Ever wonder why some of your very knowledgeable staff members find it difficult to speak up or participate in meetings, while others constantly want to take center stage?
The four temperaments—the Sanguine, the Choleric, the Melancholic, and the Phlegmatic—that were first described by the Greek physician Hippocrates were examined in my earlier writings, which taught us about temperament and its importance.
We are going to examine each temperament’s communication style today. Effective communication is essential for productivity in all of our interactions with people, both individually and in groups. It is not just important at work. Good communication at work is a major factor in employee satisfaction and morale.
Working with people of varied temperaments requires effective communication since it sets a model for our relationships and communication methods. Understanding that various temperaments receive information differently will help supervisors adjust how they communicate with the workers to improve understanding and responsiveness. For example, certain temperaments prefer writing down what they want to say, while others would rather have a face-to-face discussion than put pen to paper.
Sanguine and Communication:
Sanguine people are naturally gregarious, energetic, adventurous, and fun-loving. They are also active and extroverted.
The Sanguine is recognized for their gregarious demeanor and innate smile. They talk with great energy and enthusiasm to anyone and everyone at any time, never growing weary or bored. They are excellent storytellers who like to add humor, jokes, and laughter to their stories, but not without exaggeration.
The Sanguine is an excellent communicator which comes naturally to him/her. This attribute is seen when they take on roles such as sales, marketing, master of ceremonies, and similar roles. A sanguine has lots of influence and may persuade you to purchase something unnecessary. When you get home, you examine the good or service you just paid for and question your purchase decision.
They thrive at establishing rapport and bringing a tensed atmosphere or setting to life. You can rely on the sanguine to instantly adjust everyone’s mode and make them feel at ease which their words and jokes, especially after the Choleric has lost his or her temper. They might, however, find it difficult to maintain their attention on a single subject, which occasionally comes across as superficial.
In communicating to a Sanguine, please make sure there is some enjoyment, excitement, or fun involved in order to motivate him/her to finish a difficult task. Give them a role or place them on a program where they will speak if you want them to attend or participate in an event. When it comes to meetings, optimistic sanguine people might favor in-person discussions over email correspondence.
Choleric and Communication:
A friend’s Facebook wall contains a post that says, “I have never insulted anyone. I just give an accurate description of them.” This is exactly how the choleric thinks and communicates.
Choleric people are outgoing, energetic, self-assured, assertive, and quick to make decisions, efficient, goal-oriented, and possess strong leadership qualities.
The Choleric’s directness and no-nonsense approach to communication set them apart. They speak in a straightforward, extremely practical manner and are very clear and blunt in their communication. They are not good at polishing the truth. Regardless of who is involved, they will make it very evident to you when something is wrong. The same holds true when it’s white. You cannot persuade them to say that it is gray instead of black or white.
Their communication style may occasionally be perceived as impolite or disrespectful. They probably won’t see anything wrong with what they said or how they said it if you confront them about their speaking style on a particular topic. That’s because a choleric is made up of such predisposition.
The Choleric favors brief, goal-oriented dialogue. They object to being given tales and justifications for why a task is impossible to complete. They want to know what is being done to address any obstacles or bottlenecks and achieve the intended outcomes. Because the choleric is a very driven individual who doesn’t back down from a task, they have high standards for others and get irritated when their expectations aren’t met. This is evident in their interactions and communication with their staff.
The choleric respects authority and treats their supervisors with the same deference, but they don’t fear authority. They never hesitate to tell their superiors the truth.
Work hard to earn the respect of a Choleric in order to influence them. Depending on the quality of those in attendance and their propensity to benefit from the program, they will reply to your invitation.
Melancholic and Communication:
People with melancholy tendencies are exact, methodical, and detail-oriented. Their tendency toward perfection is well known.
They communicate in a very deliberate and thoughtful manner. Their accuracy and emphasis on logic and facts set them apart in communication. They talk tactfully and cautiously, and they listen well. They consider their words carefully before speaking and only do so when it is appropriate. In meetings, they are typically not the chatty type.
The melancholic writes more than they speak, using words to convey their ideas. Their reports and communication both exhibit a strong attention to detail. Given this, giving them all the information—facts, figures, and details—is the simplest way to win their approval. When writing a report for them, one must reflect carefully, make sure they are well-prepared, and have all the answers. It is imperative that your report contains an appendix containing all pertinent information. If you’re not ready, melancholics can quickly make you feel awkward and ridiculous.
Melancholics are also extremely sensitive people. Before speaking with them, carefully consider the words you use because they will read and analyze them in a way that you could never have predicted. As a result, when speaking with them, one should proceed cautiously.
Phlegmatic and Communication:
Phlegmatic individuals are laid-back, calm, patient, encouraging, and skilled negotiators. In their communication, they are tactful, kind, sympathetic, and non-confrontational. Instead of saying or using words that could cause conflict or cause someone to get hurt, their main priority is developing relationships. Because of this, phlegmatic people end up holding a lot of hurt and pain inside of them rather than speaking it out.
Phlegmatic people should always be encouraged to express their emotions and speak up. They are largely silent, highly indecisive, and prefer one-on-one conversations.
Understanding how temperaments affect communication styles is essential for productive interactions and teamwork because it helps people and groups communicate more clearly and reduce misunderstandings, strengthening relationships in both personal and professional spheres.
