Style I in the DISC Model – Traits, Strengths and Communication Style

The DISC model describes four core behavioural styles. One of them is Style I (Influencing), which characterises people who are energetic, sociable and focused on their relationships with others.

People with a dominant Style I are often seen as inspiring, open and full of enthusiasm. They enjoy working with people and easily build relationships in both their personal and professional lives.

In this article you will learn:

• what the traits of Style I are
• what strengths people with this style have
• what challenges may arise
• how to communicate with people who have Style I

What Is Style I in the DISC Model

Style I stands for influence and an orientation towards relationships with people. People who score high in this style draw their energy from contact with others and are often the life of the party.

Their way of operating can be described as:

• energetic
• open
• enthusiastic
• relationship-focused

People with Style I often motivate others with their energy and positive attitude.

Key Traits of Style I

People with Style I have several distinctive traits that set them apart in their relationships with others.

Sociability

Style I people strike up conversations very easily and love sharing their ideas. They feel comfortable in social situations. They form relationships with others effortlessly, even with complete strangers. They enjoy being around large groups of people, and thanks to their openness and sociability they build a network of relationships that is their greatest source of support.

Enthusiasm

Style I often brings positive energy and optimism to a team. These people are able to inspire others to take action. They love new challenges and projects and jump into action very quickly. You could say that almost anything inspires them. Their enthusiasm is highly contagious.

Ease of Building Relationships

Thanks to their openness, Style I people quickly win others over. They are excellent at building a network of contacts and at networking. They genuinely like people, and those who interact with them can feel it, which is why others are happy to stay in touch and support them whenever the need arises.

Creativity

Style I people often have many ideas and love to look for new solutions. Every new thing they discover opens up new possibilities in their imagination. They are frequently the authors of completely unconventional solutions that may seem crazy to others. Yet thanks to their open-mindedness and positive attitude, even the most unusual ideas have a chance of becoming reality.

Strengths of Style I

Style I has many strengths that make people with this profile highly valuable in teams and organisations.

Building Relationships

Style I people are excellent at building relationships with clients, colleagues and business partners. They shine at conferences, trade fairs and networking events. They build a network of lasting business relationships based on the very positive impression they make on others.

Motivating Others

Their energy and enthusiasm can motivate a whole team to take action. The optimism and excitement they feel at the thought of new projects often rubs off on others, so that even the most reserved people start to believe the projects are achievable.

Communication

Style I thrives in roles that involve contact with people, such as sales or marketing. These people love talking to others, which makes them a great fit for companies where selling requires building relationships with clients. They have plenty of creative ideas and an open mind, so their marketing work feels fresh and hits the mark with target audiences.

Positive Attitude

These people often bring a good atmosphere to a team and help build positive relationships. Their cheerful disposition and the smile that is almost always on their face brighten the day not only for themselves but for everyone around them. They are positive both towards new ideas and towards other people, which gives

Challenges of Style I

Like the other DISC styles, Style I also has certain challenges. In my view, our greatest asset as people is knowing our own weaknesses and being able to manage them. How our weaknesses show up depends largely on our emotional intelligence. I will devote a separate article to this subject.

Difficulty Focusing on Details and Finishing Tasks

Style I people can sometimes focus more on relationships and ideas than on details. They love starting new tasks but dislike finishing what they have begun. They tend to have rather little patience and a relatively short attention span. The same applies to focusing on details. Of course, with enough adaptation, Style I people are capable of carrying out tasks that require a lot of precision, but by nature they do not focus on details. The big picture matters more to them.

Too Much Spontaneity

Their natural openness and energy can lead them to make decisions without careful analysis. They get excited about new ideas quickly and tend to trust people, so they sometimes make rash decisions with painful consequences. They don’t give themselves time to reflect; they make decisions based on emotions and very quickly. This is the style that makes decisions the fastest of all. Unfortunately, in many cases this is more of a weakness than a strength.

Need for Recognition

Style I people often need positive feedback and appreciation for their work. They like being the centre of attention and are very much focused on their own needs. They dislike receiving criticism and may react emotionally when someone points something out to them. They often find it hard to maintain long-lasting, deep relationships, because they get bored quickly and meeting new people is often more valuable to them than nurturing existing connections. They are not the most attentive listeners; they get carried away and are easily distracted.

How to Communicate with a Style I Person

If you work with a Style I person, it’s worth adapting the way you communicate to their style.

The most important principles:

• build a relationship and a positive atmosphere
• show interest in the conversation
• allow a free exchange of ideas
• appreciate their commitment and energy

Style I people respond best to communication that is full of enthusiasm and openness.

Style I at Work and in Business

People with a dominant Style I do very well in roles that require contact with people and creative thinking. Any profession that calls for easy adaptation to change and working in a dynamic environment will give them the greatest satisfaction.

Common positions include:

• salespeople
• marketers
• trainers and facilitators
• client relationship specialists

Their natural energy and ability to build relationships are a great asset to any organisation.

How to Develop Style I

Style I people can grow their skills by learning greater organisation and closer attention to detail.

It’s worth working on:

• planning their actions
• finishing the projects they start
• analysing data before making a decision

This way, Style I can make even more effective use of its natural talents.

Summary

Style I in the DISC model describes people who are energetic, sociable and focused on their relationships with others. Thanks to their openness and enthusiasm, they often inspire others and build a positive atmosphere within teams.

Understanding Style I makes it easier to work with people who have this profile and to make the most of their natural abilities at work and in business.