How it all started:
The terminologies Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic and Phlegmatic came across as advanced math – confounding and complex. I deeply admired hearing people talk about their characteristics so easily. Little did I know that one day I would be creating awareness about these four seemingly complicated words.
My temperament-journey started two decades ago during marriage counselling. We were four couples in the class, and each was given a template sheet with a series of questions to answer for us to determine our temperament types. Well, I answered to the best of my ability – depending on how I understood the questions. After going through the exercise, I was told my temperament type… so I thought
For fourteen years I lived with the knowledge that I was that temperament type, though I really did not know all the traits of that temperament. All I knew was that the tool said I was temperament A and that was it, case closed.
The turnaround came when I was privileged to sit under a Rev. Father who was invited to share his knowledge on temperament with a team of corporate workers. The topic was the same: temperaments – but this time the focus was different. We were not given templates to complete but rather made to understand each of the four main types of temperaments in detail for us to determine which cap fits us best.
You could see the confusion on my face. I immediately realised that I wasn’t the person I thought I was all these years. To confirm my thoughts, I turned to a good friend and asked, “Am I Temperament A?” and the person replied, “No! You are this other temperament,” mentioning the same temperament I now thought I had.
The more I listened to the Rev. Father, the more I was convinced of where I truly belonged. Everything was now becoming clearer and making more sense. A lot of things I was so concerned and worried about were inherent in the weaknesses of my temperament. If I had known this earlier, my approach would have been different.
Gaining a deep understanding and appreciation of my characteristics and temperament was a great relief. I decided to learn more about temperaments and their effect on our jobs, and share this knowledge. I do not downplay temperament tools and templates, but from my experience I prefer people to understand their temperaments and determine where they fit.
Definition and facts about temperament
First and foremost, we need to understand some basic information and facts about temperaments:
- Temperament is inherited. The National Christian Counsellors Association defines ‘temperament’ as the inborn part of man that determines how he reacts to people, places, and things
- Our temperament determines and constitutes our automatic behavioural responses.
- Every personality type has natural weaknesses or negative tendencies.
- Our temperaments are the basic strengths and weaknesses that we were born with. E.g., a natural tendency for leadership or to be easy-going.
- Temperament influences everything we do:
- Behaviour at home
- Behaviour in public
- How we lead others, etc.
- The most powerful single influence on any person’s behaviour is his temperament, which is usually a combination of at least two temperaments – one primary and the other secondary.
- The strengths or weaknesses in our temperament are determined by our choices. We can maximise our strengths and minimise our weaknesses.
- The ability to reach our potential depends largely on which side of our temperaments we are operating from.
There seems to be a lot of awareness about temperament and marriage. I therefore decided to focus my research on its effect in our work to increase our productivity.
Understanding temperaments can help people maximise their potential at the workplace. When we know and appreciate how different temperaments interact with each other, employers can create a more productive and positive work environment.
The writer is a chartered Banker, a member of the Institute of Directors-Ghana, and a Lead Implementer in ISO 22301
Email: theodorasenaya@gmail .com
Tel: 00233-244385317
The views/contents expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of BFT or any organisation.
