Discovering the disc personality type of your individual employees is one the first goals of Disc assessments. Once you understand which of the four categories best describes a given staffer, improving their work experience and production becomes much easier. But a single word description is just the beginning.
In other words, maximizing the value of your Disc assessment requires a deeper understanding. That’s why we’re presenting an overview of the dominant personality type in the following sections. Just saying that the dominant disc personality type likes to be in control doesn’t go far enough. There’s much more to the type than a simple desire to control, and you can only harness its full potential by taking a closer look.
General Characteristics of the Dominant Disc Personality Type
Though it’s important to keep in mind that people act differently depending on their situation, a person with the dominant disc personality type does tend to manifest certain patterns of behavior. Generally speaking, the dominant type wants their voice to be heard and insists on playing a role in shaping their work environment. In fact, the other typically dominant characteristics can be traced to this pair of desires.
The dominant personality type tends to be direct, blunt, and willful in their communications with others. They also demonstrate forcefulness, self-confidence, and high levels of determination. When a dominant disc personality type is in a leadership role, they’re usually more resolute, innovative, and commanding than most of their counterparts.
The dominant personality type is less interested in the details than the big picture. They like to formulate bold, coarse-grained initiatives and let others work out the nuances. This seems natural enough when you consider how quickly they like to get to the point and move on the next topic.
But don’t get the wrong idea– a dominant disc personality type doesn’t mean that the person is pushy or arrogant. Yes, it’s possible for some to go to these extremes, but they are not necessary components of the dominant personality type. The dominant personality type is often very easy to get along with and manage. And just like the other three types, they’re necessary for your team’s success.
Effective Management of the Dominant Personality Type
An understanding of the dominant type’s strengths, weaknesses, and motives will enable you to maximize their value. Use the following information to dole out responsibilities to dominant types and to discover the right blend of other types to surround them with.
Competitiveness and a strong desire to succeed usually mark the dominant personality. They also like to see immediate and measurable results. That’s why it’s usually best to include them on projects that lend themselves to these types of outcomes. The dominant disc personality type responds well to competency, assertiveness, and direct communication. Displaying these qualities will make them much easier to supervise.
Of course, the dominant type also has certain limitations. They sometimes lack patience and can be insensitive to the needs of others. Additionally, their big-picture thinking sometimes ignores roadblocks or other important details. And while these negatives might be intimately connected to the dominant type’s strengths, you’ll still need to manage them in a way that works to counteract them.
It’s also important to avoid having too many dominant types working on one project for long. This can lead to arguments, infighting, and counterproductive halts in communication. Team dominant types up with a nice blend of Steadiness and Conscientious types to maximize their usefulness in a group setting. Manage them properly, and the dominant personality type will contribute greatly to your success.