A Birkman family Christmas
The Birkman Express is an invaluable tool for communication and for better understanding others. And what family couldn’t do with a bit of understanding?
Choosing Christmas presents for your family is tricky. You know what they already own, so you can’t feign ignorance. When you ask them what they want, they say ‘surprise me’, or ‘I don’t really need anything’. So what do you do?
We’ll, here’s what one man did this Christmas.
I got you a present...
Anthony wanted to get to know his family better, so he bought them all a Birkman Express™.
Having already done the Birkman at his work, he thought it would be ideal for some of his family who were reconsidering their work lives. But he also cottoned on to the insight into relationships that a Birkman provides, and he wanted to use this in his family life.
Picture the scene: Lights on the tree, discarded wrapping paper strewn across the carpet, and a full-bellied family relaxing on the sofas. In comes Anthony with his presents – each person receives an identical A4 parcel wrapped in bright paper.
They know what it is, having already received a link by email and filled out the online questionnaire… this is their Birkman report. Inside lie the secrets to their personality traits, communication methods, stress behaviour and motivations.
... hope you like it!
From his mother in her sixties to his 15 year-old niece, Anthony watches as they scan through their results. The general air of irritation (I can’t believe he made us do a questionnaire for Christmas!) and skepticism (This won’t tell me anything I don’t already know) gradually gives way to surprise, intrigue and fascination.
For Anthony, it was extremely beneficial. ‘They were skeptical at first, but everyone was grateful afterwards.’ He wanted to engage with his family on a new level and ‘work with the grain’ of their personalities.
Making the effort
Sometimes within our families we abandon the normal social rules. Familiarity can breed a lack to effort to understand another’s point of view. We may assume that we know our families inside out, but we are probably mistaken!
Everybody is different, and understanding our differences is a crucial step in accepting each other.
Family revelations
The Birkman helped Anthony to communicate with his step-father about their personality differences: ‘Knowing that he will never be like me helps me to appreciate and accept the way he is’.
He gained a new respect for his sister, seeing how many necessary aspects of her job lie outside of her core motivations, and the perseverance she shows in making it work.
Anthony is also determined to recognize his brother’s need for space and time to think things through.
His summary? ‘Insightful!’
Anthony Wingfield was interviewed by Becky Williams
Written by Becky Williams.
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