# The Socializer (Low A, High B, Low C, Low D)

**Core:** Socially flamboyant, people-oriented, and empathetic. Thrives in environments where they can meet, greet, and build relationships. Needs to be seen, heard, and liked — people are what their world revolves around.

**Strengths:** Gifted at selling ideas and products through persuasive, charismatic communication. Unselfish listener when engaged. Patient and uncritical — can "sell" you into feeling better about yourself or a purchase. Enthusiasm wins cooperation and friendship. Appreciates people and uses that understanding in their skills of expression.

**Challenges:** Not factually crisp or technically capable of communicating precise information. Resorts to colorful stories and renditions instead of facts, which frustrates literal types who may think they are hiding something. Thinks out loud, which others mistake for commitments. Forgets obligations due to lack of natural recall — likely to be a no-show, coming across as disingenuous. Poor documenter with deficient organizational skills. Averse to rules and not self-sufficient on follow-up tasks.

**Management approach:** Place policies around them for assigned tasks. Build in structure since they are not self-sufficient on follow-through. Do not expect self-sufficiency on paperwork, travel reports, or call-backs. Provide detail assistance and direction. Avoid giving them direct reports. Reward publicly — they need to be liked, accepted, and praised in the presence of others.

**Risk profile:** The transaction goes south when they are expected to be self-sufficient. Administrative types get upset with them because "they should know better" — and the truth is, they don't. Their attention shifts when something or someone more important comes along.

## FlashPoints

| Area | Details |
|------|---------|
| Motivation | Social interaction, financial rewards, public recognition |
| Communication | Enthusiastic, conceptual, phone call or text preferred. Sell rather than tell. Voicemail rather than email. |
| Management Style | Needs direction, no direct reports, delegation. Motivates others easily. Inconsistent behaviors if held to strict schedules. |
| Organization | Very loose documentation and organizational skills. Detail assistance needed. |
| Environment | Socially oriented, steady atmosphere. People and stable environment. |

## Variations

Socializer patterns share Low A + High B + Low D but vary in C position. All variations are socially driven, charismatic, and persuasive. The variations range from more patient and steady to more fast-paced, but all share the core need for people interaction and struggle with documentation and self-sufficiency.

## Summary

- **Motivating Needs:** Freedom to be with people, freedom to interact, negotiate and meet others. Freedom from highly detailed work. Status and money, need to be liked, accepted, and praised in the presence of others.
- **Communication Style:** Gregarious, colorful, uninhibited, and enthusiastic. Can be wordy and political. Sell rather than tell. Voicemail rather than email.
- **Management Style:** Likes and needs to delegate. Motivates others easily. Inconsistent behaviors if held to strict schedules.
- **Organization Style:** Very loose. Poor documentation and organizational skills.
- **Environmental Needs:** Easy going atmosphere, people, and stable environment.
