How to Identify DISC Profiles Under Pressure

6 and a half minute read.

This article presumes general knowledge of DISC profiling.

Under too much pressure, we become the least resourceful versions of ourselves.

If you’re familiar with DISC profiling, you’ll know it is a framework comprised of four essential energies: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance. Although we all have varying levels of each energy, we tend to have one or two ‘captains’ that dictate our natural behavioural patterns.

If you know your profile – and how to recognise others – you’ll be able to use this information. It can help you identify when you aren't using your energies and strengths resourcefully. Put another way; these are some common indicators for each profile that things are not going well.

When you observe or start to experience these particular behavioural patterns, it’s a sign that you might need to change something. For some, it means there is room for growth in the areas of emotional intelligence and maturity. For others, it means current circumstances are getting overwhelming.

Understanding your ‘red flags’ gives you the gift of self-awareness. You can recognise when you are burning out, feeling too much pressure, or otherwise being affected by external circumstances. Research has shown a little bit of stress and pressure is good – it aids performance. Too much stress, though, results in a rapid decline. It’s not great for personal wellbeing either. Here, I am not talking about positive stress that drives us forward. I refer to stress and pressure in the negative, overwhelming sense – when it has become too much and no longer serves us.

Here are some common behaviours of different DISC profiles under too much pressure. Many of these factors are the devilish twin of our strengths. For example, a direct, clear communicator (a resourceful dominant) taken to the negative extreme becomes a confrontational, abrupt communicator (an unresourceful dominant).

The best way to communicate the indicators is to give you the most extreme examples... so don’t take it personally! Also, the standard disclaimer that when we profile, we are necessarily putting people into boxes. Sometimes people don’t fit the exact stereotype because – shock horror – we are all individuals.

So, take what resonates and leave the rest – and don’t message me snarkily to debate the behaviours because as said, we are generalising.

Here we go:

Dominance

Our drivers often outwardly express their stress and pressure. (This can be unpleasant for the people around them). They may become snappy, impatient and rude. They might confront others inappropriately and publicly. The dominant wants to win, succeed and be the best – and when under pressure, this can transcend into jealousy, unhealthy competition and shaming others. They might put unrealistic expectations on those around them, especially if they are in a management position – and then get angry when those results don't reflect those expectations. In reality, this is the dominant trying to succeed – their key drive – but taken to an unfair extreme.

Some dominants think the answer to their stress is to keep working – so workaholism can become a vice under pressure, first into the office and last to leave. They may also find relief with spending too many hours in the gym, for example. They’ll justify it with ‘you have to do what you have to do’, not cutting themselves enough slack.

Less noticeably, they may withdraw from their relationships and become more introspective in times of pressure. They may even pull a ‘disappearing act’ on their social circle, only to reappear later when they are less stressed.

Because they are generally fiercely independent, they will feel inclined to reject help from others and dismiss those who disagree with them. They may be harsh with others and take attempts to help as a threat to their ego and pride.

Influence

Influencers are our extroversion chiefs. This doesn’t change when we swing to the unresourceful side of the pendulum. They may talk a lot about themselves, and turn conversations into a competition. For example, if someone tells them they’re tired, the stressed-out influencer will feel inclined to exclaim why they are even more tired. They may become overly dramatic and emotional, taking problems more personally.

They may become frantic and frequently distracted – their ‘organised chaos’ becoming an unorganised chaos. The influencer will lose track of what they’re saying halfway through saying it and forget about tasks. They may become more impulsive than usual and make reckless decisions.

They may also start blaming all problems on other people to feel better, throwing accountability elsewhere whenever they can. They may insist when offered advice, that the advice-giver does not understand the gravity of the situation.

Steadiness

The steady profile is the nurturer. They are always diplomatic, and this expression of calmness and diplomacy tends to remain even when they are under pressure. They’re like a volcano – everything is boiling up beneath the surface, building up and up and up. No one in the office would even know.

They often take on too many different tasks and say ‘yes’ to things when they know it is too much for them to handle feasibly. This then leads to passive aggression and frustration – and an underlying resentment to those around them.

They may ‘rebel’ against this pressure in small ways, like coming in late to work, using their sick days or not replying to an email to prove a point. Naturally stubborn, this stubbornness can come out in times of high pressure. They may nod along to advice of others but internally not take it in.

They may become less social and more introverted with their broader network (for example, in the office) and a little more short with their replies to people. Also, they may fall into a procrastination zone, not unlike the Compliant profile…

Compliance

Our analytical energy tends to get lost in times of high stress. Lost in detail, that is. Because they are naturally detail-oriented, with great pressure, it can be relieving to focus on a small part of a project or task and obsess over making it perfect.

Typically perfectionists, the high standards they place on themselves are taken to an extreme level, and they may also become even more hyper-critical of others. They will find minimal mistakes and dwell on them for ages.

They may use this time dwelling in mistakes and small details to justify their procrastination. They may neglect the people around them, dismissing anyone with a different perspective as being simply ‘wrong’. Not only will they not listen to others – they may even reject the chance for the others to have the opportunity to speak with them.

They may become neglectful of everything except for the particular task or thing stressing them out – living and breathing the stress of it: When procrastinating, stressing about the fact that they are procrastinating. If they’re more extroverted, they may feel inclined to go over the problem with their close family, colleagues or friends – again, and again, and again. Combined with procrastination, they may get stuck in this circular pattern. If they’re also dismissing advice from said family, colleagues or friends, it can be a draining exercise for those around them.

The compliant profile, in my experience, is usually the harshest on themselves in stressful circumstances. They withdraw into a world of grand uncertainty. We often find them getting cynical and angry at themselves for not having everything under control all the time – even if the problem is out of their control.

I should note that besides some wonderful conversations with other DISC practitioners, a lot of this information is purely from personal observation and study. I’m curious to know if you agree. What do you think? Does it resonate for your profile? Anything you would add or change to any of the profiles under pressure?

This blog post was originally posted on my training website, Statusone.com.au, on July 19, 2019. I have since been moving some of my favourite blog posts from there over to here, as this is now my ‘content hub’ and I want you to have access to some of the cool stuff I’ve written about before. You can still check out the Status One site if you’re interested in corporate training if you want. Also, don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter below for updates and weekly exclusive content.