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 characterized 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 hereditary, 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, behaviors, 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 towards 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 the 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 behaviors were determined by an excess or lack of bodily fluids known as humor. He further classified them as blood, yellow bile, phlegm, and black bile and from which we have all our behavioral 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 center 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, 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 in 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 to 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 coursemates and colleagues at work might be choleric. 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 organized 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 of 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 is 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 organization, 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 demeanor which may make them adept at team-building and collaborative endeavors.
Understanding the relationship between temperament and performance can have significant implications for companies and organizations. By recognizing the strengths and limitations of each temperament type, employers can leverage the unique qualities of their employees to optimize their work output and create a more effective team dynamic. Additionally, understanding this can help with employee recruitment and retention, ensuring that each individual is placed in an appropriate role that maximizes 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 being too demanding or insensitive. A sanguine leader may need to focus more on organization 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; 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 organizations 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 is 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
