As part of some classwork and at the suggestion of Professor Tony Kong at the University of Colorado Boulder, I came across the Harvard Business Review article, “Could Your Personality Derail Your Career?” by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, and found it very insightful.

The author speaks of research done by psychologists Robert and Joyce Hogan where they created an inventory of 11 “dark side” traits, that could potentially disrupt your career. It’s a fascinating look at some characteristics that on the surface I have taken to be strengths in my own work, and even have been proud of. Take for example the first trait on the list, being Bold. The right amount of boldness in the workplace can be a source of great strength. It allows you to be decisive and lead in times of uncertainty. It can help provide clarity to colleagues and teams to help drive focus. But too much boldness can lead to over confidence, an inflated sense of self-worth, and even narcissism.

I encourage you to read the article, but for brevity, here is the full list of traits, with some of their negative sides.

These traits can be assessed with the Hogan Development Survey (HDS). The author goes on to state:

“After profiling millions of employees, managers, and leaders, we know that most people display at least three of these dark-side traits, and about 40% score high enough on one or two to put them at risk for disruption in their careers—even if they’re currently successful and effective. The result is pervasive dysfunctional behavior at work. Worryingly, leaders tend to do a poor job of evaluating their own dark sides, particularly as they gain power and move up the ranks. Some perceive their career advancement as an endorsement or encouragement of their bad habits. Eventually, however, those weaknesses may derail them, and perhaps their teams and organizations, too.”

It is an important exercise for leaders and professionals to understand be aware of their dark side traits, understand in what ways they may be causing disruption in their work and seek to find balance.

I highly encourage you to read the article, perhaps take an evaluation of your traits through an assessment, or through some self-reflection, and I’m sure that you will find some key insights. I have found this to be a very fruitful exercise!