How Are You a “Party Person”?

Who are your favorite kind of party people? Your favorite party food? (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 605).

In the “Orientation for New Members” sessions at First United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg, personality types and their attributes are discussed.  The intention is to help new members find service areas where they would feel most comfortable and be most effective.  Of course, most people do not fit neatly and exclusively to any one category.  The categories are: Organizer; Director; Supporter; and Relater.  These are based on continuums of qualities rather than strict cubbyholes in which to stuff people. 

Like others, I find attributes in more than one category that apply to me.  I identify with the following:

RELATER (with my most matched attributes)

• Excellent [I don't say “excellent”] persuader
• Seeks Recognition
• Easily gets sidetracked
• Sees the big picture
• Likes to socialize [my comments will follow below]
• Can be disorganized
• Prefers working with others

ORGANIZER

• Likes organization and structure
• Likes to work alone
• Gets energized by solving problems
• Has high expectation of others and self

SUPPORTER

• Avoids conflict
• Outwardly demonstrates concern for others

DIRECTOR

• Tends to be a hard worker
• Ambitious

The question today asks “Who are your favorite kind of party people.  The relater attribute–“Likes to socialize”–might suggest that I’m a great “party person.”  That is far from true when that refers to one who is skilled at “working a room” with ready remarks. The communication I enjoy most are small groups in focused conversation, not short-gun sprays of chatter.  However, I understand the dire need for those who can enliven a party while spreading good cheer all round. Such enthusiasts help keep a party alive. But as for me,  I always prefer pizza communion to pizza chatter.

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