In Customer Service and Sales, I believe there are 4 distinct Types of Personalities.  In previous Posts we have talked about being yourself, or more correctly, being your many selves.  We also know that customers can present themselves in many different personas, and that you also have many different personas.  It is now time to talk about the second personality type, the Nurturer. 

Nurturers are people who build the transactions on relationships.  They are empathetic people who love to be social.  If you’re a nurturer, the following statements sounds creepily descriptive.  You may feel like this often, or occasionally

• You love people – hate confrontation
• Some people consider you submissive
• You love a chat and ask about how people are feeling
• You don’t respond well to pressure
• You will change the subject if it’s uncomfortable
• Do not jump to conclusions, you will discuss all options
• Do not let your feelings be known – they are hard to read
• Always the same friendly exterior
• You are more likely to be convinced if you ‘like’ someone.

Key – Transactions are built on relationships

Example – Social worker

In a customer Service, or Sales environment, if you are one of these people – as the server, then be careful of someone who likes a more direct approach - a Pounder.  You will seem hard to tie down, soft and indecisive.  If however, as the server/salesperson, you are dealing with another Nurturer, then Nurture away.

It is the servers responsibility to match the customer, not the other way around.

Also See Post on Pounders

Also see Post called Always be Yourself? What BS