Most people are too well-mannered to admit that those around them are idiots. But if you probe further, they will confess that they consider a friend, spouse, relative, colleague, neighbour, or politician an idiot. Unlike most people, I don’t shy away from acknowledging the idiots in my life.
A few years ago, I looked at a very dear friend of mine and wondered again and again if she fell on her head as a child. The things she did and the way she processed information seemed ridiculous. I confirmed my unprofessional diagnostics of her insanity one happy evening when a friend was driving us home from a party. A few minutes to our destination, she asked the friend to take a different turn so we could arrive quicker.
He refused to take the turn and she became furious. As a good friend, I tried calming down the situation by explaining that the turn was illegal and could result in an accident. Bad idea! My dear friend turned Trump on me and her words didn’t stop raining till we got home. While this whole drama was unfolding, another friend of ours sat still in the car and didn’t utter a word the entire time.
The driver on the other hand didn’t seem too bothered by the spectacle, even though he occasionally tried to stop our parrot from ranting. I felt unduly attacked by one friend and left hanging by another. Thinking back at this incident with my current knowledge of personalities, I understand perfectly well the personalities at play in the car. If I had known then, what I know now, that situation would have been completely different.
Despite reading many articles on personality types, Thomas Erickson’s book “Surrounded by Idiots” gave me a better understanding of the people I interact with daily. Below is a summary of personality types for you based on the story above.
Personality Types: Three Idiots You Might Know, And You Being the Forth.
Reds or Cholerics
Reds are dynamic, confident, highly ambitious, risk-takers, competitive, and extroverted. If you have a friend who speaks their mind, is always rushing to complete a task, and never gives up on a goal, they most likely are read. These people tend to have a know-it-all-all attitude and care less about what others think about them. Their arrogance and tyrannical demeanour sometimes make them unpopular.
When interacting with reds, save the details. They are impatient and care less about the nitty gritty things. Also, speak your mind and be honest around reds, and while at it – speed up on any task. They appreciate speed. Don’t flatter a red if you don’t know them well. Be hardworking and decisive around them – they detest sluggishness.
Remember the car story above? Can you guess who the red was? Well, I was the red. That explains why I could not hold my tongue when my friend went crazy about what road to take. My desire to take control and speak my mind stepped in.
Yellows or Sanguines
Yellows are the life of the party among all the other personality types. Optimistic, cheerful, creative, and always enthusiastic – they are people, relationships, and attention-oriented. Their friendly nature makes them very persuasive and inspiring. Yellows think outside the box and are high-risk takers. They always have an idea. They tend to follow their gut feelings rather than facts and love flattery.
Although yellows view themselves as entertaining, optimistic, and funny, others view them as selfish, superficial, talkative, and poor listeners. They seem selfish because they always talk about themselves. Yellows hate criticism and cannot concentrate on a specific task for long. They don’t follow orderly patterns at work and are often late or miss appointments.
My understanding of personalities made me realize why my dear friend got furious when I told her she was wrong for asking the driver to take a dangerous turn. As a shining Yellow. She felt attacked and undermined. And I got a glimpse of Yellow’s rage.
Greens or Phlegmatics
Do you know people who hate new ideas or anything that requires change? Well, you most likely have encountered a Green. These people are easygoing, calm, kindhearted, and reliable. Greens value relationships and will go out of their way for loved ones. They are excellent listeners and keep track of details such as anniversaries, birthdays, etc. In a work environment, they make great team players. However, they detest change – stability is their watchword.
Greens are people who never speak their minds due to fear of conflict. Their despise of conflict makes them stubborn, ambiguous, and adamant to change. Greens prefer pleasing everyone to avoid the issue at hand. They are notorious backstabbers since they don’t speak their minds in public. Others consider them passive as they hardly initiate anything new. Doing nothing is a phlegmatic’s happy place.
Going back to my car story, do you recall the friend who sat-still throughout the frenzy in the car? Well, she is Green. Well, she is Green. And I forgave her for not stepping in during my crucifixion, after discovering her personality.
Blues or Melancholics.
Blues are detail-oriented, realistic, factual, cautious, methodical, reserved, and reflective. Generally known to speak only when they have something to say, they are extremely honest and don’t take pride in praises. Also, these people tend to stick to the status quo and follow the rules judiciously. They are hard workers but hardly share their personal information randomly.
Melancholics hardly start anything new, due to analysis paralysis, and their desire for perfection. They don’t easily trust others and double-check even the tiniest details. Due to their need for perfection, attention to detail, and ability to spot even the slightest mistake, it takes them longer to complete tasks. Most people consider them difficult to please. Blues are not as visionary as yellows; they work with facts and strive for the highest quality in everything they do.
From our car story above, it is obvious to spot the Blue personality. Our dear driver who followed the traffic rules judiciously is a bright sky Blue. He didn’t seem fazed by the yellow’s tantrums and focused on the road.
It is easy to regard other temperaments as idiots in your day-to-day life due to your lack of understanding. But when you learn how to read people and predict their mannerisms, you gain clarity and better relate with them. In the end, you discover that no one is an idiot. We are just wired differently.
Thanks for reading.
Has this post helped you understand those around you? kindly share your thoughts in the comment section.