In 400 BC the Greek philosopher Hippocrates identified four temperaments. He called them Phlegmatic, Sanguine, Melancholic, and Choleric—yes those are a mouthful. When I decided to use temperaments as the foundation of the Elevations career assessment I called them the Liberator, Organizer, Facilitator, and Innovator. A twenty-first-century spin on ancient wisdom.

Today I want to focus on the temperament that is most misunderstood, the Liberator. Children who have this dominant preference are always on the move. They may have a short attention span, enjoy being outdoors going fast, pushing the boundaries, and taking physical risks. Their parents pray they will survive to adulthood.

As they grow into their teens and early adulthood, school may have become boring. They prefer short-term projects that have tangible results—the opposite of school. They love their friends and playing sports. Getting a car is a huge priority as it gives them the freedom they yearn for. They are fun, casual, and loyal.

Here are some other common traits or capabilities of a true Liberator. They are:

·     Mechanically inclined, fixing things without reading the directions.

·     Calm in a crisis.

·     Detail-oriented and observant.

·     Skilled using their fine motor skills (drawing, tattooing, car detailing).

·     Drawn to careers that are action-oriented, dangerous, and intense.

·     Able to focus their attention if there is noise in the background or if they have something they can hold in their hands.

·     Casual, quick to bring humor to a situation, and adaptable.

Are you thinking about someone you know? I bet you are because 38% of the global population has the Liberator preference. Liberators are our firefighters, emergency service personnel, professional athletes, chefs, mechanics, and welders. Evolutionarily, they are naturally adapted to stand in front of the cave and fight off the saber-toothed tiger.

If you have found this eye-opening, I encourage you to learn more about the temperaments. I am particularly fond of explaining the Liberator preference because, at all stages of life, we might not fully understand or appreciate the remarkable capability of these individuals.

Take a moment to thank the Liberators in your life. They make you laugh, keep you safe, and show up ready for anything. What could be better than that?

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