The "D" Personality Type
Direct, Decisive, Driven

The DISC Behavioral model describes four basic patterns, none of which is better or worse than any of the others.

Very few people are purely one type. (Most of us are a combination of types.) This description is of someone who is almost completely a D. See if it describes you or someone you know. (Again, remember it describes an extreme form of a behavior that is often much more nuanced.)

If you are a D personality type, you are concerned about RESULTS..

• You enjoy solving problems, getting things done, and achieving goals.
• You want to be in charge. (You dislike being told what to do.
• You set high standards for performance (your own and other people's).
• You trust your ability to produce results.
• You enjoy challenges and competition.
• You are willing to take risks, challenge the status quo, and break the rules.
• You make decisions quickly.
• You are impatient with people who "waste time" by talking or planning, who you think are incompetent, or who resist change.
• You don't mind telling people they're wrong. You value "telling it like it is." You can be blunt.
• You bore easily.
• You get angry quickly (and you get over it quickly).

You are energized by...

• Working in a fast-paced, results oriented environment
• Being in charge
• Taking on new opportunities and challenges
• Having the authority to determine how things are done
• Being able to advance in your career

You lose energy when you...

• Are closely supervised or micromanaged
• Are questioned or overruled
• Can't affect the outcome
• Have limited access to resources
• Perform routine, predictable tasks

At your best you can...

• Get things done, either by yourself or as a group leader.
• Be bold and adventurous.
• Mobilize people to solve a problem, confront an enemy, or achieve a goal.

You can be a pioneer, a crusader, a leader.

When you are stressed out, you can...

• Be blunt to the point of being rude. Like a tank, you run over people's feelings.
• Be hypercritical, demanding, and short-tempered.
• Make rash and reckless decisions.
• Explode when you don't get your way.

At your worst, you can be a bully, a loud mouth, a tyrant.

To be your best...

• Take time to gather information and think through the consequences of your decisions.
• Instead of just announcing your decision, explain your reasoning.
• Consult others, respect their input, and keep them informed.

Cultivate patience. See the value of cooperation.

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How to RECOGNIZE a D personality type...

• They tend to be active, extroverted, and always in a rush.
• They speak loudly, interrupt others, and come right to the point in conversation.
• They like to take charge of meetings and to set the agenda and make the rules.
• They can be aggressive, blunt, and impatient.

How to WORK with a D personality type...

• Be clear, specific, and to the point.
• Be prepared. Present your requirements, objectives, and support material without wasting their time.
• Involve them in developing a solution. Let them decide how to accomplish it and give them the freedom to do it by themselves.
• Clarify the limits of their authority and available resources.
• Don't back down when they attack. Take issue with the facts without confronting the person directly.

What NOT to do around a D personality type...

• Chitchat. Try to develop a relationship. Approach them casually.
• Waste their time.
• Tell them what to do and expect them to do it.
• Expect them to pick up on your feelings or unspoken agenda.

Witt Communications offers workshops and coaching to help professionals and organizations use the DISC Behavioral Analysis to improve leadership development, teamwork, or interpersonal effectiveness.