The Gift of Gab

A working understanding of temperament stylesTalkers love an audience and seek to be the center of
(personality types) will have a profound impact on theattention. Others often view this need for approval and
way you perceive yourself and will greatly enhance allattention as egotistical and self-centered. The typical
of your relationships. If you are a salesperson, thisTalker’s motto is, “Enough about me - what
information will significantly increase your salesdo you think about me?” Talkers are friendly,
effectiveness by enabling you to build trust and rapportenthusiastic, impulsive and social. They tend to be
quickly with your prospects and customers. Businessemotional and demonstrative and as a result wear
owners and managers find this knowledge invaluable. Ittheir feelings on their sleeve. Under pressure, they will
can improve the way you supervise your employeestalk faster than normal and may deny reality. The
and allow you to recruit more effectively. As a parent,impulsive Talker likes status things and are known as
it can dramatically improve the way you relate to yourpower shoppers. It is not uncommon for them to go
children. If you are single, it can provide you insight intoshopping in order to lift their spirits. The Talker/Thinker
selecting a compatible mate.profile enjoys the latest gadgets and is usually
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, has been creditedinterested in science fiction.
with originating the basic theory of temperament stylesPhysically, Talkers tend to have a barrel chest, stocky
twenty-four hundred years ago. Hippocrates believedbuild and a large head. Talkers are typically ”couch
that we are born with a combination of four geneticpotatoes” and need routine exercise to stay in
influences that he called humors; Choleric (Worker),shape. Due to their sedentary life style they are prone
Sanguine (Talker), Phlegmatic (Watcher), andto gain weight and find it difficult to keep off. It is not
Melancholy (Thinker). He observed that these fourunusual for the Talker to have bags under their eyes
styles have a direct influence on our physiology,and a recessed chin. When you think of a Talker think
character traits and outlook on life. In fact, the wordof Bill Clinton, Drew Carey, Oprah Winfrey, Rosie
temperament which is commonly used to describeO’Donnell, Dolly Pardon, Bill Cosby, Ronald
personality types is a Latin term which means, “aReagan, John Candy, Cybill Shepherd, Mohammed Ali,
mixing in due portion.” While we are each born withPhil Donahue, John Belushi, Richard Dreyfuss, and
a primary temperament, our personality is comprisedNewt Gingretch. While not all Talkers will have a dimple
of all four styles. My temperament training systemin their chin, it has been my observation that anyone
gives you the tools and knowledge to recognize athat does have a dimple is automatically the Talker
person’s primary temperament style throughThinker/Worker/Watcher profile. Of the six primary
observation. Each primary temperament style exhibitsTalker profiles, this profile is the most dramatic,
a body language preference and has distinctiveexpressive, creative, formal and moody. Some
physical features and characteristics that are neitherwell-known Talkers with a dimple in their chin are; John
gender, race, nor age specific. This is a significantTrivolta, Terry Bradshaw, Jesse Ventura, Chevy
breakthrough in the study of temperamentChase, Joe Namath, and Kirk Douglas.
understanding because it is a practical system that canTalker’s Positive Traits
be used with everyone you meet. MySociable — Generous — Optimistic
temperament-training program allows you to put this— Enthusiastic — Persuasive —
information to use in your day-to-day encounters fromArticulate
the boardroom to the kitchen table. This articleTalker’s Negative Traits
showcases the Sanguine/Talker temperament style.Unorganized — Egotistical — Impulsive
The Talker temperament style is the I, or Influencer, in— Self-Absorbed — Emotional - Lazy
the D.I.S.C. temperament profiling system. The Talker isTalker Behaviors
extroverted and persuasive by nature, they are known1. Exhibits a carefree demeanor.
to possess the “gift of gab.” Talkers will normally2. Interrupts others while they are speaking.
be the one to initiate a conversation and they seek to3. Easily distracted.
get the last word in as well. Due to their enthusiastic4. Dislike for dealing with details.
and expressive nature they are inclined to interrupt5. Can juggle numerous tasks at once.
others. They are often referred to as natural born6. Extremely creative and spontaneous.
salespeople and it is said that they can sell ice to7. Needs excitement, adventure and thrills.
Eskimos. They have the ability to think quickly on theirHow Talkers Can Improve
feet and are very articulate. A Talker prefers to be1. Don’t try so hard to be liked.
around people and when alone will usually have a radio2. Be cheerful without overdoing it.
or TV playing in the background for company. The3. Talk less and listen more — don’t
Talker enjoys a change of pace and dislikes routine orinterrupt.
structure. They require freedom to express their ideas4. Follow directions carefully.
and they enjoy recognition for their accomplishments.5. Be more accurate.
They are “big picture” people and don’t like6. Don’t make promises that you can’t
dealing in detail work. They get bored sitting still for longkeep.
periods of time and need the freedom to move7. Develop a more serious work ethic.
around.