Is there an Ideal DISC Style for a Leader?

What DISC Style is best for Leadership?

Each DISC leadership style has unique strengths and development areas. That means a leader may be more natural in some areas of what we expect of a leader than in others. Supervisors must know whether they tend towards management or leadership and learn to combine it with the other style that does not come so naturally to them. Supervisors that lean toward a more task-focused approach may need to remember to connect with their team. On the other hand, supervisors that veer toward a people-focused style may need to remember to set goals and assign tasks. Each DISC behavioural style has its specific requirements of what they need from a supervisor. An increased level of self-awareness is what makes leaders so great. They understand who they naturally are and how to adapt their style to suit their team members' needs.

What are the DISC Leadership Styles?

D Style

D style leaders are task orientated leaders. Their authoritative leadership style is based on power, results and distance. They are decisive and tend to make quick decisions. They perform well in a crisis. D styles are also straightforward. They can come across as blunt, direct and to the point. D styles don't mince words and expect others to also communicate in the same concise manner. D profile leaders tend to exert pressure through the setting of demanding goals.

I Style

I style leaders are people-focused and the most social of leaders. Their authority is based on charisma and motivation. As a leader, they tend to create a positive, relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. I styles will often lead by being a friend to their followers. Their friendly nature makes them easy to approach with questions or feedback. Creativity, positivity and good energy are valued more than accuracy and attention to detail. I profile leaders motivate by inspiration rather than traditionally applying pressure.

S Style

S style leaders are steady and sincere leaders. They are cool calm and collected. The S styles authority is based on experience, expertise and bureaucratic status. They are comfortable in maintaining routines and are generally very service orientated. They prefer working in smaller teams as they have a very participative style to their leadership approach. They have a great ability to guide, develop and teach their people. S profile leaders do not have a firm goal focus but rather a gradual evolution of achieving targets.

C Style

C Style leaders are slower paced than the other styles. They are deep thinkers and usually more serious than other types. C styles authority is based on rules, standards and quality. They make sure all team members know what is expected of them. C styles take more time to analyse and read through facts and figures rather than make quick decisions on what feels right. C Styles need space to focus and work. C profile leaders can sometimes create distance or remoteness between themselves and the rest of the team.

What is an Ideal Leader?

So how do we go about selecting the ideal leader for the role? The style you require may be dependent on the type of manager you need at the time. If we are recruiting for a leader, it would be wise to look at the position and the job responsibilities. Create a firm understanding of the people in the team they would be leading and recruit leaders accordingly. Think about all the qualities you would like in a leader and write them on a list. Do the job and team require a leader who is flexible, excellent at facilitating communication, an organiser, a visionary or someone who can be an authority figure? A DISC leadership assessment will provide you with insights into the type of leader your new leader will be. If it's internal recruitment or development, use the DISC leadership assessment to help identify training gaps where the leader may need your support to upskill before leading a team.

While there is no best DISC profile for leadership, different DISC profile types are required in specific circumstances. The most successful leaders are aware of their DISC leadership style and the mix of DISC types in their team. These leaders can adjust their style accordingly to perform leadership tasks effectively. 

If you are recruiting for a leadership role, consider using a DISC leadership assessment in your recruitment process.