Perfect Presents for all 17 PI Profiles
Choosing the right gift can feel impossible. Until you use The Predictive Index.
If you’ve ever stared at a gift list thinking, “I have no idea what to get this person,” here’s the secret: their PI Reference Profile already tells you what they’ll love.
The Predictive Index reveals someone’s natural behavioural drives. Things like:
- Do they crave people or peace?
- Are they motivated by speed, structure, or creativity?
- Do they prefer adventure, stability, control, or connection?
When you understand those patterns, choosing the perfect gift becomes ridiculously easy.
This PI-powered gift guide breaks down all 17 Predictive Index profiles, explains the behavioural science behind each one, and gives you a personalised gift idea they’ll actually appreciate (and won’t quietly regift).
Whether you’re buying for a colleague, a partner, a manager, or the office enigma you barely know, this guide will help you match the gift to the human based on real workplace psychology.
And if you prefer video, every profile also includes a quick clip you can watch instead.
Specialist: “The Quiet Connoisseur”
Gift: Gold Class Tickets
The science bit: Specialists tend to have lower social drive and higher detail & structure drives. They like depth, focus and quality over chaos and crowds. Small talk in a noisy cinema? Not their idea of a good time.
Why this gift works: Gold Class gives them what their nervous system wants: quiet, comfort, control and quality. Comfy recliner, less people, upgraded snacks, no chaos. It’s an environment where they can fully switch off without being overstimulated.
Controller: “The Conductor”
Gift: High-End Perfume Profiling Session (e.g. BAR À PARFUMS by DMS, Jo Malone, Le Labo, Mecca service)
The science bit: Controllers have a moderate independence drive, whilst also having a high drive for formality. They like things done pro-actively and to a high standard. They will appreciate something of a high quality, that they can control.
Why this gift works: A fragrance profiling session is structured, guided and bespoke. There’s a clear step-by-step process, an expert involved, and a defined outcome: a signature scent that’s theirs. It’s order, quality and personalisation all bottled together.
Promoter: “The Life of the Party”
Gift: Cocktail Kit (party/entertaining)
The science bit: Promoters usually have a high social drive and a low need for structure. They thrive on energy, connection and fun. They’re the natural “let’s make this a moment” person.
Why this gift works: A cocktail kit lets them host, perform and experiment. It’s interactive, social, and creates shared stories. You’re not just giving them “stuff” – you’re giving them ingredients for the next great night.
Persuader: “The Main-Character Energy”
Gift: Luxury Charcuterie Board Set
The science bit: Persuaders combine their high social drive whilst still having a high dominance drive. They’re bold, charismatic, and love influencing people and situations. They enjoy being seen, heard and remembered.
Why this gift works: A luxe charcuterie set is part hosting tool, part stage. It lets them impress a room, feed people, and create “wow” moments. It’s a stylish prop for their natural showmanship.
Collaborator: “The Cozy Companion”
Gift: Weighted Blanket
The science bit: Collaborators tend to have high social and patience drives. They’re warm, supportive, and often the emotional anchor for everyone else. The downside? They give a lot to others so rest can be an after-thought.
Why this gift works: A weighted blanket is like a physical permission slip to switch off. It taps into their need for comfort and emotional safety, but this time, for them. It’s literally a hug they don’t have to provide.
Maverick: “The Rebel on Wheels”
Gift: E-bike / Adventure Activity
The science bit: Mavericks sit at the extreme end of independence and risk-taking. High dominance, high drive to try new things, low interest in rules. They’re wired for challenge and novelty.
Why this gift works: An e-bike or electric adventure says, “Here’s more freedom and speed”. It feeds their need for autonomy, variety and a bit of thrill. It’s not safe and sensible. It’s fun and fast, just like them.
Captain: “The Shot Caller”
Gift: Designer T-shirt
The science bit: Captains have strong dominance and social drives. They’re natural leaders, decisive, confident, and often the person others look to by default.
Why this gift works: A designer tee is simple, sharp and high-status without trying too hard. It suits their directness and confidence. No clutter, no fuss. Just quality that matches their presence.
Artisan: “The Detail Devotee”
Gift: Personalised Engraved Gift (practical but stylist pieces)
The science bit: Artisans usually have lower social drive and higher patience and structure drives. They’re hands-on, careful, and appreciate quality, order and usefulness.
Why this gift works: A functional item with engraving hits all the right notes: practical, precise, personalised. It feels considered, not flashy. They get to enjoy both the utility and the subtle sentiment.
Altruist: “The Heart-First Human”
Gift: Premium Slippers (UGG)
The science bit: Altruists often show high social and low dominance drives. They’re supportive, warm, helpful and often the emotional “glue” for a team or family. Combine that with their low patience and high formality, they can be relied upon to get that work done for others, with quality in mind. They’ll carry everyone else before they even think of themselves.
Why this gift works: Premium slippers are a small but powerful way to say, “You’re allowed to rest.” Comfort, warmth and softness align with their nurturing style but redirect that care back to them.
Operator: “The Steady Hand”
Gift: LEGO Set
The science bit: Operators tend to have lower social and dominance drives, and higher patience and structure. They like predictability, routine and clear steps. They’re calm, thorough and reliable.
Why this gift works: A LEGO set gives them structured, repeatable, step-by-step satisfaction. No chaos, no ambiguity. Just calm, methodical building. It’s relaxation, but with instructions.
Adapter: “The Wild Card”
Gift: Scratchie Bundle
The science bit: Adapters sit very close to the middle of all drives. They’re flexible, easygoing, and can tilt in whichever direction the situation needs.
Why this gift works: A scratchie bundle leans into their love of “let’s see what happens”. It’s random, fun, low-pressure and full of possibility. Very on-brand for a human wildcard.
Individualist: “The Minimalist Maximalist”
Gift: Gift Card
The science bit: Individualists have strong independence and strong consistency drive. They often have clear preferences, enjoy doing things their own way, and don’t love people meddling with their choices.
Why this gift works: A gift card is pure autonomy. You’re not imposing taste, clutter or guesswork. You’re saying, “You know what’s best for you. Here’s the budget, go nuts.” Its respect wrapped in plastic.
Scholar: “The Deep Diver”
Gift: Gift Card
The science bit: Individualists have strong independence and strong consistency drive. They often have clear preferences, enjoy doing things their own way, and don’t love people meddling with their choices.
Why this gift works: A gift card is pure autonomy. You’re not imposing taste, clutter or guesswork. You’re saying, “You know what’s best for you. Here’s the budget, go nuts.” Its respect wrapped in plastic.
Strategist: “The Optimiser”
Gift: Oura Ring / Whoop Band
The science bit: Strategists show strong dominance and structure drives, with a future-focused mindset. They love improvement, strategy and systems. They’re the ones turning life into a performance dashboard.
Why this gift works: A wearable like Oura or Whoop provides data, patterns and clear levers for improvement. Sleep, recovery, readiness and all quantified. It’s the perfect toy for someone who wants life to move in an upward trend.
Analyzer: “The Focus Pro”
Gift: Noise-Cancelling Headphones
The science bit: Analyzers typically have lower social drive and higher structure/precision drives. They like focus, accuracy, and thinking things through without interruption.
Why this gift works: Noise-cancelling headphones create a bubble of pure concentration. No chatter, no noise, no “quick questions”. Just deep work, which is exactly where they shine.
Guardian: “The Consistent Homebody”
Gift: Annual Subscription (books, tea, coffee, puzzles, hobby kits)
The science bit: Guardians generally have lower social and dominance drives, and higher patience and structure drives. They value stability, reliability and comfort. They’re the “steady presence” type.
Why this gift works: A subscription that shows up regularly feels like comfort on a schedule. Whether it’s books, tea, coffee or puzzles, it taps into their love of routine and cosy, home-based joy.
Venturer: “The Goal Accelerator”
Gift: DEXA Scan / Health Scan
The science bit: Venturers have high dominance and a low need for patience. They’re fast-paced, goal-driven, and obsessed with progress and results. They want to know, “Where am I now and how do I move forward?”
Why this gift works: A DEXA scan gives them hard data on their body – muscle, fat, bone, the lot. It turns wellbeing into something they can track and attack. It’s progress they can literally see in numbers.
Bring It All Together
The magic of Predictive Index is that it doesn’t just highlight what people do at work – it sheds light on what energises them as humans.
So instead of buying another generic candle, mug, or “no idea so I panicked” voucher, you can:
- Match the gift to their natural drives
- Show them you really see them
- And give something that actually gets used (not quietly re-gifted)
If you want to go deeper, this is exactly the kind of insight we use with clients to improve:
- Hiring
- Team dynamics
- Leadership
- And yes, even how people feel day-to-day.
And if you spot your own profile in here and thought, “Yep, that’s me”, feel free to forward this to your family as a not-so-subtle hint.
