The hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers is almost everywhere you look.

I have a few family birthdays this time of year, as well as the usual Christmas shopping, so I am forced in and amongst the crowds.

As I’ve been shopping, it amazes me to see how different people react in these ‘pressure cooker’ type environments.

Maybe you’ve noticed well adjusted people (some you know well) go crazy or lose their cool over the smallest of things – and you didn’t see it coming?

Well I believe the stress of busy Christmas shopping centres forces the real personality/behavioural styles to come out…

So to wrap the year up, I am going to share a light hearted story of how different people shop using the DISC behavioural system (personality assessment), and you can figure out which type you and those around you are. It’s scary how accurate it can be!

If you like the idea of a full online DISC assessment to better manage workplace behavioural styles you can register with us and get started.

Twas the week before Christmas a D-I-S-C Tale

Acknowledgement: The original author of this article is Success Performance Solutions https://www.super-solutions.com/

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the stores, everyone is scurrying and rushing toward the doors.

The sales staff is exhausted, the shoppers are spent, The businesses are hoping, they’ll make enough to pay the rent.

But regardless of the holiday, one thing is for sure, To predict how a person approaches shopping, DISC will endure.

Over the next few days, millions of people will purchase goods and services-on-line, by phone, or in person using one of four DISC behavioural styles… There is no magic or hocus-pocus to identifying these styles. All you need to do is observe and listen. Here are a few examples of DISC shopping styles in action:

The high D behavioural style says…

“Only 1 day? What’s the big deal? There’s plenty of time left.” D types love the challenge. Ironically, the remarkable emotion of D behavioural style is a short fuse – traffic jams, long lines, crowded stores and D types don’t mix. Internet shopping is tailor made for these direct, results-focused individuals. Gift cards and certificates are near perfect because they are much more efficient and they believe you can’t go wrong with cash or its equivalent. Then again, the D behavioural style might cajole his administrative assistant to make the shopping list, check it twice, and be Santa’s little helper. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that high D behavioural types are the ones doing last minute shopping on Christmas Eve. And if anything needs to be assembled, Ds pay someone to do the handiwork. High D behavioural types give gifts that identify with increased productivity.

The high I behavioural type…

loves the holiday season, and the shopping, parties, and crowds that go with it. Shopping is an event, a day out at the mall with friends and families – the more the merrier. The I behavioural type plans a shopping trip with the attention normally given to planning a wedding. Shopping begins early and centres on meals. After all, how can you possibly shop without a big breakfast, numerous breaks for snack and lunch, lunch, wrapping up the day with a sit-down dinner? By the end of the day, the high I behavioural type has had a great time regardless of the success of paring down the gift list. The High I person is optimistic. There’s always time for shopping! The high I behavioural type is highly influenced by those gifts with the most attractive wrappings, even if what’s inside is not always practical. You can be sure he/she’s an I if you hear, “I just couldn’t resist buying it. It had my name all over it. I hope you like it too.”

The high “S” behavioural style…

favours handcrafted gifts and homemade food. Christmas shopping begins and ends early. This steady, methodical shopper makes lists, clip coupons, and maps out a shopping itinerary before leaving the house. Although Black Friday marks the start of the shopping season for most consumers, December 26th is the right time to get a head start on next year’s shopping list. The S behavioural style kicks into high shopping gear right after Labour Day and with few exceptions, gifts are bought, wrapped, and shipped before Thanksgiving. December isn’t a time for shopping but for making cookies and preparing Christmas dinner. On Dec. 16, the high S behavioural style thinks, “Only nine days until after-Christmas sales begin.”

The high “C” behavioural personalities…

work to avoid big crowds and don’t understand how anyone can leave shopping to the last minute. In many ways, the C and S behavioural styles share shopping preferences. But the gifts they choose differentiate these behavioural styles. S personalities give gifts with a personal touch; Cs seek quality. The more practical C behavioural type purchase gifts that will last, and makes certain their gifts have the best warranties. During September and October, they do research to find the best-made, highest quality and most reasonably priced gift. These logical analytical types prefer to give gifts with a proven track record and can’t understand why anyone would waste money on this year’s fad.

If any of these types seem familiar, that is because they are. DiSC is the universal language and dates back to….well as far back as Christmas itself. Find out what your personality style is by registering for a short online survey.

DISCover more about your personality and how you can fit in within business team environment byregistering for a DiSC online behaviour survey.