20 Positive Traits To Demonstrate in the Workplace

By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated 15 November 2022

Published 27 September 2021

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

Doing well in the workplace isn't only about hard skills - demonstrating soft skills and positive traits will also take you a long way. In this article, we outline 20 positive traits you should cultivate to fast-track your professional life.

What are positive traits?

Personal traits are aspects of your personality that define who you are as a person. Positive traits refer only to positive personal characteristics. Here are 20 positive traits you should display in the workplace.

1. Ambition

An ambitious person is someone who is driven to succeed. You may show ambition by overcoming problems and exceeding professional targets with hard work and dedication. An ambitious person doesn't give up easily and is determined to excel through perseverance and hard work.

2. Creativity

A creative person utilises their imagination to think out of the box and solve problems in different ways.

3. Compassion

A compassionate person can both feel and show sympathy and empathy for others. Compassion is an asset in any profession but may be especially beneficial in customer service roles.

4. Conscientiousness

Conscientious people feel the need to do the right thing consistently. They typically have an impressive level of self-discipline and strive to work to the best of their ability.

5. Fearlessness

A brave employee is someone who isn't discouraged by obstacles and problems. They're more inclined to embark on challenging tasks that others might be intimidated by.

6. Ability to adapt

Those who are adaptable can quickly adjust to changes in plans. The ability to adjust your behaviour quickly in response to changes in the work environment is essential for success in fast-paced industries.

7. Honesty

While honesty is essential in all jobs, it's especially critical in fields like healthcare and banking. By demonstrating honesty and sincerity, you can be entrusted with bigger roles and more important tasks.

8. Humility

Humble people are modest about their achievements and gracious when receiving praise and/or credit. If you're a leader who makes sure your entire team gets credit for reaching a goal instead of just yourself, you may exhibit this characteristic.

9. Integrity

Someone with integrity behaves in an honourable way throughout their life, be it in professional or personal settings. Employees with integrity conduct themselves in ways that reflect well on the organisation for which they work.

10. Loyalty

Loyal employees believe in the company they work for and what it strives to achieve. Loyal employees stay with their organisation through good times and bad and may be trusted with sensitive information.

11. Patience

Patience is necessary for all professions, but especially so for those in industries like teaching, nursing and social work.

12. Tenacity

Tenacious employees strive tirelessly to achieve their objectives, despite hurdles or problems they may encounter.

13. Resilience

Those who are resilient can bounce back from setbacks, stress, unpleasant conditions and unexpected changes. More often than not, resilient workers emerge stronger as a result of adversity, making it a valued quality in the workplace.

14. Discipline

Employees who are self-disciplined work hard on their own accord and typically require little to no supervision. This is a highly valued attribute as self-disciplined individuals are often very productive.

15. Curiosity

Curious employees are often driven by a desire to learn and know more. They are typically intrinsically motivated individuals, who are valued by employers for their tendency to constantly seek further learning and growth.

16. Confidence

Confident individuals are valuable in the workplace as they exude strength and inspire trust. They aren't afraid of attempting new challenges, identifying their weaknesses or being looked up to as role models.

17. Optimism

Optimistic individuals are inclined to believe that positive things will happen in the future. Positivity is contagious, so optimistic employees are valued for their ability to raise morale in the workplace and motivate their coworkers.

18. Emotional intelligence

People with emotional intelligence are aware of their own emotions, as well as the emotions of those around them. They're able to regulate their personal feelings when necessary, which is important in the workplace when it comes to conflict management.

19. Detail-oriented

Detail-oriented individuals are valuable members of any organisation. Employees must be able to pay close attention to little details without losing sight of the big picture.

20. Dependability

Being reliable entails more than just turning up on time. It means that your employer can rely on you to be able to come through and get the job done consistently no matter what.