Auditors need to communicate effectively with auditees.

The possible matches of the characteristics to the descriptions are:

Tenacious: Persistent and focused on objectives

Ethical: Fair, truthful, sincere, honest, discreet

Diplomatic: Tactful in dealing with individuals

Observant: Actively observing surroundings/activities

Perceptive: Aware of and able to understand situations

Open to improvement: Willing to learn from situations

Actively observing surroundings/activities = Observant

Fair, truthful, sincere, honest, discreet = Ethical

Persistent and focused on objectives = Tenacious

Willing to learn from situations = Open to improvement

Tactful in dealing with individuals = Diplomatic

Aware of and able to understand situations = Perceptive

These are the auditor’s characteristics and their descriptions as defined by ISO 19011:2022, Clause 7.2.21. The auditor’s personal behaviour is essential for building trust and confidence with the auditee and for ensuring the credibility and effectiveness of the audit12. References: 1: ISO 19011:2022, Guidelines for auditing management systems, Clause 7.2.2 \n2: PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor Exam Preparation Guide, Domain 3: Fundamental audit concepts and principles