How a Red-Dominant DISA Behaviour Tackles the Work Christmas Party

Ah, the annual office Christmas party. A time for joy, lighthearted jokes and if you're lucky, someone wearing a questionable Christmas jumper bought from Primark and your work bestie trying to master the Macarena.

But imagine the scene, the team lead strolls into the office on a morning late in November, spots the Red-dominant behaviour, and asks them to organise this year's Christmas do / doo. You can almost hear the internal monologue: “Right, let’s smash this out and move on with life.”

For those familiar with the DISA Behavioural model, you'll know that Reds are Dominant. They are driven by results, direct communication, and efficiency. They’re not the types to waste time agonising over whether the tinsel should be gold or silver, they’ll delegate that. Here’s a humorous look at how our Red hero / victim takes on the challenge of spreading (or, let’s be honest, managing) Christmas cheer.

Step 1: The Game Plan
Reds don’t faff about. Their first step is creating a plan that’ll make Santa’s workshop look like amateur hour. They’ll immediately assign tasks, whip up deadlines and if they’re particularly bold, schedule a checkin meeting (with a touch of the Christmas time festive “encouragement,” of course).

“Right, team. I’ve sorted this into simple steps. No messing about. You’ll have your roles, and I expect updates by Friday. Let’s crack on!”

At this point, Yellows are excitedly nodding, Greens are quietly wondering if they can hide behind the filing cabinet, and Blues are already drafting a risk assessment.

Step 2: Assigning Roles
Reds are natural delegators. They’ll quickly decide who’s responsible for what, basing it on skills, availability, or whoever happens to be closest when they’re assigning tasks. They’ll deliver instructions with laser sharp focus, leaving no room for ambiguity:

Yellow behaviour: “You’re on decorations. Think big, bold, and don’t go off budget. But no glitter, HR is still recovering from last year.”

Green behaviour: “You’ve got the food. Something everyone likes, nothing too fancy, and keep it simple. Oh, and make sure there’s a vegetarian option!”

Blue behaviour: “You’re in charge of organising Secret Santa. Make a spreadsheet or whatever you need. But make sure the price cap is clear. £10! And I don’t want any complaints about someone getting socks again.”

To a Red, it’s all about clarity and purpose. They’ll deliver instructions with the enthusiasm of a drill sergeant but expect results without the fluff.

Step 3: Communication Style
Reds love efficiency, so don’t expect endless group chats filled with memes and festive GIFs. Their communication will likely be brisk and to the point:

“Yellow, are the decorations sorted? Green, confirm catering by noon tomorrow. Blue, I need that Secret Santa list finalised by the end of the day. Let’s keep this tight.”

While the Yellows may chuck in a “let’s add fairy lights!” suggestion, and the Blues might ask if the budget allows for custom wrapping paper, the Red will stay focused. “Do it, don’t overthink it,” they’ll say, before moving on to their next task.

Step 4: Handling Festive Resistance
Inevitably, someone will try to debate a detail. Perhaps a Blue will bring up concerns about allergies in the buffet, or a Green will worry if everyone’s happy with the date. Here’s where the Red shows their true colours:

Blue Resistance:
Blue: “Shouldn’t we double check everyone’s dietary requirements?”
Red: “The caterer will handle it. Let’s not overcomplicate things. Next!”

Green Resistance:
Green: “Do you think Friday is the best day? Some people might prefer Thursday.”
Red: “Friday is set. If anyone complains, they can bring it up at next year’s party. Sorted!”
 
Step 5: The Grand Finale
By the time the party rolls around, the Red will have it all neatly wrapped up, metaphorically, of course. Reds may not be the ones leading the conga line, but they’ll bask in the satisfaction of a job done well. As they watch colleagues enjoy their carefully orchestrated event, you might hear them say:

“Told you we’d pull it off. Now, who’s buying me a drink of shloer?” 

When it comes to Christmas parties, the Red - Dominant behaviour brings order to chaos. Their directness and decisiveness might ruffle a few feathers, but let’s face it, without them, we’d all still be arguing over whether to have mince pies or a yule log. So, if you spot a Red at the office party, raise your glass and say thanks. Just don’t expect them to sing karaoke, they’ve probably already moved on to planning next year’s event!

Here’s to a very Merry Christmas, whatever your behavioural colour might be! 🎄