How to Become More Conscientious At Work and Beyond

But, I’m already extremely conscientious, you may be saying. I would never steal so much as a postage stamp, or leave work five minutes early without permission. I strive every day to live by my values, even when no one’s watching.

While this more general definition of conscientiousness is commendable, it’s not exactly what psychologists mean when they talk about conscientiousness. You could be highly conscientious in the sense of living an honest and moral life, but still score only moderately for the trait on a Big Five personality test. 

That’s because capital-C Conscientiousness in the Big Five system is more about following the rules, being dependable, being organized, being responsible, being on time, having self discipline and having a strong work ethic. 

Sounds dull, you may be thinking, and maybe it is. But there’s tons of research to show how Conscientious personality traits can help you get ahead in your career, stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan and avoid risky behaviors like speeding and smoking.    

Some even call it the alpha trait because Conscientiousness is so closely correlated with personal and career success. So even if at first glance this trait may not look very desirable, you may want to give it another look.

Now, some personality types, especially those who are creative, unconventional, or even a bit of a rebel, may be less likely to score high on Conscientiousness. If that’s you, don’t worry. Just about everyone can improve their Conscientious behaviors, and the following tips should help.

1. Focus on the benefits

Whatever aspects of Conscientiousness you need or want to work on, you’re more likely to succeed – and enjoy the journey – if you focus on what you want to gain, not on what you’re going to lose.

Let’s say you’re consistently late for everything. In consequence, your boss is frustrated with you, no matter how good your work is, your friends are often annoyed when they have to wait for you yet again, and you feel stressed because you’re always hurrying.

Or maybe your issue is organization. You habitually waste time and energy looking for your keys or a misplaced piece of paper, or you pay your bills late because they’re hidden under piles of clutter.

Making the changes needed to be on time or be more organized may not seem worth the effort. You may even resent feeling forced to live according to others’ expectations. 

But if you keep your focus not on the pain, but on what you’ll gain by changing your habits to make you more effective and less stressed, you’ll more likely see the changes you’re making as something good you’re doing for yourself. This will motivate you to keep trying. 

Think of it as doing something nice for your future self, even if it means making small sacrifices in the short term.

2. Approach it according to your personality type

For example, if you’re an Introvert, be careful of committing to too many high-energy tasks that require lots of interactions, interruptions and multitasking. You might think that meeting crazy deadlines consistently shows how Conscientious you are, but you have energy limitations. Make sure the people you're making plans with understand the reality of introversion, so they’ll understand if you have to make adjustments. 

Help them see that it's not a matter of reliability, but of energy. 

If you’re a Perceiver in the Myers and Briggs system, don’t lock yourself into a limiting schedule or procedure, but find ways to get done what you need to, your way. The point is to deliver where it counts, not to do it like everyone else.

Some personality types automatically find it easier to meet the expectations of others and follow conventional procedures. But more unconventional types can find ways to be Conscientious and authentic by developing habits that align with their values and commitments.

Besides personality type, consider things like your circadian rhythms. If you do your best work after 3 in the afternoon, you probably shouldn’t choose a traditional 8 to 5 job. It’s easier to be reliable if you don’t swim upstream by trying to go against your nature.

3. Start small

You may want to start by focusing on one aspect of Conscientiousness, such as being on time. Note the progress you're making, and re-adjust if something isn't working for you.

If you’re trying to overcome, say, procrastination, try breaking up a daunting task into tiny steps, so you can have the satisfaction of accomplishing something right away and not feel afraid to get started because the task is just too much.

Experiment with working on something big for just 15 minutes, or even 5 if you’re really in avoidance mode. But practice doing even that little bit right now, instead of putting off making a start. In fact, you can think of becoming more conscientious as one of those large tasks to break down. Do something small and often, starting now.

4. Think about the spirit of Conscientiousness rather than the letter of the ‘law’

There are some questions in the Big Five personality test that set this highly Conscientious but creative individualist on edge. For example: “I carry out my plans.” Really? What if you embark on a personal project and then find out you don’t enjoy it or it isn’t worth the effort?

Maybe you tried learning Mandarin Chinese because you thought it might lead to a job opportunity. But several weeks into it you’re finding it more exasperating than rewarding (and the potential job no longer exists). Why would you continue without good reason? 

Some people even go so far that if they start doing a jigsaw puzzle or reading a novel for recreation, then find, after giving it a fair try, they aren’t enjoying it at all, they doggedly plough through another 500 pages or 800 monochromatic pieces, just to say they’ve finished what they started. What kind of madness is that? 

Our time and energy are limited and precious, so we need to choose carefully what to spend them on, and be free to try something new without feeling enslaved to it.

So, instead of taking the question literally, you might think of it in terms of following through with important commitments, doing what you say you will where it really counts and building traits that make you dependable and successful (however you define that), not slavishly following unnecessary rules.

5. Set up systems to make it easier

If you have trouble being on time, or making the best use of your week, try setting up alarms to keep you on track. And find a way of organizing things in your home or home office so you don’t waste time on disorganization. You don’t have to use a traditional filing system or rigid schedule if that’s not you. It’s about whatever helps you make more effective use of your time and space.

Also, find out why something isn’t working. Maybe you’re often late because you’re trying to do too much, or you’re underestimating how long things take, or you’re trying to follow someone else’s timeline. Or maybe you’re spending 10 minutes looking for your keys. Once you define the problem, you can work on the solution. 

For example, if not being able to find things is what holds you up, set up a station near the door with your keys and whatever else you’ll need on your way out. Or try timing how long it takes you to drive across town so you won’t say you’ll be there in 15 if it really takes 25. You get the picture.

In a nutshell 

Conscientiousness includes prioritizing practices that benefit you now and in the future, such as a healthy lifestyle and effective work habits, and managing your days to give you time and energy for what you care about. It can help you build a sterling reputation, because people will know they can count on you, and you’ll feel good about taking actions to become the kind of person you want to be.