Writing reveals tender facet of tough operator
By Emma Bache
In the first of an occasional series for The Times, our resident graphologist analyses the handwriting of a senior British businessman.
Hard bargainer's soft side
By Jon Ashworth
WE ASKED Emma Bache, a graphologist, to study the handwriting of a business leader, without knowing his identity. The writing revealed a headstrong and original thinker with a sensitive side.
Step forward Philip Green, owner of Bhs, the stores group, a man not usually regarded as the shy and retiring type. Raised in Croydon, South London, Mr Green started in business as a teenager selling shoes, then jeans.
He became known a decade ago for his stewardship of Amber Day, the discount retailer. He made £36 million breaking up the Sears retailing group and at one stage was interested in bidding for M&S. Mr Green entered the big league in May 2000 when he bid £250 million for Bhs, then a sister company of Mothercare. His transformation of the group made him a billionaire. Last year, he bought Arcadia, the company behind Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins, for £850 million, and he is among the potential suitors for Safeway.
For his 50th birthday a year ago Mr Green chartered an Airbus and flew 200 friends to Cyprus for a weekend party.
Mr Green is famously brusque in his dealings, but his handwriting hints at a more sensitive side. One suspects few of his business contacts will have the courage to question him too deeply on the subject.
Emma Bache will be analysing the handwriting of another business leader next Saturday.
“ON FIRST glance, extreme independence and originality are key motivating factors. Sharp stick-figure formations in the upper zone of the writing emphasise a realistic and practical thinker who mistrusts woolly thoughts, vague concepts or subjective thinking. The small middle-zone letters indicate the writer’s ability to concentrate and focus for long hours and to set aside their own ego and emotions.
The basic form level of the writing is high, emphasising creativity and intellectual powers. All conceptual aspects of experience take precedence over their own feelings, which tend to be intellectualised. Note the scanty loops and the short stick-figures in the lower zone.
However, despite pride in their work and the importance of a key public place in life which can be seen in the overly large capital letters, there is a delicacy in this writing which indicates a sensitive and idealistic side. Of course as with all naturally creative writers, and especially one with such original reponses, they also battle with a less decisive and more evasive side to their personality.
The slightly reclined or left-sloping writing indicates a degree of inner withdrawal. Here is a figure who has developed an extremely polished self-image but has at the same time repressed and absorbed their own inner feelings and needs.
The wide spacing between letters points to an outgoing, totally uninhibited and, on some levels, extroverted individual, but the wide spacing between both words and lines show an inclination towards isolation on a more personal, deeper level. The tight ovals on the smaller letters show secrecy as well as diplomacy and tact. It would be fair to say that here is a strong, independent character that has maintained a clever balance between intellectual communication and necessary personal detachment. This is often a recipe for heroes.
The handwriting is only partially connected and further underlines the creative potential of the writer. The personal pronoun is a no-nonsense single stroke — mature and culturally aware, calling a spade a spade and they will be admired and reviled in equal measure for doing so.
The sinuous baseline that the writer has subconsciously created themselves shows a flexible and energetic individual if a little moody at times. There is no doubt that there is enormous potential for rebelliousness with perceived authority which, if not relevant today, would almost certainly have been an issue earlier on in his life and career.
Sudden changes of intensity and restlessness make for an interesting and vibrant character who is a skilled diplomat and a sharp intellect."