What's your communication style in the run-up to Christmas?

It's a mentally tough time of year in many ways, isn't it? So many deadlines to meet before enjoying our perfect Christmas, both at work and home. If we all had a professional insight into our personality profile (using DiSC), it would help so many of us to understand why we behave in the way we do.

We have deadlines to meet, parties to attend, strategies to implement, and we set goals for the new year. We crave authentic happiness, at Christmas, as we reflect on our achievements of 2019. It's crazy, but in some ways, I enjoy having this annual benchmark - a deadline to complete goals and set new challenges. How about you?

DiSC opens the doorway to effective communication, allowing you to modify your language and behaviour to manage people in any given environment. People respond better to people they like and understand. People are different, but they are predictably different.

• Do you know someone who is assertive and wants the bottom line? This is the 'D' style.
• Do you have friends who are great communicators and friendly? This is the 'I' style.
• Do you have family members who are good listeners and great team players? This is the 'S' style.
• Have you ever worked with someone who is factual and detail-oriented? This is the 'C' style.

What's your Christmas gift-buying style?

All styles make decisions emotionally, but the I-styles are more emotional, to begin with. They enjoy the buying process. D-styles don't want too much information; they want to make the decision quickly and easily. When we talk about S-styles, they tend to be steady, and they consider how the decisions impact the people around them. C-styles are more considered, but they want to make the correct decision. I-styles are very optimistic.

I'll be honest with you - when it comes to gifts, I use my 'D' style to buy things quickly, and also my 'I' style to purchase on impulse. I then reflect and worry that I've bought the right gifts. I aim to make people smile and recognise me as being thoughtful, and so my 'S' style comes to the fore. I put a lot of thought into gifts because I'm a very people-focused person. This typified the 'S' and 'I' higher-intensity styles.

In terms of getting tasks completed, I have a tendency to get distracted by social activities, and I'm very people-centric; this can override my need to complete mundane tasks. However, when under pressure, I'm like a bulldozer! I'm a high 'D' and nothing can get in my way. Yes me - friendly bubbly Teresa - I become very task-led and fast-paced, make quick decisions, and 'just do it'. Look at me now - I couldn't be busier, and yet I decide to post my first ever LinkedIn article. I'm having a very productive day today, and I've possibly done a week's work (in terms of impact) over the past 12 hours!

I admire those who have schedules and meticulously plan their LinkedIn posts ('C' style). I wish I had more of an eye for detail like them. I would love to be more focused and not so spontaneous or impulsive. I admire people with these styles. I need people like this in my life and at work! Working together to maximise efficiency is what it's all about!

I'm finally comfortable with who I am and I accept my fun, energetic but direct attributes. I also know that when I worry, my 'S' style has increased, and that's a lovely quality - this 'S' style has increased in recent years since becoming a coach. Perhaps I needed to improve my listening skills, and I now have scientific proof that I'm succeeding.

My clients rave about their profiles and how it's made a huge difference to their lives at home and work. It's a wonderful gift to offer sole traders and small business owners, as a coach - 96% accuracy and scientifically proven!

Time management

I keep on track by using the Covey four-quadrant matrix, and I'm very focused. Seven Covey matrix is my time management table of dreams!

I have my 'very urgent very important' (VU VI) and 'not urgent very important' (NU VI) priorities listed this week. These include;

• wrap some of the presents
• buy presents before the last post (VI VU)
• buy food for Christmas Day (VI NU)
• transfer all direct debits to the new business account (VU VI)
• link up CRM and accountancy software / re-brand all invoices (VI NU)
• prepare to coach x number of clients this week (VU VI)
• although prepared last week when it was VI NU, complete the strategy for a marketing plan for our new national book
• secure two meetings for Relish Publications this week (my publishing business)
• daily physio to repair my knee so that I can run again
• be a good mum to my three kids

I'm sure your list mirrors many of mine, and usually, our tasks are not all urgent and very important, but at this time of year, our lists tend to be in this highly stressful quadrant!

Writing this article is in the 'very important not urgent quadrant', but I'm excited to spontaneously write it. I'm in the flow. It's great to be reaching out to you to share my love of DiSC profiling and business coaching.

Have a wonderful Christmas. Align your values with who you are, and embrace it. If you'd like to know more about DiSC profiling for yourself, couples, teams, and students, do drop me a line and we can arrange to speak or email - this, of course, depends on your preferred form of communication!