Relating to the DISC Profiles
I had been on teams ... teams of committed Christians who struggled to work together because of different behavioural styles. Christians are not exempt from the challenges of human relationships. In this short article, I like to take a look at relating to people of different profiles.The following are general guidelines and do not apply to every situation. Moreover, every individual is different; the better you understand that person, the better you are able to relate to him.
| High D's Tendencies | Relating to a High D ... | |
| if you're his leader | if you're his subordinate | |
| Motivation: Results, Challenge, Action | Give challenging or "leadership" assignments with parameters | Be efficient |
| Feelings: Detached and independent; Control; Tend not to value feelings; May be hot-tempered under pressure | Don't pry but be a model ... share your life to draw him out |
Stick to business |
| Interaction: One way; not a good listener; Tell others to just do it; no explanation given | Be a model ... stress logic in your decisions |
Be direct; share the bottom line first then the impact of his plans/decisions on staff members |
| High I's Tendencies | Relating to a High I ... | |
| if you're his leader | if you're his subordinate | |
| Motivation: Recognition, Approval, Visibility | Give "high visibility" assignments with deadlines | Don't be a wet blanket; support their ideas whenever possible |
| Feelings: Optimistic; Emote; readily express their own feelings and respond to others' feelings | Allow him to express his intuition and ideas; Teach "appropriateness" in sharing | Provide details for transforming his ideas into action |
| Interaction: Enthusiastic; One way; tell ... love to verbalise | Stand when talking to keep the conversation brief | Take a seat and make yourself comfortable |
| High S's Tendencies | Relating to a High S ... | |
| if you're his leader | if you're his subordinate | |
| Motivation: Relationships, Appreciation | Give group assignments and/or specialised tasks | Be appreciative; Be his friend |
| Feelings: Warm and accomodating; Emote to inner circle of friends | Allow time to "warm up" to you | Remind him of ministry goals and tasks at hand |
| Interaction: Good listener; Tend not to initiate changes or relationships; Ask "how" and "who" questions | Provide personal assurance of support | Show how your ideas minimise "upheavals" |
| High C's Tendencies | Relating to a High C ... | |
| if you're his leader | if you're his subordinate | |
| Motivation: Being Right, Quality | Give "evaluation" assignments and/or work that require precision | Don't try to be more right/correct than he is |
| Feelings: Cautious; Control; does not say / reveal much | Provide "open door" policy ... give them time to think | If appropriate, provide reassurance that his plans are right |
| Interaction: Good listener; Ask "what" and "why" questions | Provide explanations | Be supportive |
| Convincing a ... | Disagreeing with a ... | |
| High D | Show the gains and suggest what needs to be done | Agree with him on a broad level then he is likely to be open to other possibilities/options |
| High I | Provide positive setting and talk about who will be involved | Don't! Let time pass and emotional enthusiasm to fizzle out |
| High S | Show how your ideas minimise "upheavals" and talk about how you all will work together | Find common grounds to disagree together! |
| High C | Talk about why and how things will be done | Disagree with facts |
As you can see, the above calls for adaptability on your part ... the ability to change your behaviour and methods of communication to adapt to the needs of a particular person at a particular time.
To be adaptable, you need the following attitudes:
- a sense of security and worth in Christ
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
This means that no matter what others (or you) think, say about or do to you (yourself) will not change your identity in Christ.
in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.Rom 5:8
But as many as received Him,
to them He gave the right to become children of God,
even to those who believe in His nameJohn 1:12
in Him you have been made complete ...Col 2:10
38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39nor height, nor depth,
nor any other created thing,
will be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Rom 8:38-39 - a humble attitude in dealing with others
3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
4do not merely look out for your own personal interests,
but also for the interests of others.
5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6who, although He existed in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,
and being made in the likeness of men.
8Being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death, even death on a cross.Phil 2:3-8
