This article was co-authored by Katie Stolp and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Katie Stolp is a Master Certified Coach and the founder of Think Power, based in Austin, Texas. With over 5 years of coaching experience, Katie has helped hundreds of women around the world let go of self-defeating thoughts, own their power, and break through to authentic confidence in their careers and lives. Through speaking functions, online courses, one-on-one and group coaching, Katie’s approach combines a supportive yet direct coaching style and emphasizes research and science-based techniques. Her previous professional experience includes being an Austin CBS affiliate news anchor, corporate leader, and trainer. Katie is certified through The Life Coach School and trained with Erickson Coaching International. She has a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
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What kinds of positive qualities can a person have, and how do those qualities affect them? Whether you’re doing a little introspection to determine your own characteristics or fleshing out a character’s best traits for a story, it’s essential to understand the many different types of positive qualities that exist—and we’re here to help. In this article, we’ve put together a convenient collection of positive qualities and personal traits (with their meanings). We also spoke to professional writers Grant Faulkner and Lucy V. Hay for tips on writing great characters. All you have to do is keep scrolling to learn more!
First, let’s examine interpersonal qualities—positive traits that people display when they’re talking or interacting with others. For example, someone with positive interpersonal traits might be super affectionate around their loved ones or hospitable to anyone who visits their neighborhood. Here’s a full list of positive social traits:[1]XResearch source
Affectionate - Openly expressing fondness for others (through touch, physical gestures, hugs, kisses, or kind words)
Agreeable - Willing to do things suggested by other people (not stubborn or close-minded)
Attentive - Paying close attention to something (usually in a polite or courteous manner)
Charismatic - Charming and magnetic; alluring to other people
Considerate - Careful not to cause problems or inconvenience for other people through one’s actions or words
Cooperative - Willing to work with others, usually toward a common goal
Diplomatic - Acting in a way that won’t cause any offense to others; skilled at negotiating with people
Easygoing - Relaxed, open, and tolerant; not stubborn or easily annoyed by others
Efficient - Working in a way that’s productive, organized, and goal-oriented; able to produce quick results
Empathetic - Understanding and sharing other people’s feelings; putting oneself in someone else’s position to know how they feel
Entertaining - Providing fun and amusement to others (by telling jokes, coming up with things to do, and so on)
Forgiving - Willing to let go of resentments or anger toward others, even when wronged by them
Friendly - Kind, friendly, caring, and wanting to make others feel comfortable
Fun - Lively and amusing; having a good sense of humor and being pleasant to spend time with
Genuine - Being exactly who one appears to be, or true to oneself; being authentic and honest (not false or deceptive)
Helpful - Ready to help others; happy to be of service or offer assistance
Hospitable - Welcoming to guests or strangers
Open-minded - Willing to consider and accept new ideas or perspectives different from one’s own
Peacemaking - Able to bring about peace by reconciling rivals or arguing parties
Polite - Showing behavior that’s consistently respectful and considerate of others
Reliable - Able to be trusted; following through on one’s promises and commitments
Respectful - Showing deference and common courtesy to others
Self-aware - Able to understand one’s own feelings, desires, and needs; knowing oneself well
Sensitive - Able to notice small changes in the environment or people’s behavior; having an awareness of others’ feelings and needs
Sociable - Willing to engage with other people in an open, good-natured manner
Tactful - Showing care not to say or do something that could upset people
Warm - Showing enthusiasm, affection, and kindness to others
Meet the wikiHow Experts
Grant Faulkner, MA is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month and the co-founder of 100 Word Story, a literary magazine. Grant has published two books.
Lucy V. Hay is a Professional Writer based in London, England with over 20 years of industry experience as an author, script editor, and award-winning blogger.
Intellectual and creative qualities cover the many ways a person can think; their mental processes, problem-solving skills, and how they get things done! Creativity is also involved—because, of course, some people are particularly great at thinking outside the box. We’ve even included some positive skill-based terms, so take a look at the list below:
Analytical - Able to break down complicated ideas and problems in a logical way
Artistic - Having a natural creative skill in the arts
Brilliant - Exceptionally smart or talented
Clever - Quick to understand concepts or devise new ideas
Creative - Able to think outside the box, make new things, or form original ideas
Curious - Eager to learn or understand things
Idealistic - Believing in the innate goodness of people, or the idea that people can change the world for the better
Imaginative - Having a strong imagination; able to think of new, original ideas
Independent - Capable of thinking and acting for oneself without depending on someone else’s authority
Innovative - Introducing new ideas or creative ways of thinking to the world
Intelligent - Having high levels of smarts, or mental capacity
Intuitive - Able to understand and sense things without having concrete, direct evidence
A person’s emotional traits or qualities are the ones that define how they express emotion or react to their experiences. For example, positive emotional qualities can include patience or cheerfulness (and, conversely, negative emotional qualities can involve anxiousness or cynicism). Here’s a full list of positive emotional traits:
Adaptable - Able to adjust to changes or new conditions easily
Adventurous - Prone to adventures; willing to take risks or try new things
Authentic - Being true to oneself; acting honestly and genuinely
Brave - Willing and able to endure challenges, dangers, or fears; having mental or moral strength
Calm - Peaceful, tranquil, soothing; always maintaining one’s composure, even in difficult situations
Cheerful - Noticeably happy, animated, and in good spirits
Courageous - Able to act despite the danger or fear in one’s way
Determined - Showing resolve once a decision is made, and following through on one’s decisions despite obstacles
Flexible - Capable of changing or adapting to different circumstances easily
Gentle - Having a mild, tender temperament (especially toward others)
Happy - Showing contentment, pleasure, and delight
Humorous - Having a good sense of humor; funny, good at getting others to laugh
Joyful - Expressing lots of happiness and pleasure
Optimistic - Feeling hopeful and confident about the future
Patient - Accepting of delays, problems, and shortcomings; able to deal with difficulties without getting annoyed or upset
Perseverant - Able to keep going and pursue one’s goals in spite of setbacks or obstacles
Prudent - Acting with forethought and wisdom; thinking of the future when determining one’s actions
Resilient - Able to withstand difficulty and recover from setbacks quickly
Self-controlled - Having a high level of control over one’s emotions and actions, especially in difficult situations
Strong-willed - Having the determination to do something, even if others insist it can’t be done
Sunny - Having a bright, cheery, welcoming temperament
Moral and ethical qualities are the ones that speak to a person’s values and principles. Are they good at heart? Do they have integrity and aim to do the right thing? For example, a moral, heroic character might be known for selflessly protecting innocents from danger. Or, on a more down-to-earth level, a moral person in everyday life might show generosity by giving to charity. Take a look:
Accountable - Taking responsibility for one’s actions
Altruistic - Showing a selfless concern for the welfare of others
Compassionate - Feeling sympathy and concern for other people
Conscientious - Wishing to do the right thing; feeling a responsibility to do right by others
Ethical - Being morally good, having strong moral principles
Fair - Acting without judgment, favoritism, or discrimination against others
Generous - Showing readiness to give to others (money, time, aid, or something else) beyond what is expected
Grateful - Feeling appreciation (for others’ kindness or generosity)
Honest - Free of deceit, lies, and untruthfulness
Honorable - Showing honor, possessing strong moral principles (such as integrity and fairness)
Humble - Lacking an excess of pride or haughtiness; not having feelings of superiority
Impartial - Treating disputes or rivals with equality
Just - Behaving according to what is morally good or right
Kind - Having a friendly and considerate nature
Loyal - Staying faithful to one’s promises or allegiance to a person (or institution)
Modest - Unassuming, pacing a moderate estimate on one’s abilities
Selfless - Thinking less of oneself and more about others; helping people without looking for personal gain
Sincere - Free of dishonesty or pretense; acting according to one’s genuine beliefs and feelings
Trustworthy - Able to be relied on for honesty and truthfulness
What qualities make an excellent leader? Well, we’ll introduce you to some of those qualities here! Whether you want to create a high-achieving leader in a story or you’re striving to become one yourself, here are some positive leadership qualities to keep in mind:[2]XResearch source
Ambitious - Having a strong desire to succeed
Articulate - Expressing thoughts and ideas fluently and clearly
Assertive - Having a forceful, confident way of interacting with people
Personal attributes are the ones you might use to describe someone’s appearance, like when you see someone really good-looking and think to yourself, “Wow, they’re beautiful!” Of course, beauty is a totally subjective concept, so we’ll cover just general qualities that have positive connotations (like handsome, clean, and so on).
Beautiful - Aesthetically pleasing, having a high quality of beauty
Classy - Sophisticated and high-class
Clean - Having good hygiene, washed
Elegant - Refined and sophisticated in a pleasing way
Fit - In good health
Handsome - Good-looking (often referring to masculine individuals)
Organized - Having a good sense of neatness and organization, able to coordinate things effectively
Pretty - Attractive or good-looking
Strong - Able to do physically demanding tasks or lift heavy weights (referring to physical strength, primarily)
Stylish - Having a fashionable appearance
Youthful - Young (or seeming young); having the energy of someone young, regardless of one’s age
Positive qualities are attributes generally seen as good or beneficial. You could also call them personality traits or characteristics—regardless, they’re the main qualities that define someone’s personality, behavior, and temperament. More specifically, positive qualities indicate a person’s strengths, skills, or best attributes. They’re also the qualities that help you navigate life![5]XResearch source
Positive qualities aren’t just passing moods or behaviors; they’re the core parts of you that are always there, influencing you.
On a personal level, it’s essential to be aware of your positive qualities. Understanding the best parts of yourself is how you can develop your confidence and self-assurance.
Furthermore, developing your positive qualities can help you grow as a person and develop better relationships with others!
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Section 8 of 8:
Writing Realistic Characters with Positive Qualities
Give your characters positive qualities that set them apart from others. This should be especially true of your protagonist or hero. What qualities make them unique among others? What might make them feel special and totally unforgettable to readers? What qualities will define them, their actions, and their journey throughout the story? Think about some of the most iconic heroes and their positive qualities if you need a little inspiration:[6]XResearch source
Samwise Gamgee (TheLord of the Rings) - Sam’s strengths aren’t physical; he’s not the best fighter or the wisest member of the Fellowship. His selflessness and, more than anything, his fierce loyalty are what save the day in the end.
Sherlock Holmes - For Sherlock, on the other hand, intelligence, perception, and analytical thinking are what make him special. His cleverness and wit are unmatched, and he uses them to solve every mystery thrown his way.
Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) - While reluctant to be a hero, Katniss nevertheless becomes one through her courage and strong sense of justice, leading a rebellion to overthrow a corrupt dictatorship.
Jane Eyre - Jane Eyre’s positive qualities lie in her emotional resilience and strong sense of independence. She refuses to let herself be beholden to another person, and in doing so, is able to write herself a happy ending.
Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) - Atticus’s ethics, integrity, and fairness guide him to do the right thing, defending those who cannot defend themselves.
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Determine your characters’ motivations and goals. “I think the most important thing about a character is for the author to know what is driving that character, what motivates them, what the character desires, and what is standing in between the character and achieving that desire,” says Faulkner.[7]XExpert SourceGrant Faulkner, MA Professional WriterExpert Interview You may be able to link the character’s core goals with their positive qualities (and demonstrate how one feeds into the other).
For example, if your main character has a core goal, then one of their defining positive qualities could be resilience, perseverance, or fortitude—something that allows them to overcome obstacles in pursuit of their desire.
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Make a list of possible traits and descriptors for your characters. Hay recommends loosely outlining your characters—but then, once you start writing, allow those characters to take on a life of their own. “I make a list of my characters and who they are, whether they have archetypes, and all those kinds of things,” she says. “And then I let the characters speak to me, in the course of actually writing them.”[8]XExpert SourceLucy V. Hay Professional WriterExpert Interview
In other words, don’t worry about nailing down every detail of a character’s personality before you start writing. Focus on the broad strokes, and let the rest unfold as you write.
Create a realistic balance between positive and negative traits. Nobody is perfect, right? Every protagonist and hero mentioned above has their shortcomings, too. A good character doesn’t have all positive traits; that can make them feel too one-dimensional and unrealistic. So, look for negative traits to balance out the positive…and find ways to turn positive traits into a double-edged sword.[10]XResearch source
For example, kindness and idealism are both wonderful qualities—but they can make a person overly trusting (to their detriment, at times).
Similarly, a confident and brave hero might become a little too reckless, or an intelligent character (like Sherlock, up there) might become so convinced of their correctness that they forget to be open-minded.
Throughout your character’s story, show their growth; let that character learn to balance out their traits (tempering idealism with caution or confidence with humility, for example).
This article was co-authored by Katie Stolp and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Katie Stolp is a Master Certified Coach and the founder of Think Power, based in Austin, Texas. With over 5 years of coaching experience, Katie has helped hundreds of women around the world let go of self-defeating thoughts, own their power, and break through to authentic confidence in their careers and lives. Through speaking functions, online courses, one-on-one and group coaching, Katie’s approach combines a supportive yet direct coaching style and emphasizes research and science-based techniques. Her previous professional experience includes being an Austin CBS affiliate news anchor, corporate leader, and trainer. Katie is certified through The Life Coach School and trained with Erickson Coaching International. She has a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. This article has been viewed 6,037 times.
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