Temperaments And How Different Leaders Prioritizes What They Want To Achieve:

A lot of persons often wonders why leaders behaves, acts and does things differently when in a leadership role or position. Sometimes, we compare one leader with the other at different times of leadership era. And we often expect them to perform like the other previous leader, and perhaps carry on with all of their legacies and style of leadership. When this expectations aren’t met, we easily adjudge them as failure. It is for this reason that the success of a leader in any leadership position is relative to the followers, and often depends on the perspective from which they’re appraising the leader or what they consider as a successful leadership.

Some followers or citizens could view or consider a particular leader as a failure because he or she failed to give priority to workers welfare package, eventhough they did excellently in improving the education and health care sectors, and ensures all citizens have access to quality health care and education. Some could also consider another leader a failure because they could not improve the economy and create jobs for citizens, eventhough they had preformed creditably in infrastructural development. Others may also adjudge a leader based on his or her defensive capacities, having defended their territorial integrity well enough against enemy attack and had also protected the citizenry, even if they had clearly failed in improving the economy and standard of living of the people.

From these brief illustration, it can be inferred that a leader’s success when in leadership position is very relative to different followers, and also viewed quite differently from what they understand as leadership success, and also sometimes from the prism of their selfish interest. However, there’s no leader in this world that can satisfy the yearnings of everyone. Secondly, no leader can also give what they’re destitute of. You can only give out in a full dose and measure what you’ve got in abundance in you as a leader.

Leaders, just like every other person are born with a specific temperament. And as our individual temperaments often controls and influences what we do in life, so also different leaders with different temperaments panders unknowingly to the influence of their primary and secondary temperament on them. Therefore, the temperament a leader is born with, often influences what he or she gives priority to when in any leadership position. For some leaders, it could be workers welfare package, economy, improvement of living standard of the citizens, human capacity development. For others, it could be infrastructural development in education, health care, road, bridge and rail infrastructures, defense and any of such project that’ll seem to be a cynosure, and which they’ll often be associated with after they might have left office. No leader can achieve all of this alone, even if they are the longest serving, unless different persons of different temperament categories are placed in various areas by the leader, where their individual temperament strengths will come bare on their jobs.

I one of my previous post on the role of temperament in leadership. I did assert that different times requires different leaders with a specific type of temperament in order to effect the necessary changes. This basically implies that depending on the specific needs of a particular time, different leaders with a specific temperament that’ll be able to match or suit the time are needed to bring about that change. Others could queue behind him for efficient and overwhelming leadership success. It’s basically for this reason that in today’s post, we want to consider how leaders panders to the influence of their temperament, and things they often prioritize when in leadership position.

Temperament And The Priorities of a Leader In Leadership:

The temperament a leader is born with, often influences and determines the things he or she prioritizes and wants to achieve when at the helm of affairs. And no matter what you think or criticize them for, it’ll not change anything because they’ve got their priorities, which are more often than not influenced by their temperament blends. It’s for this reason that for any leader to achieve good and all-round success in leadership, he or she must be deliberate about assembling and bringing onboard persons of the four temperament categories, and place them in the right positions that’s often in conformity to their strengths. Let’s quickly consider what the four basic temperaments places emphasis on, in leadership, so we could be able to preempt exactly what to expect from any leader aspiring for a leadership role, judging by their temperaments.

A Typical Sanguine’s Leadership Priorities:

First off, let’s consider the typical sanguine leader and what he or she considers a priority when at the helm of affairs. Naturally, a sanguine is a very extroverted and people-oriented personality. He often loves to be with people and relate with everyone even if it means being the first and the one to always go to them. He is a very ebullient and flamboyant person, who believes life ought to be relished to the fullest. No other temperament lives very exuberant and ostentatious lifestyles more than typical sanguines. He could bluster about what he has achieved to the point that you’ll feel less accomplished or underachieved.

When it comes to leadership, barring his major weaknesses of indiscipline, lack of self control, unserious attitude and impulsiveness. A sanguine is a very charismatic leader, who often creates a caramaderie atmosphere for everyone when in leadership position. He’s that leader that’s rarely forceful, high-handed or despotic but likes to create a very warm and convivial ambience for everyone to be happy, provided everything seems to align and fall in pleasant places for him. He’s the leader that often likes to walk down the streets in his neighborhood to relate with everyone even with the least person, with little or no security. But when things does not seem to be aligning for him, his quick and very explosive outburst is what you should expect. This is often because a typical sanguine is a very emotional and spontaneous person, who often does things as his emotions suggests rather than according to reasoning. Having had a description of who a sanguine is, let’s look at some of the things they often prioritize, and considers as an achievement when in a leadership position. So we know what to expect from a typical sanguine leader.

For a typical sanguine leader he rarely has a deliberate and well-thought out plan or an agenda of what he wants to achieve before coming into leadership because he believes in getting to the bridge first. Thus, do not expect him to come in and build a skyscraper for you or embark on any new landmark project as long as those things are already in existence. They’re rarely visionary leaders. And if perhaps they do embark on such project, it’s often for show-off, to further display their flamboyant lifestyle and bluster about their achievement, not because they were deliberate about it or have seen the need for it.

Sanguine leaders often places so much emphasis on, among all other things, creating an environment for those working with him, and perhaps those he’s leading to be happy, have fun and enjoy his leadership. Thus, prompt payment of wages, welfare packages for his close allies, freedom to do their jobs and also enjoy their vacations, tourism and relaxation centres development and whatever that’ll endear everyone to him, so he can get their loyalty and accolades are some of the things a sanguine leader prioritizes when in a leadership role. He cares less about productivity and hardwork, but do what you ought to do, and enjoy yourself, nothing more, nothing less. As long as everything seems to be fine and normalized.

Choleric Leadership Priorities:

Cholerics are the second extroverts of the temperaments after the sanguine. Apart from being outgoing, and also sometimes acting and doing things on impulse like their typical sanguine counterpart, cholerics are totally different in their approach to things, and in what they intend to achieve. Cholerics are very deliberate people, absolutely intentional about whatever they want, eventhough they may not have a careful and well-thought out plan or agenda for it, but they’re often deliberate, and has got good reasons why they decide to do anything. And nothing can stand on their way when they want to get something, for that thing must eventually give way for them to actualize their intentions. He will not hesitate to ride roughshod over you, and also be very resistant to anyone who attempts to stand on his way.

When it comes to leadership, though a typical choleric leader is high-handed, despotic and rarely panders to public views or opinions, narrow-minded and does what he often feels its good for you, not what you feel. However, cholerics are the most visionary, very impactful and influential, courageous, decisive and determined leaders. For a choleric, you already know what to expect from him in leadership, for he tells you and says it loudly to ahead of time, and he must do what he tells you if eventually he gets into that leadership position. He’s a visionary, who can envision his own empire and work tirelessly to achieve it. Let’s look at what a typical choleric leader often makes his priorities, and considers an achievement when in leadership.

For a typical choleric leader, workers welfare packages are the least on his agenda, as long as they get what’s due them at the end of the month. Fun moments and vacations are rare, and if they’re not business inclined, the passion to create jobs and improve the economy may be lacking. But high productivity and hardwork will be the order of the day. When it comes to achievements, cholerics often places more emphasis on infrastructural development, and any gigantic project that could be visible to anyone. They are often more passionate about leaving behind visible structures and projects that you’ll often trace back to them long after they had gone. Thus, a choleric leader could give you good road networks, bridges, very gigantic buildings for health and educational facilities, and any project that seems very big and uncommon, but could forget to pay his staffs. A typical choleric leader often focuses on doing big and uncommon things while neglecting some smaller and perhaps remote things.

A Melancholic Leader’s Priorities:

Here we come to an introverted leader. A melancholy is the second introvert of the temperaments after the phlegmatics. He’s a hospitable and accommodating personality, who is patient enough with anyone, and also welcomes all shades of opinions, regardless of who or where its coming from. Melancholies are extremely disciplined, intelligent, analytical and detailed persons. The most deliberate of all the temperaments, about what they want to achieve. Although not as decisive as his choleric counterpart, but wants to get all facts and details before arriving at a decision. When he finally decides on something, he’s a very resolute person in his decisions.

When it comes to leadership, a typical melancholy is a very strategic leader, who will carefully draw out a very detailed plan, strategies and also think it through before embarking on any activity. It is for this reason that melancholic leaders rarely fail in their endeavors. And if peradventure they fall, the tendency towards being moody and depressed is palpable. Melancholies are strategists, planners, thinkers and achievers. They may not be as visionary as the cholerics, but melancholic leaders sure loves to do big and extraordinary things, and also leave behind a legacy.

Although they may not be outgoing or people-oriented like a the sanguines, but their policies as leaders are no doubt people-centric. Because of his sacrificial nature, he’s that leader that combines the achievements of both a sanguine and choleric leader. When in a leadership position, apart from his passion to make everyone happy and excited with his policies, he also wants to embark on big and laudable projects that he’ll be remembered for. It’s for this reason that he often has so many things on his priority list as a leader. Thus, welfare packages and the desire to meet all the basic needs of people whenever it arises is not uncommon for him, and are all on his priority list and agenda. Melancholies are versatile leaders, who often wants to achieve so much. However their perfectionist tendencies and quests to please everyone is usually their main source of depression if they could not accomplish those desires.

A Phlegmatic Leader’s Priorities:

Lastly, we come to the phlegmatics. A phlegmatic is the main introvert of the temperaments. They’re rarely outgoing just like their melancholic counterparts, but are much more enthusiastic and people-oriented than melancholies. They love people being with, and on same page with them. Phlegmatics are the most gentle, calm, quiet, composed and organized of all the temperaments. Rarely do they get into conflicts, controversies and also conflicts with anyone. They’re very peaceful, congenial, supportive and yielding. A typical phlegmatic will rather let you have your way than be at loggerheads with you. Whatever that’ll affect his happy, relaxed and sedentary mood is often avoided.

In terms of leadership, a phlegmatic leader is an administrator, who loves to carry everyone along in his policies particularly those working for or with him. He’s a very passive leader, often more reactive than proactive. His major weaknesses in leadership are usually indecision and lack of self motivation to start and accomplish a task. A phlegmatic leader often needs the support of everyone, and for all his lieutenants to be on his side before he could take a decision. This often affects his ability to achieve much more than he could have achieved in leadership.

A phlegmatic leader’s priority and achievements in leadership is nothing more than the normal, maintaining a good relationship with his followers, and ensuring that the good or normal status quo remains. Unless he brings onboard and gets other persons who has got a choleric or melancholic traits into his leadership, he’ll rarely achieve anything extraordinary. Thus, workers welfare packages, prompt payment of all entitlements and benefits, insisting on, and improving quality of health care and education, and also desires that everyone is very happy and excited with their style of leadership are some of their priorities in leadership. Phlegmatics rarely have a mind of their own, since they more often panders to the opinions of their supporters and acquaintances. They are more effective as leaders when they have cholerics or melancholies as their advisers or assistants, who they can delegate some roles and responsibilities.

Conclusion, different leaders have got different temperaments, and they more often than not, panders to the influence and dictates of their basic temperament. This also to a very large extent determines what they give priority to, and considers as their achievement in leadership. It’s very pertinent that everyone knows the influence of temperament on the leadership style of a leader, in order to know which leader is capable of meeting the needs of a particular time and season.

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