, Lucy & Linus. Ask students " How would you like to be Lucy's co-worker? What would that be like? What type of co-worker do you think Charlie would be? How about Linus? " This will draw some discussion in the classroom, leading into the lesson.

Crabby Little Girl - Clip

Resources and Materials

Crabby Little Girl - Clip.mp4

Importance of Personality in the Workplace Lecture

Your first job in retailing is the beginning of your career. You want your employer to be happy with the job you do, and you should also be happy with your job. Employers say that the most important consideration during a job interview is personality and attitude. The biggest reason people lose their jobs is due to not being able to get along with others. One employer says, "Personality is more important than how smart you are or how well you use your technical skills. If you have a chip on your shoulder, act like a know-it-all, or can't get along, you bring too much baggage to the job. I'll keep looking until I find an employee with a better attitude."

We are all born with certain personality traits, and those traits and others develop over the years, depending on experiences throughout our lives. Have your parents ever told you something like this, "You were always such a happy child!" , or "Ever since you were a toddler you would jabber away, you were a little social butterfly!" Ask students to share some comments like this that their parents have made to them. Students seem to enjoy telling these stories. These traits were evident in you as a young child, and we each have our own, unique personalities. Sometimes we find that others try to change our personalities, but that can't be done without our permission! Our personalities can be shaped and molded by those raising us, but only we can make personality changes for ourselves. We display our personality characteristics many ways, and it may take others a while to get to know us. By the way we express our feelings, display our attitudes, the way we behave and even the way we dress, others are determining in their minds, what type of person we are.

As you become young adults your personalities will become more evident and will affect how you react to situations and how others react to your behavior. As we discuss the most important personality characteristics as a retail employee, I'd like for you to do a silent, personal assessment; think about how strong this trait is in your personality. Is this a positive characteristic of your personality? Is it something you feel you need to improve on?

To make your new job a great experience for you and for your employer, take a step back and evaluate your personality. Are you a person that an employer would enjoy having as a staff member? Would you enjoy being a co-worker of yours? Retail employers look for specific personality characteristics in a potential employee. Let's take a look at the most important qualities of a successful sales associate, and I'd like to see how much you already understand regarding these traits. Here is a "practice quiz " that I'd like for you to take and we'll discuss the answers in a few minutes.

*Distribute handout, Top 15 Personality Characteristics of a Sales Associate. Instruct students to match the characteristic to the definition. Allow 7-10 minutes for this activity.

*Show slide #1, Top 15 Personality Characteristics which displays the answers in order. Have a student read the definition and give the answer they believe is the correct one, then show the correct answer as it appears on the slide. I usually throw out a piece of candy to the first student to answer correctly.

**This is a good opportunity to expand on each personality characteristic, relating your own experiences as well as student involvement in the discussion. Use examples, such as "...taking initiative: if you walk by the trash and see that it's full, take it out before anyone tells you to. Practice these things at home, and it will become natural for you. Your employer will notice and these actions may result in advancement or a raise in pay." "...loyalty: if your employer tells you something confidential regarding the business, keep it confidential. Your employer wants to trust that you are a loyal employee who genuinely cares about the success of the business." "...courtesy: if you see a parent struggling to open the door while pushing a stroller with a baby and managing another child, rush over to open the door and assist that customer. It will make you feel good inside to help someone and that customer will be appreciative."
These examples will come easily and will help students to apply the traits to real-life situations.

Resources and Materials

TOP 15 PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS.doc

null

TOP 15 PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF A SALES ASSOCIATE.ppt

null

Personality trait application to retail employment Independent Practice

*** Materials needed: INDEX CARDS, with a personality trait written on each. Each student will be given an index card. Written on each card is a personality characteristic. If there are more than 15 students, add additional characteristics: organized, ambition, proper dress, interest in others, genuine, punctual, neatness, reliable, tolerant, productive, able to accept criticism, responsible, efficient, optimistic, determined, sense of humor, willingness to learn. Some may need assistance if they don't know the definition. Explain that some students will be receiving these as a challenge; they are extremely important in the work world, but that we are especially focusing on the "Top 15" as per employer surveys.

*Students will prepare to:

  1. Name their assigned personality characteristic
  2. Define their assigned personality characteristic
  3. Give an example of how this personality characteristic may apply to a situation in a retail store.

*example: 1. DEPENDABILITY 2. It means to be counted on by your employer to do something he's asked. 3. If your employer is leaving for the day and you are scheduled to close the store, he needs to be able to DEPEND on you to follow the proper closing procedures so he doesn't have to worry about it.

Students should be given 5 minutes to prepare, they may write down whatever it is they will want to say, and will share their answers with the class. (again, you may want to throw out some candy after they give their answer)

Scenarios Group Work

Students will work in teams of 2 or 3 (no more than 3). Each team will be given a scenario. (You may print and paste on to index cards or print on to a full size sheet of paper so the team will have room to write their solution to the situation.) The team will read the scenario together, and work out a solution. They can role play the scenario and solution or stand in front of the class to present, whichever they prefer. Some enjoy role play, some are too shy to act.

Resources and Materials

Personality Scenarios.doc

null

Tips from a teenage employee Closure

Recently, I asked a 17 year old high school student, who is employed at the local cinemas, to write down some tips to students who feel they're not quite ready to be an employee for the first time. Here's what he turned in to me:

"Being a good employee requires a variety of things involved with personality, habits and overall attitude. So many may ask what it takes to be a good employee and how to succeed in the workforce. It's simply answered: do your work and do it well. Before I was officially hired at the Cinemas, I worked 7 months for free without complaining, and jumping on the opportunity to take any extra work hours that were offered to me. I always arrived on time in proper work attire and did my job as expected. Whether it be with work in general or dealing with rude customers, I remained patient. I have learned that through patience, dedication, and having an overall positive attitude, can help you get a job and even get a lot further than you believed you could."

Co-workers and other people around you react to your personality and attitudes. If you display aggressive or hostile behavior, they may shrink away. If you're a complainer or a gossip, they may choose to be around more positive people. If you're cheerful, show optimism, and are cooperative, they will be drawn to you. All of you have a long list of personality traits that you should be proud of. It's your time to show them off and shine in the workplace!

Assessment: Personality Plan/Rating

Assessment Type(s):

 

Students will complete the Personality Plan to rate their levels of Top 15 Personality Characteristics. They will add up their points to determine if they are ready to work in a retail setting. This worksheet enables the student to take a look at traits they will plan to improve on, and create a realistic plan for themselves.

Allow a minimum of 15 minutes for this assessment, explain that it takes time and careful thought when assessing our personalities and writing about ourselves. Explain that more time will be allowed if needed and that students' writings will be kept confidential. Also explain that they're not a "lost cause" if they are not ready for the work world according to their ratings, as earlier stated, we CAN work on and improve on our personality characteristics if we choose to do so.

*If time allows, show Lloyd Price video clip "You've Got Personality" or play the song quietly as students are completing their Personality Plan.


(Video below)

Resources and Materials

PERSONALITY PLAN and RATING.doc

null

Lloyd Price - Personality (b w).mpg.mp4