Characteristics of a Workaholic
Many of us know a workaholic, perhaps we consider ourselves to be but what it is about a person's personality which makes them this way? A workaholic can almost seem as though it is second nature to them to be so obsessive about work, is there something fundamental built into them which enables them to carry out large amounts of work and to apparently enjoy doing so? Below are some of the characteristics that a workaholic is likely to have.
- Self-importance.
A study carried out byWayne State Universitylooked into how the influence of self-importance is a large part of a person's life who is a workaholic. It appears that, especially in America, there is great admiration placed upon people who work hard - doctors, lawyers and so forth. This outside influence of others looking upon people who are hard-working as being something special and to be admired can influence some people who are perhaps not as emotionally stable to work hard as they are looking for acceptance from others. The fact that other people may look at them with admiration will make them feel like an important person which is what they are looking for if they are wanting to up their self worth.
- Ability to plan.A workaholic spends a lot of time organising and planning their working week. They need to be able to organise their hours effectively so that they achieve all they have to in a logical and practical manner so that their work does not suffer.
- Obsessions.Workaholics often have obsessive personality traits. They may cultivate an unrealistic focus on various aspects of their work which will then consume their thoughts, time and energy. This could actually have a negative effect as they may find that they are missing the bigger picture. If they just stepped back and spent some time assessing their workload as a whole then they may manage to achieve more and have better results.
- Persistence.Workaholics have to be persistent. It would be easy to give up at the first hurdle and to throw in the towel if things are not going their way but a workaholic will see past this, they will work out a way to get through difficult times and will push their work further. They will have a determination to strive and it is this persistence which enables their businesses and careers to develop.
- Motivation.Motivation is key if you are a workaholic. A workaholic could not be so if they did not have motivation. The work-load of a workaholic is high, it may result in very long work hours and lots of unsociable meetings and so the individual has to possess a great deal of motivation which will enable them to work this hard. This motivation may come in the form of becoming addicted to the buzz they achieve as a result of hitting a target or it may come in the form of seeing how pleased other people are with them. However it is formed, it is a vital part of being a workaholic as without it an individual wouldn't be as driven to work hard.
There are several personality traits associated with a workaholic. Some of them are actually very positive; being able to structure their working days and be persistent but quite often the workaholic is seen as a negative person who is obsessive and leaves little time for anything else in their lives. If a person recognises that they are a workaholic, they can rechannel their energy to ensure that they have a more balanced life.
