Since my husband is in that 4% of the population who are one pure highest style, his High D level is nearly off the chart. This means he is driven to be in charge in his orthodontic office.
***One important note: we learned that it is crucial to have only ONE High D-Style person in an office. Otherwise, both will be driven to be in charge, so they will be constantly knocking heads and competing with each other. Trust me, this is not a pleasant work environment for anyone.
In our friend’s orthodontic office, she had very little D-Style in her design, so she hired a High D-Style Treatment Coordinator who basically was the person in charge and “called the shots” in their office. This arrangement was very successful.
As a review, the High D-Style person tends to:
- Like to be in control
- Focus on tasks more than on people
- Have a “high speed motor” – walks, talks and thinks faster
- Be decisive – sometimes without researching the facts
- Get things done quickly
- Be authoritative
- Take charge in a situation
Now, let’s consider how a D-Style is Motivated:
- Challenges – if they don’t have a challenge, they will create one
- Authority – since they are driven to be in charge, the more authority they have, the more they like it
- Bottom-line Results – usually don’t like the process, but are focused on the end result and how to get to it as quickly as possible
- Specific Goals – likes something concrete they are aiming for; the end product
It is also important to understand What De-motivates a D-Style:
- External Controls – or if someone else is as driven to be in charge as they are; why we try not to have two High D’s in the office at the same time; they will usually knock heads
- Trivial Discussions – their focus is progress toward their goals and bottom-line results, so these off-topic or non-focused discussions make them crazy
- Lack of Leadership – they will usually think they could do a better job of being in charge; it takes a strong person to lead them well
- Incompetence – especially if those they work with or work under are inept or ineffective
Back to our teen daughter who was about to lost her mind back in the depths of the lab – thankfully, we also needed help in our office reception area. When we moved her to the front desk, she was inundated with people, challenges, and constant action. She loved it and thrived there! It offered the perfect set of motivations for her.
Bottom line – what a High D-Style needs at work:
- To be in charge of their area
- To have the responsibility to make defining decisions for their area
- To be able to work quickly at a fast pace
- To have the opportunity to put their fast-thinking skills to good use
- To have others at work who will balance their fast thinking and quick decisions with a look at the facts and the input needed to make a good decision
These guidelines would be the best-case scenario for a High D-Style person. But it is possible to work in any role, with the understanding that some jobs will require more adjustments then others, and more potential for losing your mind. The goal is to find a job where the needs of the D-Style can thrive.
***If you would like to learn more about your own DISC Styles, just click here for more information on getting a DISC Assessment – an easy online process that will gain you lots of insight.
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