Is Contention Advantageous for Cholerics?
Have you ever been in a situation in which the suggestions of an individual are dismissed out of hand, or possibly even ridiculed? Did it seem the dismissal was occurring just to create a point of contention? If you were in the presence of a Choleric it may well have been.
Sometimes we may even have been on the receiving end of the onslaught. On some occasions I have pointed out to the perpetrator (usually a choleric) what they were doing. Would you believe many cholerics were astonished when their conduct was pointed out and brought to their attention.
However, if you don’t make it clear you are aware of what they are doing the practice continues and worsens.
But, would you believe this practice of the choleric can have some positive effects for all of us?
Why discussion and contention raise the bar for performance for all of us.
Once we come to understand that we need to eliminate the concept of “right” and “wrong” when problem solving we have made tremendous progress. We must strive to replace these concept with what “works for me” or “doesn’t work for me.” This is an issue which must be a given when working with, or being a choleric. Without these avenues we come quickly to impasse and impasse leads to failure. Impasse should lead to discussion. That back and forth is the root of progress.
Participants (team members) in any endeavor must realize issues of contention exist, and it is by working through them that breakthroughs occur. But, in order to be productive all team members should recognize the benefits of contention.
A certain amount of contention is useful, otherwise we settle for easy solutions and don’t not push for superior answers. Cholerics, however, are known for pushing. Their demeanor helps the rest of us avoid spending to much time addressing tertiary issues and focus on core concerns.
Does this create anxiety. Yes. But, a modicum of anxiety is a good thing. It means there is growth into new areas.
Cholerics cause us to explore the “what if” situations. Even if it is just “what if” we got rid of them?
Still their “let’s make it happen” control temperament helps the rest of us consider all the options that we may then be examine.
So, is contention advantageous for the choleric? Yes. But, it is advantageous for the rest of us as well, provided we stand up for ourselves. We just don’t enjoy it the way a control seeking choleric does.