The personality Paradox

 Several recent meta-analyses show that  women and men in entrepreneurial domains for instance do differ from  each other  in terms of a broad range of personality traits. Personality theorists agree that an individual’s personality predicts his or her behavior (Funder, 1994; Ciavarella, Buchholtz, Riordan, Gatewood, & Stokes, 2004). As a consequence, personality traits may have important implications on performance as the entrepreneur’s behavior is likely to influence success. Hence the Big Five Personality Model related to the high-growth intention  which are extraversion ,emotional stability agreeableness openness  and consciousness are  predispositional factors that influence performance successes (Allen, Frings & Hunter, 2012; Judge, Higgins, Thoresen & Barrick, 1999). Extroverted people tend to have more assertiveness, they are  gregarious and being sociable, and therefore are more likely to take on leadership. As a result extraversion is positively related to job performers that involve high levels of social interaction. Women in this regard tend to score high on this personality trait.  Second, Common traits associated with people low on emotional stability are being anxious, depressed, angry, embarrassed, emotional worried and insecure. Women perhaps are more vulnerable and are more  prone to stress and obstacles as emotional volatility and worrying will negatively affect their performance level.  On the other hand individuals, who are emotional stable, are more likely to cope with problems through positive thinking and direct action. They are able to stay calm and behave in a confident manner in order to be able to focus on the necessary tasks and as a result they will increase their potential in becoming  successful . Third People high on agreeableness are more likely to be courteous, forgiving and flexible in dealing with others, women tend to possess more of  this  interpersonal factor, a quality  trait which support performance over the long-term. Meanwhile, openness to experience , which a personality trait that both women and women tend to have. Both genders in most cases would show a sense of acute intellectuality , and broad-mindedness and originality  all of which are necessary personality dimensions that lead to optimal performances. 

References:

Smith-Hunter, A., Kapp, J., & Yonkers, V. (2003). A psychological model of entrepreneurial behavior. Journal of Academy of Business and Economics, 2 (2), 180-192. 

Meyer, G. J., Finn, S. E., Eyde, L. D., Kay, G. G., Moreland, K. L., Dies, R. R., et al. (2001). Psychological testing and psychological assessment: A review of evidence and issues. American Psychologist, 56: 128-165. 

Judge, T. A., Higgins, C. A., Thoresen, C. J., & Barrick, M. R. (1999). The big five personality traits, general mental ability, and career success across the life span. Personnel Psychology, 52(3), 621-652.

I think that personality also accounts for a great deal of variances in mood  and a significant amount of those  variances is attributable to extraversion and neuroticism. Specifically, extraversion tends to be positively associated with positive affect PA in acheiving one's goals and hidh performance, whereas neuroticism tends to be positively associated with negative affect NA (Costa & McCrae, 1980; Emmons & Diener, 1986; Watson & Clark, 1984; Tellegen, 1985; Watson & Tellegen, 1985). People who are high on extraversion maintain positive emotions  and keep experiencing a positive mood most of the day. This is because extraversion is related to functional emotional coping styles that include rational action and positive thinking  as well as interpreting and regulating emotions. People high on extraversion can maintain their good moods and turn their negative moods to positive moods.  Unlike extraversion, neuroticism is associated with increased negative emotions and decreased tendencies to repair those negative emotions. This shows that people high on neuroticism have maladaptive coping strategies when it comes to their emotions . Neuroticism also predisposes people to experience more negative events, which is due in part to them already being in a negative mood and not repairing it. 

Despite of how many angles we look at these two personality factors and their association with mood and performance, there will be still some unanswered questions. The most important question stems from the fact that everyone has a set level of both extraversion and neuroticism; each person has a profile depending on levels of both traits. Some people are high on both, some people are low on both, and some exhibit high levels of one and low levels on the other.

References:

Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1980). Influence of extraversion and neuroticism on subjective well-being: Happy and unhappy people.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology ,  38 , 668-678.