Feedback as P.I.G.S

Graphology can help you understand a lot of things like - Stress level, health issues, personal nature, ability to work hard, ego and other abilities that can ensure that I talk for about 2 hours at least but it cannot predict the ability to give feedback sadly. I have a amusing story ahead, I was asked a question recently that I just didn't have an answer to.

I recently met a lady who knew herself really well. She is in the senior management of a company and had come to me for a mini analysis. She seemed happy with the analysis and I think I helped her with the solutions she was looking for. She was slightly unhappy with her boss because of his talkative nature and since she was to change her job soon she decided not to waste any time on it. While getting up, she asked me, "Can u tell me which traits can tell me if a person will give feedback like PIGS" I kept staring at her, hoping she would tell me what it meant, some new term...

Thankfully, she did. She said - Positive Immediate Graphic and Specific. I realized about 8-10 seconds that that is what PIGS stood for. I asked her if this was for the future boss and she sat down and gave me a big YES. I told her that there is no such trait, but a mix of traits and it would be difficult to judge accurately even for me. She sighed and said she would anyway get her future boss's sign for me if possible. To which I had to smile and agree.

It is amazing, I learn something new everyday. :)

The Perfect match of marketing.

I was in a company collecting handwriting samples for my project. I have fortunately or unfortunately developed this habit of looking at whatever handwriting comes in front of me and analyzing it. The brain just starts working and it seems that I have no control over myself sometimes. I didn't control myself at this particular office too and before I knew it, there was this really enthused group who wanted to know at least 2-3 points about them. :)

Amongst them was a really bright looking lady. The one thing that struck me about her were her marketing skills. She seemed to be really really good at marketing. I told her so and she just gleamed from ear to ear. This should have been my clue but I guess I missed it. She asked me what "marketing" really meant. I told her that marketing as per graphology means

• Ability to express ideas in a powerful manner
• Sell ideas or products really well
• Communicate with unknown people well

I added, also, a practical example could be that when you argue or when you are done presenting your idea or point of view, people rarely deny it.

She nodded her head on this and continued to smile.

We were sitting next to the HR area, and the lady got up and congratulated the HR on hiring her. She was actually responsible for handling marketing for the company. I was so pleased because the energy in that area was amazing. The lady was simply glowing. Imagine what she must have felt. Like all of us, who work, we always have doubts about what area of work to get into... Is sales really for me? Would I do good in csr? Why don't I get promotion in this field if I like it... All such questions must have been answered. If she was ever worried, all that must have gone.

I contacted her later and asked her if she would like to tell me how she felt so I could put it in my blog, but that didn't work out. Anyway, Imagine how the HR must have felt? There are so many times when we are confused between candidates and pick the one who is negotiating the best or is looking good on the ref check. The ref check story I will share later but the HR must have felt so good about herself and her skills to judge people.

It was a very pleasant experience to be there at the moment.

The listening problem

A skilled graphologist can understand if an individual is open to new ideas or is someone who is adamant and likes to do things on his own.

Sometimes, even a skilled graphologist can go wrong. :)

I recently met a very self made man, someone who had defied all the customs possible and made life on his own. His handwriting pointed out that he was not a very good listener and didn't really accept advice as graciously as one should.

I told him that, and he said I was wrong. This was my 2nd or 3rd point but he said that he listens to everyone. There was no way I was wrong. I tried to give him examples so I could explain my point. He refused. I couldn't really argue with such a senior business man...but this was so wrong. He just didn't budge, he was proving my point and I tried to point it out, but he still didn't agree. He told me to move on.

I carried on with my points and soon he started developing his trust. We came to the main reason for his analysis and I gave him the reasons. I was telling him something about his wife and the point drifted to how businessmen have to act in a way to be accepted by society. He said he understood it and we discussed how people close to us can nag us and constantly give ideas to help us improve. He then came to the listening point again and told me that he too faces the same issue. He had 3 wellwishers who always told him the right way of doing things. Like when one of them told him that the business won't work and his wife would come on the road, he transferred one of his flats on his wife's name and made his wife secure with a fd deposit and made arrangements for his child in next 3 months. When his aunt told him about looking good and dressing well, he bought the best quality clothes and a really pricey car in few days.

I realized one thing, Human beings are the most complex complex beings possible. He did listen to people but only to stop them from talking. He has lost those well wishers now but is happy in his own world. I tried to point this out in a subtle way that he didn't listen to ideas because the idea made sense, but only to prove a point and hence it showed in his handwriting but I don't think he was ready for that yet.