Understanding what motivates a person is extremely helpful in personnel management and job assignment. It has been determined that the various temperaments are not due to environment or heritage. We are all born with a certain tendencies, likes and needs. It’s what makes us different.
I will be using the terms used by the ancient philosopher Hippocrates (5th century BC) He documented his insights and it has changed very little over the years. It is a quadrant where most people are a blend of two of the four.
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Choleric |
Sanguine |
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Melancholy |
Phlegmatic |
- Choleric: These people love to be in charge. They are natural leaders and pioneers. They have tremendous determination. They are the strong willed children who like to correct their parents. They are able to see the big picture. An immature Choleric can be over bearing, intolerable and angry.
- Sanguine: These people are motivated by fun. These are socially adaptable people who can make friends quickly and effortlessly. They love bright vibrant colors. They can be dedicated promoters, but unfulfilled, they can become subject to depression.
- Melancholy: These people are not necessarily sad, but they are quite detail oriented. They love facts and figures. They have a very strong sense of fairness. They are also good detectives, because every thing should be logical and in order.
- Phlegmatic: These individuals are motivated by peace. They will forego speaking their mind to maintain harmony. They are seldom emotional. A Phlegmatic person is sometimes labeled a slug but don’t fall into that trap. Companies are destroyed because of the lack of a peacemaker.
So where do you see yourself? As mentioned previously, most of us are a blend of two of the temperaments. You may be a leader who enjoys having fun, or a prankster who can motivate and get the job done. A peacemaker who is detail oriented can be a fine leader, but it will take time for a decision to be made. A detailed leader may discover a cure for cancer or develop the next break through in technology.
Ken Cole