Build strong relationships with these four communication styles

Have you ever received instructions so vague you didn’t know where to start?

Or so detailed that you felt micromanaged??

Often, people communicate in their own preferred style.

Expecting others to understand at the same level.

Great leadership, however, is communicating in a way that resonates with the other person.

An effective leader understands and adapts to different communication styles.

The purpose of communication

Consider the purpose of your communication.

Are you transferring information??

Asking a question??

Eliciting an action??

Or building a deeper connection?

Understanding your purpose allows you to tailor your approach for greatest impact.

Introducing the DISC Model

William Marston, an inventor, lawyer, and feminist, created the DISC Model.

A powerful tool for enhancing communication and building stronger relationships.

Effective communication ensures your message is received as intended.

A responsibility that lies with you, the communicator.

DISC helps you understand human behaviour and communication styles.

When used correctly, your communication becomes more impactful.

Discover your DISC style

The DISC model describes human behaviour through four personality traits.

To find your preferred style, consider these questions:

When recharging, do you prefer to be with people or alone?

1. People – D & I
2. Alone – C & S

What gets you motivated to get a task done?

Is it the task itself or the people involved in the task that get you motivated?

1. Task – D & C
2. People – I & S

Applying the DISC Model in Communication

Adapt your communication style to the preferences of the person you're engaging with.

Here are some tips and examples:

D (Dominance):?

• Approach - be direct and to the point
• Seeks - Control
• Strengths - administration, leadership, determination
• Challenges - impatient, insensitive, poor listener
• Dislikes - inefficiency, indecision?
• Decisions - decisive?
• Highlight - goals and results
• Example: "If you quit once, it becomes a habit. Never quit." - Michael Jordan

I (Influence):?

• Approach - use enthusiasm and positive reinforcement
• Seeks - recognition?
• Strengths - persuading, enthusiasm, entertaining?
• Challenges - lack of detail, short attention span, low follow through
• Dislikes - routines, complexity?
• Decisions - spontaneous?
• Highlight -? focus on social interactions
• Example: "The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - Oprah Winfrey

S (Steadiness):?

• Approach - be patient and offer support
• Seeks - acceptance
• Strengths - listening, teamwork, follow through
• Challenges - oversensitive, slow to begin, dislikes change
• Dislikes - insensitivity, impatience?
• Decisions - conferring?
• Highlight - emphasise cooperation and stability
• Example: "No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind." - Taylor Swift

C (Compliant):?

• Approach - provide detailed information and logical reasoning
• Seeks - Accuracy???
• Strengths -? planning, systems, orchestration
• Challenges - perfectionist, critical, unresponsive
• Dislikes - disorganisation, impropriety
• Decisions - methodical?
• Highlight - value precision and accuracy
• Example: "I take a fairly scientific approach to why things happen and how they happen." - Bill Gates

Bringing it all Together?

Understanding the different DISC communication styles is invaluable for leaders and teams.

Imagine a project where Person A has a Dominance style, and Person B prefers a Compliant approach.

Person A makes quick decisions, while Person B prefers a more measured pace.?

Without this awareness, misunderstandings and disagreements could easily arise.

However, by recognising and respecting each other's communication styles, team members can foster empathy and understanding, leading to more harmonious and effective collaboration.

Ensuring the Impact

Adapt your style of communication to the person you're communicating with.?

Match their preferred DISC style.??

Start with the end in mind: what do you want to communicate?

Then, step into the other person’s shoes to notice how it appears from their perspective.

For instance, a conscientious person asks many questions.?

Not to be rebellious, but to seek accuracy and please you.

Final Notes

Imagine a workplace where communication is clear, efficient, and tailored to individual preferences.

Misunderstandings decrease, productivity increases, and relationships thrive.

Understanding and leveraging DISC can transform your approach to team dynamics and communication.

By mapping out team members' DISC styles, you can assign tasks that align with their strengths.

Ensuring everyone is in the right seat on the bus.

Enhancing your leadership skills.

Building a stronger and more productive team.

For more information on the DISC model, visit DISC Insights.

Be Bold. ? Be Strategic. ? Be Unique.

Remember, keep shining. ??