Strengths of Temperance
Temperance is the disciplined power that keeps our drive from burning too hot or drifting off course. For individuals on high-performance teams, temperance converts raw ambition into sustainable momentum; for the team as a whole, it creates the conditions for consistent, values-aligned execution even when pressure mounts. Rather than muting passion, temperance sharpens it, ensuring we can pursue bold goals without losing judgment, relationships, or energy.
Two strengths keep temperance steady under pressure. Self-regulation provides the moment-to-moment control over impulses, attention, and emotional responses so each teammate can stay composed, resourceful, and reliable. Prudence extends that discipline into the future, helping individuals and teams align daily choices with long-range aims, anticipate consequences, and design plans that survive real-world stress.
Temperance also safeguards the social fabric that makes high-performance collaboration possible. Humility enables us to ask for help and keeps egos aligned with the mission, inviting accurate self-assessment, honest feedback, and a culture where learning outranks posturing. Forgiveness keeps relationships recoverable, allowing people to repair inevitable missteps, release grudges, and maintain trust without tolerating harm.
Together, these strengths help team members dismantle personal barriers—whether impatience, rigidity, pride, or resentment—and keep those barriers from eroding collective performance. What follows explores how each virtue deepens temperance and offers actionable practices for turning disciplined character into effective action.