Walk a mile in a different temperament

Most people want to be understood. Similar to the well-known fact that everyone wants to be loved, I believe that being understood is up there with love and being seen or heard. Being understood is harder though right? The world is a melting pot of personality types. Likes and dislikes, different ways of processing information, communication, sourcing energy.

We could spend some time going over some of the many examples that psychology presents us to test. Myers Briggs, The Disc, Eysenck, Psychometrics to name a few. In fact Heather Harper from Workstyle ranked them in her 2019 article here

We are all curious about how we are wired and what we can learn about ourselves. We are also keen to learn what our family and close friends are also, it makes for interesting discussions and major lightbulb moments of awareness when we discover why someones behaviour is a certain way or the choices a person makes.

I like the idea of taking this further. It's great to understand that someone who is shy or loves their own company is highly introverted, and we have all heard the phrase and recommendation to step into another's shoes and adjust our perspective.  What about walking a mile in another temperament? I think this takes skill. Imagine though if more of us did this? What if we could adjust our behaviour or our approach when we interact or with someone? Let's look at a couple of the simple examples of behaviours we come across in our fellow humans, that are in opposition to each other.

The detailed versus the non-detailed. A detailed person values accuracy, they don’t want to be wrong or incorrect. It’s an innate need in them to get things right. What if we could be more patient and understanding when a detailed person is pressing for more information or asking many questions? Transversely, the person who is not automatically across details and requires more energy and focus to do so can be a source of frustration or for a detailed person.

What would our interactions be like in the workplace if we paused, walked a mile in another temperament and make a choice to be patient, understanding and practice restraint in being judgemental?

I had a lot of practice with a ‘high D’ (dominant temperament on the disc) through a ten-year previous business partnership. Someone with this temperament can be extremely short and direct, They don’t like extra information and have the ability to process thoughts, data and concepts swiftly. When someone has this temperament and is un-resourceful in their communication I have known it to be received harshly. If I walk a mile in that temperament, I can choose to be patient, get to the point swiftly and attempt to remember that it’s not personal, it’s the temperament rather than the person. Imagine if all parties working together, communicating together, remembered to do this. It would create more patience, productive outcomes and harmonious and successful places to work and congregate.

Until next week, be kind and patient with yourself 

Andy xx