How DISC Prevents Your Energy Drain

We've all walked in our front door and said, "What a day! I am wiped!" You can have less of those days by understanding how DISC identifies your energy drains.

Your DISC style describes how you prefer to do things. It helps to predict what drains your energy and what charges your energy. Identifying these predictors helps leverage your potential strengths and overcome your challenges more efficiently. 

It's not about ability, it's about energy.

What lights you up?

What things tend to motivate you and energize you? Is it having your own project and the independence to get it done? Is it being front and center, as the face and voice of your team? How about strong relationships with team members you can always count on? Do you prefer a long-term project where you have the chance to specialize?

Your DISC Profile results help you identify what typically motivates someone with your style. As you review your motivators, focus on the ones that have the greatest impact on your performance right now. Factors, such as your job roles, your boss, and your team can influence your present motivators. Consider how you can best leverage your them.

You have things you do that energize you, but don't forget they're not the same for everyone. In fact, what may light you up can have the opposite effect on your colleague and vice versa. For example, you feel energized when you can collaborate with your team. However, one of your team members may dread it and think it's not a good use of time; preferring to communicate by email or getting things done quickly and independently.

What turns you off?

What drains your energy? Did you have a lot of meetings today? Are you juggling a lot of projects and tasks? Are you working remotely with little opportunity to interact with team members? Do you have to wait on someone else to get things done?

Here are some energy drains for each style.

D-styles

• Failure in using power
• Being ordered around by others
• Waiting on others
• Losing control or lack of control
• Duties requiring a detail-oriented approach
• Social nonsense
• Being non-active
• Routines

I-styles

• Repetitive tasks
• Unpleasant situations 
• Quarrels
• Being silent or forced to listen
• Detailed instructions and tasks
• Loneliness - isolation
• Making cold or difficult decisions
• Making negative decisions

S-styles

• Lack of stability
• Being in the limelight
• Moving quickly, without a clear plan
• Insensitivity
• Making decisions alone
• Undulation and unpredictability
• Arguments within the group
• Injustice and unfairness

C-styles

• Chaos
• Disagreements
• Unclear procedures
• Challenging their expertise
• Hurrying and rushing
• Making risky decisions
• Being pressured
• Mistakes
• Not following the rules

Consider what situations tend to drain your energy. Are there tasks you're avoiding? Be aware of their impact on your productivity. What are the greatest challenges in your current position? How can you decrease their effect on your performance? 

Learned behaviors

Understanding the things that tend to drain your energy allows you to better manage them. Hopefully, with development and adjustments, these energy drains will not have as big an impact on you.

All of us have jobs and responsibilities within and outside our comfort zone. For example, public speaking may be outside your comfort zone. But, it's part of your job so you do it. Perhaps it was really challenging in the beginning, but over time you've developed yourself. While it doesn't flip to your natural style, you've created a learned behavior; one that no longer drains your energy like when you first started. Now, you can focus your energies elsewhere.

Gain, not drain

Your DISC report is designed to give you information on how you show up. Use your motivators and consider how you are taking advantage of them. Identify the things that demotivate you and consider how to better manage them.

Understanding what dials up your energy and what drains your energy enhances your productivity, how you relate with others, and sets a path to reaching your goals.

Now, you can walk in the door after a long day and feel better!