What Everyone Wishes You Would Stop Doing Based on Your DISC Style

Everyone has their annoying little quirks. My brother used to chew so loudly he sounded like a five year old who had been given a stick of gum for the first time and is told they can chew it, but can’t swallow it. You could hear it across a room. Yeah. Disgusting.

Each DISC personality type has its own little quirks, too. While every person has a little bit of every personality type within them, most people have predominant styles. These prevalent personality types can have amazing attributes. D’s make excellent leaders who can take control of a situation and be decisive in an emergency. I’s can charm your pants off and start a conversation with anyone. S’s are reliable, kind, loyal and truly amazing friends. C’s are knowledgeable experts whose ability to observe and analyze can prevent disasters. They are all wonderful in their own respects. But we are not going to focus on that. We are going to talk about what your style does that drives everyone nuts.

Within DISC theory, the things that you do that drive people crazy may be visible within your mask graph. This graph depicts is the difference between your perception of your own identity, and the way that others perceive you. For example, as a high D personality you might see yourself as an excellent, decisive leader. But others may see you as controlling and harsh.

Here is the tough love version of what everyone really wishes you would stop doing based on your DISC personality:

D’s- You are not, it turns out, the center of the universe. Your opinion is in fact, just your opinion, and not the penultimate answer just because it came out of your mouth. Quit causing a crisis just so you can solve it. No one is trying to take advantage of you. We know you shine in times of crisis, but the fires you are starting aren’t incentivizing, they’re just burning bridges.

I’s- Please stop getting us to try to like you. You look desperate, flitting from person to person seeking affirmation and fishing for compliments. Everybody doesn’t have to like you. Pay more attention to what you are doing, and less attention to how you think other people think you are doing. Quit being so sensitive. Maybe you should try sitting down and actually finishing something you started for a change.

S’s- If you would please stop being so dependent. You don’t need to rely on someone else to give you instructions or to fill the voids in your life. Change isn’t that scary, it is a part of life. It is unavoidable. Please stop being so overly cautious and fearful. Your inability to accept change is keeping you from enjoying your life and it’s totally boring.

C’s- Quit correcting people. We know you have all the facts straight in your head, and that you equate being technically correct with being superior. This is not the case. Your ability to neurotically fixate on tiny details only keeps you from seeing the big picture. Let it go, dude.

Whew. That was some tough love there.

Your personality style has a lot of amazing characteristics. But we all have our flaws. Being aware of the things that you do that irk others is the first step toward gaining behavioral awareness. When we can pay attention to our behavior, we can identify how our once positive traits can go sour.

All of the personality styles have amazing attributes. But a beneficial trait  that is taken to its extreme can be detrimental. As with most things in life, balance is key.

Your friendliness is an amazing asset when you utilize it to meet new people and make those around you feel more comfortable. It is a problem when your identity is dependent on other people’s opinions of you. You could spend your life seeking approval rather than rising to your potential.

Your ability to notice tiny discrepancies, retain information, and be an accurate, perfectionist is an admirable quality when it causes you to produce pieces of work that are peerless. But taken to its extreme, this ability can be isolating. Sometimes people just want to have a conversation with you where they feel free to express ideas without being subject to ridicule.

Behavioral awareness is key for every personality type. Noticing our irritating or isolating tendencies can help us to improve our communication and relationships with other people. Being able to utilize the superpowers of your personality style (and attempting to negate the negative aspects of your personality traits) will allow you to become an even more amazing person.