Who Are You Really Talking To?

Each year, thousands of companies around the world use the DISC tool to determine their employees’ common behavioural style and patterns. These are classified as:

D — Dominance

I — Influence

S — Steadiness

C — Conscientiousness

And/or the combination of all four.

When I first began training as a DISC coach and using these tools, it changed the way I did business. It gave me an insight into people and what made them really tick. It also allowed me to address them in a communication style that they understood. Most importantly, it helped me to become a better leader and a better listener. There is no down-side to understanding people better and talking their language.

D TYPES

D-Types are classified as dominant people. They're the leaders and the people who want  results. They're very results driven and will often get bored with detail. So, when you're dealing with D-Type people, you need to let them make the decision, because they are the natural decision-makers.

Allow them to lead and make the final decision, otherwise you'll lose them. They are often assertive, and they love making things happen. They're competitive and like to win. Because D’s are competitive, they want to be in charge, so they thrive in high-ranking positions.

Typical D-Style occupations: Leaders, CEOs, Presidents,

Strengths: Great decision-makers, competitive, assertive, leaders.

Weaknesses: Can be intolerant with a slower pace or indecisiveness,

I TYPES

I-Types are the influencers. They are generally enthusiastic and lovely people. But they want to be liked, so you must spend time with them and find out what interests them. They really want to like people, which can sometimes get them into trouble because they trust easily.

High I's love to name drop and let you know that they know people. Not because they're arrogant, but because they are great networkers and thrive being involved with people. They're friendly and optimistic, which in many ways makes them easier to make a sale to if you can gain their confidence and praise them. Make them feel great!

I's are far more interested in people and want to spend time with people and talk to you, rather than getting on with the job. This can be frustrating too, because often they don't complete tasks. So, with an I, you need to have someone who works with them.

Typical I-Style occupations: Sales, TV personalities, Hosts, Entertainers.

Strengths: communication, friendly, optimistic, influential, networker, inspiring.

Weaknesses: Can be overly talkative, easily distracted, trust too easily, miss the point sometimes.

S TYPE

S Types stand for the steadiness factor. These people are sincere, sensitive, patient and very modest. They really care about other people and they hate change. You've got to be so careful with them. So, anything you want to change, you have to lead them to it gradually.

They're great people in a team because they care about the others in the team. They make sure the other team members are being looked after and doing their jobs. So, it's important that as a team member, they offer a real motherly sort of influence within a team.

Typical S-Style occupations: Customer Service, Therapists, Medicine, Assistants

Strengths: Calm, fair, good listener, patient

Weaknesses: Reserved, reluctance to change, easily offended

C STYLE

C Types are compliance people. They're task orientated and want things to be finished. They're highly accurate and have a real attention to detail. They're very cautious because they take a long time to make a decision, but they make sure to get all the information together, assess everything, and they can be real. They can also take forever to make a decision because they want to get more and more information to make sure they're making the right decision. They're better off combined with a high-D person, who wants to get on and is results driven. contemplative people, they're very cautious. C’s are a great skill to have in your team.

Typical C-Style occupations: Researchers, Scientists.

Strengths: attention to detail, accuracy, informative, curious, cooperative

Weaknesses: can be slow decision makers as often driven to get more and more information