Personality—What Can We Learn from Ourselves and Others?

Personality may be defined as that which characterises an individual, expressing itself via behaviours, emotions, and thoughts. In this final section I will explore the effect that personality might have on the practice of surgerySurgery. Does it influence our choice to even become a surgeon in the first place? Are all the stereotypes accurate, are the jokes justified? Although we cannot change our personality, having insight into how we experience the world and subsequently how we function in it, and further, how others experience us, might offer avenues for improving as surgeons and as members of teams delivering care. I will explore personality through two instrumentsMyers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the 5 Factor model of personalityThe Big 5 (The Big 5). As part of this chapter, I asked all my previous fellows to complete the two tests explored and I am thankful that most replied and agreed. Would knowing their personality profiles have allowed a more personalised approach to their training? Could I predict their approach to surgerySurgery from their personality? I also reveal my own profile and reflect on how aspects of my personality both help and hinder me.