In defense of the D style
🗣️🎭💥 The world doesn’t need louder voices. It needs clearer ones. That’s you. Here’s how. 🎯
About 10% of people are Direct, Dominant style communicators, the rarest DiSC Style.
So why does it seem like most people who rise to leadership have (or show) D traits?
My guess is that it’s because our culture rewards and incentivizes results.
D Styles naturally step up, take charge, call out problems, and push for outcomes we may not have thought possible.
As much as we love them for this, sometimes they can overlook collaboration, empathy, or the value of slowing down to build alignment.
I think Dominant Styles communicators are also the most misunderstood:
“They’re aggressive or rude.” – Nope. That’s usually just our perception of their intent. D Styles are direct and fast-paced, but offense is rarely the intent. (I can definitely say I’m guilty of blaming them for my emotions.)
“They don’t care about people.” – Not in my experience. D Styles care deeply about results, which definitely includes their team’s success. They just show support through action rather than emotion. (A high-D once told me, “If I didn’t care about you, I wouldn’t have told you what I think!”)
They always want to be in control. – First, D Styles value autonomy—theirs and yours—and they’ll gladly delegate if they trust you can deliver without micromanaging. Second, to most D Styles I know, the need for control just means that the situation needs to be under control, and if it isn’t, they’re stepping in.
They’re not good listeners.” – Wrong again. They’re just listening for the bottom line, and if your message is unclear or meandering, they may check out—not to be rude, but to stay focused.
They don’t take feedback well. – I don’t agree. Just about every D Style I know wants me to say to them directly what I think, even if they disagree. Of all the styles, it seems to me that the D Style is quickest to change their ways, if you present a well-founded, fact-based argument. They’ll admit to being wrong, if it shows them how they can get better results.
I’d even say that the rest of us have a lot to learn from D Styles.
i Styles can learn that confidence comes from clarity of purpose, not just charisma.
S Styles can learn that conflict isn’t cruelty — directness builds clarity and trust.
C Styles can learn that progress beats perfection — decide, act, and adjust along the way
We can all benefit from bringing out our own D Styles – being bold and taking ownership, creating clarity instead of waiting for it, and using pressure to spark performance.
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