It’s the gift time of the year again. Every year, giving and getting are two dominant features of late December.As we search for gifts for those on our list, there are always a few that present a challenge. How do you match the gift to the receiver?

Herrmann International offers this exercise as our gift to you to improve your chances of finding that "perfect gift."

© 2003 Herrmann International

Thinking Styles in Gifting …A Story

It's the gift time of the year again. Every year, giving an getting are two dominant features of late December. And every year (ideally a bit before late December) I ponder what to get for Aunt Harriet. A telephone call from

Aunt Harriet in late November brings her inevitable, "What do you want for Christmas, dear?"I reply with an equally inevitable, "I don’t know. Surprise me."But Aunt Harriet never accepts that answer. She presses: "Did you like the purple punch bowl I gave you last year?"

So that's what it was! I suspect that she gave it to me out of spite because I managed so successfully to avoid giving her concrete suggestions, but perhaps she actually sees some socially redeeming value in it. "It is an unusual bowl, Aunt Harriet. I can't imagine where you found it!" I can hear the smile that indicates that my evasive verbiage has worked.

"I may be able to find a ladle to match.“ So much for evasive verbiage. But Aunt Harriet is excited now. She has something tangible to work on, and something that she likes. Satisfied on one score, she continues in a new direction: "I saw some place mats at the department store that would go wonderfully in my dining room."

So, do I go out and buy her the place mats? Of course not! How much pleasure could she possibly derive from getting exactly what she expects? I want to find something unusual and unexpected, like the frog-shaped toothpick holder I gave her last year.

We all prefer to give gifts that we like ourselves. We can get enthusiastic about them. But it’s far more difficult to give a gift that the receiver will like, unless we know that person well or have been told what he or she really wants. So what was the problem with Aunt Harriet and me? She gave me the opportunity to tell her what I wanted, and she told me just what she wanted.

The problem is a simple matter of thinking styles. Aunt Harriet is double-dominant in the lower Quadrants, B and C, while I am a double-dominant in the two right Quadrants, C and D. Our common strong C quadrants is reflected in the care we each give to our gift giving. We are each concerned that the recipient be pleased with our gifts. But, frequently, differences are more apparent than similarities, and Aunt Harriet and I differ considerably on the B-D axis; we couldn't be much more different there! Aunt Harriet's hefty B Quadrant is indicated by her organized and cautious nature. She wants to know exactly what's going to happen so she can be prepared for it. She abhors surprises. On the other hand, my beefy D quadrant is indicated by my own preference for novelty and risk. If I know what’s going to happen, I’m likely to change it, just for the fun of it. I adore surprises. No wonder we both struggle with finding each other satisfactory gifts.

Considering her thinking style preferences, Aunt Harriet is the last person I should be asking to surprise me. It just makes her uncomfortable. And surprising Aunt Harriet is even worse! If I want to make her happy, then I shouldget her what she wants and expects--probably something eminently practical. And, hey, surprise isn't everything. There are other significant features of a gift for me, and if nothing else, at least I can get something useful from Aunt Harriet… if I ask for it.

Now, who do I know with an extended D quadrant, who I can give this nearsighted goldfish lampshade to?

by Bob Geyer

Think of some activities that your receiver enjoys. Here are a few examples:

Sky-diving

Golf

Bowling

Strategy Games

Coaching

Pool/BilliardsBuilding Models

Home Improvement

Amateur Radio

Working Out

Drawing

CampingFarming

Singing

PhotographyComputers

Family Activities

Boating

Wood working

Brain Teasers Flying

Gardening

TravelVolunteer Work

Video Games

Music Listening

Creative Writing

Collecting

Nature /EnvironmentArts & Crafts

Bird Watching

Wine Tasting

Crossword Puzzles

Working

Investment

Cycling

Reading

Spectator Sports Fishing

Sewing

Baseball/SoftballFootball

Basketball

Skiing

Snowboarding

Skateboarding

Board Games© 2003 Herrmann International

Gathering factsAnalyzing issues

Forming theoriesMeasuring preciselyLogical problem solvingFinancial analysis and decision makingUnderstanding technical elementsWorking with numbers, statistics, data

Approaching problems practicallyOrganizing and keeping track of dataArticulating plans in an orderly wayProviding stable leadership & supervisionKeeping financial records straightDeveloping detailed plans & proceduresReading fine print in documents/contracts

Quality Performance, archiving, filing

SharingPersuading and conciliatingConsidering values Engendering enthusiasmPicking up non-verbal cues of interpersonal

stressIntuitively understanding how others feelUnderstanding emotional elementsCreating synergy between people

Seeing the big pictureIntuitive problem solvingRecognizing new possibilitiesIntegrating ideas and conceptsSynthesizing unlike elements into a new wholeInventing innovative solutions to problemsReading the signs of upcoming changeSimultaneous processing of different input

If you don't already know the thinking style preferences of your receiver as revealed by the HBDI (Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument), use this model to get a feel for this person's preferences:

© 2003 Herrmann International

Note: Remember most people have thinking style preferences in more than one quadrant.

Match the thinking style preferences to the activities this person enjoys and look for gifts that “fit”. Examples:

For the Detailed, Disciplined Jogger:

Log bookOr

Pedometer

For the Unconventional Jewelry Maker:

Moon rocksOr Eclectic assortment of glass and

wire

For the Analytical Sports Fan:

Sports Almanac with all the latest statsOr computer program that maintains

the scores and stats

For the Interpersonal Cook:

Hands free phone, to chat while cooking

or a special serving dish toshare their delicacies with others

© 2003 Herrmann International

TechnologyGadgets

Computer related itemsInvestment relatedMechanical items

Things that are scientific

Catalogs: Edmond Scientific, Brookstone, Herrington

Time management itemsSelf management

Practical itemsOrganizational tools

Home safety and securityTraditional items

Catalog: Sears, SpiegelABC Distributing

Thoughtful itemsThings that are people friendlyThings to make you feel goodThings to make your environment more comfortablePersonal items

Catalog: Domestications, Lillian Vernon, Harry & David

New, fun, & uniqueAesthetic, Art relatedAdventurous & Risk takingNever done beforeUnexpected—surprisesCreative

Catalogs: Chiasso, Sharper Image, Flax

Look over the following “gift characteristics” to generate your gift list for this person:

© 2003 Herrmann International