…Letting your temperament position you for career success
Character is something you forge for yourself; temperament is something you are born with and can only slightly modify.– Sydney J. Harris
Temperaments…
A term that has piqued the interest of many for years is usually used interchangeably with personality. Though the two are quite similar, there are significant differences.
This theory affects many facets of our lives, whether we know it or not. Our understanding of how we are wired helps us to be more self-aware and relate with others better. There are many studies that posit that certain temperaments gel better than others in relationships. Some go as far as to explain why our temperaments make us excel more in particular careers than others.
To put things in a better perspective, temperament is used to describe a person’s nature or natural disposition and is majorly characterised by their biological makeup. This presupposes that our genetics play a critical role in influencing our temperament. A combination of our parents’ and grandparents’ genes consequently affect our physical, mental and emotional traits. Despite this very significant contribution of heredity, early external environmental factors and socialization can impact our temperament.
On the other hand, personality is an individual’s distinctive character as a result of their thoughts, beliefs, preferences, behaviours and traits. While a person’s personality is influenced by their temperament, personality traits are acquired over the years of an individual’s life through experiences.
Understanding temperament and personality can help you to figure out why you may naturally lean more toward a certain preference than another and also help you to understand why others may have different choices. It is exciting to learn what makes us tick as individuals and how they make us different from others. Much emphasis will be placed on the four temperament types propounded by ancient Greek physician – Hippocrates in Mesopotamia in this article.
The temperament theory has its roots in humourism. Hippocrates believed that human moods, emotions and certain behaviours were determined by an excess or lack of bodily fluids known as humours. He further classified them as blood, yellow bile, phlegm and black bile; and from which we have all our behavioural patterns.
Sanguine/ air/ blood
I am sure you have a few of these energetic social beings in your circle. Yeah, the ones who would prefer to say the glass is half-full than half-empty. Individuals with the sanguine temperament are extroverted and talkative. They like to be the centre of attention in any group and would be the life of the party.
Sanguines have a lot of enthusiasm for adventure and exploring new things that they can persuade you to start exciting journeys with them. In a work setting, such people will often come up with fresh new ideas even without a well-thought-through process for action. People with this temperament type can get others stirred up to work together but might lose interest themselves along the line.
Because of their thrill for new and exciting things all the time, it is quite hard for them to stay focused on one project for long. If you can relate with this sanguine temperament, you may want to consider a career in sales, customer service, entertainment and travel as your natural tendencies are perfect to flourish in these fields.
Choleric/ fire/ yellow bile
The high overachievers we have as course mates and colleagues at work might just be cholerics. Of all the temperament types, these people are quite ambitious and focus on setting goals and meeting them. Such people seem to be more certain and organised in their ways than sanguines. On one hand, you have a sanguine who is energetic, outgoing and carefree while on the other hand, a choleric is more poised, assertive and dominant. Considering their innate abilities to perform at their maximum best, it is easy to find them as leaders, whether at work or school.
Don’t get me wrong, people with this temperament can be social beings as well but their forté is driving people to achieve set goals. Because of how goal-driven the choleric is, it is hard for them to balance other aspects of their lives like building meaningful relationships. If you encounter anyone who is willing to go all out to get the desired result at the expense other things, that’s your choleric. They are go-getters.
Phlegmatic/ water/ phlegm
Conflicts and confrontations are not enjoyable in any way but a phlegmatic person will do their best to avoid them at all cost. Their easy-going and calm nature makes them conflict-averse and laid-back. These are people who prefer routines because, with this, there is some level of predictability in how their life plays out as opposed to spontaneity. Patient, empathetic and dependable are a few words we can describe a phlegmatic with. Their calm composure comes off sometimes as passive in conversations and social settings.
A downside with this type of temperament is that they may miss out on opportunities due to the lack of assertiveness and decisiveness. Put a phlegmatic individual in a particular department in your organisation, and you see how meticulously they perform their tasks. However, they can settle and remain in their comfort zone if they are not pushed. If you are a manager with individuals like these on your team, you may have to nudge them from time to time to propel themselves to explore newer ways of achieving better results.
Melancholic/ earth/ black bile
These introverted people are very sensitive and thoughtful nonetheless, reserved and introverted. This type of individual is an asset on your team if your business thrives on being analytical and methodical. Melancholics seldom operate outside the ‘book’; they are rule-oriented and expect that the right thing is done all the time. You might find such people hard to be around if you are more liberal in your ways and are a rule breaker.
Anyhow, people with a melancholic temperament even tend to prefer to work alone and may have a hard time working with others on a team. They are at their best when everything is going as planned and easily get agitated when they encounter a lot of uncertainties.
In the context of work, different temperaments can manifest in various ways, influencing how individuals approach their tasks and interact with colleagues and superiors. For instance, the assertive choleric is well-suited to be a team lead as they have exceptional decision-making skills, whereas those with a laid-back phlegmatic temperament possess excellent listening skills and a friendly demeanour which may make them adept at team-building and collaborative endeavours.
Understanding the relationship between temperament and performance can have significant implications for companies and organisations. By recognising the strengths and limitations of each temperament type, employers can leverage the unique qualities of their employees to optimise their work output and create a more effective, dynamic team. Additionally, understanding this can help with employee recruitment and retention, ensuring that each individual is placed in an appropriate role that maximises their potential and aligns with their natural tendencies.
Leaders who understand their own temperament style can play to their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. For example, a choleric leader may need to communicate more effectively to avoid coming across as too demanding or insensitive. A sanguine leader may need to focus more on organisation and planning to avoid getting sidetracked by new ideas. A melancholic team member may appreciate clear instructions and a structured approach, while an employee with a phlegmatic temperament will excel as a human resources executive as a result of their ability to remain calm and not react impulsively.
It is possible to have more than one temperament and the truth is, most of us are a combination of two or more. However, each person has a dominant one that may overshadow the others. It is important to know that even though our temperaments form a core part of us, we need to be ready and willing to not stay fixated on them. Doing so may give life to the weaknesses of these temperaments. A key component of excelling in life is dependent on how flexible you are; and organisations are eagerly looking forward to opening their doors to such individuals.
Being self-aware of the temperaments you possess is a good starting point for excellence in different aspects of your life because once you do, you are able to put in practical steps to adjust to what works best in any given situation.
So, here you have it in a nutshell.
Consider taking a test to know your temperament and be interested in all four temperament types to enhance your relationships and help you make better choices in them and in your career. In a few steps, you can find out your temperament on these sites; https://psychologia.co/fourtemperaments-test/ and https://temperamenttest.org/en-gb/. There are great books on the topic that you may find relevant as well; Your Temperament: Discover Its Potential and Transforming Your Temperament. Both books are authored by Tim LaHaye.
>>>Samuel Agyeman-Prempeh is a Certified Professional Trainer (CPT) by the International Association for People & Performance Development (IAPPD) and a publishing consultant assisting busy executives to write and publish bestselling books. He has served as Head of Protocol at a diplomatic mission, Corporate Affairs Officer at a French multinational agribusiness, and as Events & Media Correspondent for a digital ad agency. [email protected]
>>>Portia Amegayibor is a business executive with a remarkable track record in client relations, operations and business development. Her knack for organizing, coupled with her people skills, has caused her to excel in different facets professionally.
She is currently the Clients Relations Manager for Lumière Creatif – a leading marketing communications and cutting-edge publishing firm, and the Operations Manager for Role Model Africa – a human capital development organisation.
