Personality is the characteristic way that someone behaves, thinks and feels. These characteristic aspects of the person influence their work efforts and mentality towards skill development, which greatly influences skill acquisition.

How people behave greatly impacts the acquisition of skill. Someone who is characterised by a good work ethic and punctuality will develop a skill faster than someone who is not. Acquiring a skill requires hard work and dedication. If an athlete does not do this, they will not develop the skill as well or as quickly as someone who does.

If someone has a personality that frequently has negative thoughts about skill development and personal ability this is diminish their ability to acquire skills. However, positive self talk and self-confidence will positively influence skill acquisition.

How an athlete feels will also impact skill acquisition. If an athlete feels energetic and focused then they are more likely to succeed in acquiring a new skill. In contrast, an athlete who is often sad or is characterised by feeling sluggish will develop the skill much slower and to a lower level.

Traits within a personality that help in the acquisition of skill include: determination, enthusiasm, dedication, positive attitude, cooperation, patience, and a willingness to try something new. These help the athlete to accept and respond to a coaches feedback, try new ways of completing the skill, or try new skills.

These personality traits help the athlete to not get frustrated over errors or a lack of progress, and are more likely to keep the athlete trying when things go wrong compared to other athletes. These types of athletes also help promote a more positive learning environment for others and the coach, which improves their capacity to develop the skill.