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The 4 Temperaments and Change

The 4 Temperaments and Change

By Donna Dunning

Not everyone experiences change in the same way. It is important to understand and highlight the unique questions and strengths that each perspective brings to the change process.

Are you giving people what they need in times of change?

This post will help you to adapt to changes and show you how to understand, appreciate, and support others as they manage transition. All people bring valuable contributions to the change process. Here are some tips to help people of each temperament thrive during change.

Change Perspective: Preserving (SJ)

People who prefer SJ tend to take a careful, practical approach to change. They trust what they know to be true from their experience and are sometimes given the label of “resistant to change”. This label is really a misunderstanding of the SJ approach. What they prefer to do is preserve what works well and see evidence that change is worthwhile before they buy in. They will question change that is not clearly defined and structured.

Tips to help SJs manage change:

  • Link a broad future vision to realities and concrete steps for moving forward.
  • Provide detailed answers for the who, when, where, what, and how questions of change.
  • Share practical reasons for a change.
  • Avoid answering their questions with patronizing statements such as “Don’t worry about the details” or “Just wait and see, it will all work out”. They want to hear the facts and realities.
  • Ask them about what “is” working well. Too often change agents jump in and change everything without preserving what is working.

Visit the SJs and Change Blog for more information on the SJ preserving change perspective.

Change Perspective: Performing (SP)

People who prefer SP tend to take a practical, applied approach to change. Not likely to spend a lot of time pondering the future, SPs are often most interested in changing something right away. They may question change that is impractical and will want to know the steps they need to follow to make change happen.

Tips to help SPs manage change:

  • Emphasize the immediate benefits of the change.
  • Give them something to do right away.
  • Provide lots of options and flexibility within the change.
  • Let them try new things and do the troubleshooting.
  • Link strategic visions to practical actions.

Visit the SPs and Change Blog for more information on the SP performing change perspective.

Change Perspective: Predicting (NT)

People who prefer NT tend to take a logical, strategic approach to change. They may be resistant to any change that does not meet these criteria. Although people who prefer NT often initiate change themselves, there are a number of questions they are likely to ask before they buy into an imposed change.

Tips to help NTs manage change:

  • Let them be involved in strategically planning for change.
  • Link change to long-term outcomes and consequences.
  • Show them the logical reasons behind the change.
  • Demonstrate that the competencies and resources are available to successfully complete the change.
  • Provide them with opportunities to critique and improve the change.

Visit the NTs and Change Blog for more information on the NT predicting change perspective.

Change Perspective: Promoting (NF)

People who prefer NF tend to take a personal and developmental approach to change. Mostly interested in how change will help and affect people, NFs will question change that does not support the needs of the people involved. People with these preferences will seek growth and will initiate and support changes to benefit others.

Tips to help NFs manage change:

  • Establish trust and rapport before making a change.
  • Show them a meaningful vision of how the change will make things better.
  • Emphasize how the change will help people.
  • Put actions in place to make the change easier for the people involved.
  • Listen to their concerns and be open to discussing personal loss and discomfort.

Visit the NFs and Change Blog for more information on the NF promoting change perspective.

Share your experiences and insights

Do you have any other ideas, tips, or stories to share about interacting with people during change?

More information about change and Temperament can be found in the Quick Guide to the Four Temperaments and Change.

Resources

Want to learn more about personality type and how to use it to understand yourself and others?

Introduction to Type and Communication describes in detail how personality preferences influence communications.

If you live in the USA, Introduction to Type and Communication is now available on Kindle.

Introduction to Type and Learning can help you find your motivation for learning and help you learn more effectively.

If you live in the USA, Introduction to Type and Learning is also available on Kindle.

Looking for a practical resource to help you plan your ideal career? Check out my book, What’s Your Type of Career?: Find Your Perfect Career By Using Your Personality Type

Want to use your personality type to excel at your career? Check out 10 Career Essentials: Excel at Your Career by Using Your Personality Type

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This entry was posted on Monday, February 21st, 2011 at 9:48 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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