Do you know an S-style profile? Has someone ever mistaken your intention to do something as a promise? Have you ever had an interaction where you got in trouble for breaking a promise? Did you even think it was a promise?
The S-style profile is steady, friendly, and calm. S-style profiles are modest and more reserved. They prefer for things to stay the same. Why change if it's already working? The S-style profile values security and building relationships. In addition, S-styles do not like to be pressured into making quick decisions. They seek acceptance. The S-style profile wants detailed information and time to make decisions. They are focused on being a team player and are most comfortable when given clear directions.
Since the S-style profile is reliable and sincere, they can expect others to be the same. They find it difficult to move forward when they believe others have failed to keep their word.
I-style profiles are friendly, social and talkative. They seek attention. The I-style thrives on interactions with others and values being liked. I-style profiles are energetic, spontaneous, and optimistic. Many of us see the glass as half full, but the I-style profile sees the glass as overflowing! Their optimism can lead to over-promising and over-selling.
The I-style profile prefers not to focus on details. When they are under pressure, they want to focus more on people and less on the tasks; leading to disorganization. Hence, they may need to develop more self-discipline.
One morning, Irene and Sam just happen to run into each other on their way to the elevator. After a brief happy greeting, Irene exclaims how great it is to run into Sam. Immediately she wants to set a time to have coffee and catch up. Since she's already running late for her meeting, she tells Sam that she's going to call him so they can get together for coffee tomorrow. The elevator doors open and she runs onto the elevator reminding Sam once more. Sam never actually got a word out other than the initial greeting, but he is happy and looking forward to having coffee with Irene.
Well, tomorrow comes and Irene didn't call. They did not meet up for coffee. So, the next time Irene and Sam run each other again, Irene launches into the exact same conversation as before. Irene is so excited running into Sam again and wants to have coffee, but this time Sam cuts her off. He greets her, but coolly, and then walks off. Irene is confused. She is wondering what just happened?
Sam took Irene's words as a promise. He heard that she was going to "call him" and they were "going to have coffee tomorrow". Irene looked forward to coffee with Sam, but she didn't not see it as a promise. She saw it as an intention. Irene had every intention to have coffee with Sam.
The more we can understand the differences and similarities of DISC profiles the better chance we have of successful interactions. If Irene understood how the S-styles views promises and Sam understood how I-styles differ then the misunderstanding could've been avoided. The good news is that Sam, as an S-style profile, is people-oriented and forgiving. Later Irene remembered the first exchange, recognized what happened, and apologized to Sam. Irene and Sam had coffee and caught up!