How to Celebrate the Differences of People and Accentuate the Positive
Each person you meet sees the world from a different perspective. Trying to define someone by his or her behaviors or actions alone is, at best, unreliable and at worst critically inaccurate. Along the path to understanding, it is vital to remember that temperament (personality) is not only the visual aspect of one’s character, but also the sum total of the distinctive characteristics of that individual.
To accurately identify someone’s temperament, we have to look beyond actions and take a close look at values and motivations. To use the information that we uncover, we must begin to perceive the differences in others as both valid and beneficial. We must move toward seeing personality as the pleasingly distinctive characteristics in a person.
Choosing the Right Instrument
One of the first steps in finding benefit in our differences is to be able to identify the differences. To help people do this, over the years researchers have developed numerous theories and testing procedures. When choosing an instrument to use, you need to pick one that is both accurate and simple. You want it to provide meaningful information while remaining easy-to-administer and easy-to-remember.
In order to most effectively move from information to application, it is necessary for all involved to be able to understand, communicate, and apply the results of the instrument. Finding an instrument that reports using vocabulary that is memorable and familiar (while maintaining the validity of the test) is the first step on the way to utilizing our differences in a beneficial way.
Applying the Results
When applying the results you harvest from a personality instrument, it should be done with an understanding that there are no inherently good or bad behavioral characteristics. Each personality type has its own set of values and standards. People of different types can exhibit dramatic differences, but it would be unfair to compare one set of values against another.
It is also important to recognize that each personality type has a collection of strengths that other types do not possess. People with a positive self-image know how to put these strengths to good use.
For example, people who are primarily Green are typically curious, visionary, levelheaded, and technical, while Oranges can be described as adventurous, bold, optimistic, and skillful. Golds are stable, responsible, thorough, and structured, while Blues are patient, genuine, compassionate, and artistic.
The world needs to celebrate the strengths of each of the personalities in order to function. In fact, our success depends on it.
The Bottom Line
People who share temperament styles measure self-worth in similar ways. By studying the different styles, you can benefit by learning to appreciate their joys, values, and needs of styles different than your own. Striving to understand the style of others, and learning to emulate their positive behaviors and virtues, can go a long way in reducing the prejudicial judgments that are sometimes made of those who are different.
We all bring a variety of different strengths to the table. A clear understanding and acceptance of this will help us succeed in our interpersonal relationships.