Sociability traits are comprised of a set of intepersonal skills and personal characteristics that help you get along with others. Sociability is one of the five characteristics of an effective leader, says Peter G. Northouse in his book, "Leadership: Theory and Practice." Possessing sociability traits means that you are friendly, outgoing, courteous, tactful and diplomatic. You seek pleasure and fulfillment from your relationships. Sociability traits are important for your overall well-being and can enhance your work experience.

Leadership

Sociability traits might increase your chances of success in the workplace, such as obtaining a promotion to a leadership position. Leaders in the workplace need to be able to communicate effectively, with diplomacy and tact. If you want to get ahead in your career, you'll need to show enthusiasm and get along well with others. According to Dan McCarthy of the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, people without sociability traits might run the risk of being seen as unapproachable or disinterested in working as a team member, which can negatively affect your leadership ability.

Reduced Stress

At times, work can be stressful and frustrating for everyone. Stress can cause physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomach pain, or mental symptoms, like depression or irritability. But people who have a strong support system at work might experience less stress, perhaps because they feel like they are part of a team working toward a common goal. You'll be more likely to develop a support network if you possess sociability traits. A study published in 2012 in the journal, "Community, Work and Family" found that increased co-worker support in the workplace was positively correlated with improved health, lower exhaustion and less pain.

Improved Work Environment

Being sociable means that you have a friendly, open and considerate attitude toward your coworkers. You display warmth and interest in others, which might make them more receptive to you. Most people don't enjoy being around those who are negative, mean or inconsiderate. You might be more likely to enjoy going to work if you know that your coworkers are happy to see you. An article published in the Spring 2006 issue of the "Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship" reports that sociability between coworkers creates a more pleasant work environment in which people are more likely to put in extra effort to complete tasks and demonstrate more creativity.

Office Friendships

Most people spend a good portion of their waking hours at work. Sometimes, you might not have the time to invest in making friends outside of the workplace. Having sociability traits might increase your likelihood of developing workplace friendships, and might also help you make lifelong friends with whom you enjoy spending time outside of working hours. Making meaningful office friendships might help increase job satisfaction. In fact, according to the Gallup Business Journal, the opportunity to have a close friend at work was positively correlated with employee loyalty and higher levels of productivity.