Have you ever noticed a coworker pairing that doesn’t make sense on paper, but thrives in real life? Maybe a chatty team member increases their engagement when working with a shy peer, or a low-key manager connects well with their forceful, ambitious direct report. 

These connections happen because of behavior. Whether very similar or entirely different, every behavioral type can benefit from examining their correlation with others. 

TTI has a way to make this observation easy. Their DISC assessment features the DISC wheel, a visual tool that divides behavioral style into 60 segments on a circular map. Based on assessment results, the wheel plots a person's natural and adapted behavioral styles. This lets you discover what styles you’re closest to and what styles are your complete opposite. 

“There’s a lot of benefit of looking ‘across the wheel’,” said Shaunna Adinolfi, Director of Partner Growth at TTI Success Insights. “In training, I have people look at the DISC wheel to find the behavioral type that is least like them and compliment something about their behavior. It’s a great way to open eyes and change perspectives about differences.”

Read on to learn about the behavioral types that complement yours; you might be surprised. 

What are the Behavioral Types of DISC? 

Dominance measures how someone responds to problems and challenges.

• Direct communicators (high D) are ambitious, forceful, decisive, strong-willed, independent, and goal-oriented. They tend to seek out leadership positions and enjoy clear, brief conversations.
• Reflective communicators (low D) are cooperative, low-key, modest, and mild. They tend to engage people by being agreeable and outcome-focused.

Influence measures how someone chooses to influence people and contacts.

• Outgoing communicators (high I) are people-oriented, optimistic, and enthusiastic. They are creative problem solvers and are skilled at negotiating conflict.
• Reserved communicators (low I) are restrained, controlled, and socially discreet. They prefer logic and data over an emotional approach. 

Steadiness measures how someone responds to pace and consistency.

• Steady communicators (high S) are considerate, slower paced, and appreciate clearly outlined expectations. 
• Dynamic communicators (low S) are open and confident when it comes to sharing information. They prefer lively, fast-paced conversations. 

Compliance measures how someone handles procedures and constraints.

• Precise communicators (high C) are dependent, neat, careful, and compliant. They want to get the job done right. 
• Pioneering communicators (low C) are independent, unconventional, and outspoken. They like finding the best outcome with the best possible means, no matter how random. 

Steady and Pioneering: Asking Questions, Taking Action 

Steady people benefit from a Pioneering perspective to push them out of their comfort zones. A Pioneering communicator will help them consider new possibilities outside of their regular pace and structure. Steady communicators might avoid speaking up when discussing something new, so a Pioneering person’s energy and willingness to experiment can help them share ideas. 

Steady people can help Pioneering people slow down and communicate clearly. Steady communicators tend to ask questions and establish a process that works for the team; this clarity can help their Pioneering peer consider their actions more carefully and make a plan before launching into a new project. 

Precise and Reserved: Logic Meets Structure

Someone with a low I score will influence others with facts and details, which appeals to the Precise communicator’s logical preferences. They tend to avoid investing in emotional situations and want to get straight to the core problem or task; Precise people will meet their energy and do the same. 

Precise communicators carefully evaluate all the information available to them, and will present it in a detailed and logical way. That no-nonsense approach will engage Reserved team members; it might even help them open up over time as the Precise coworker proves their reliability and consistency, building respect. These two behavioral types create a rational, well-organized, and high-integrity approach to work. 

Dynamic and Pioneering: Pivoting on the Fly 

Dynamic communicators will embrace change with their Pioneering peers by trying out different methods of problem-solving together. Pioneering communicators are dreamers; Dynamic people can use their ability to pivot to quickly test out their ideas and find new, exciting solutions. 

Pioneering communicators will keep the attention of their Dynamic teammates, since someone with a low S score is captivated by the unconventional, and Pioneering communicators will try anything to solve a problem. 

Direct and Steady: Shake Up and Move Forward 

Direct people can learn from the composure and consistency of Steady people. Instead of rushing through a project or process, a high S will ask the right questions and ensure plans are thought through and sustainable, avoiding reckless decisions. The Direct person can appreciate this because that thoughtfulness can save time in the long run by avoiding mistakes. 

On the other hand, Steady people can benefit from their Direct team members shaking things up and initiating projects. Direct communicators thrive in challenging situations and aren’t afraid to get to the heart of difficult situations to find a way to move forward. While Steady people can hesitate to start projects or initiate necessary conflict, feeling indecisive or unsure, Direct communicators bring boldness and urgency, driving necessary progress.

Reflective and Outgoing: A Beneficial Push and Pull 

Reflective communicators are excellent listeners and can provide great feedback if given the time to process and think through their responses. This is valuable for Outgoing team members, who are very enthusiastic about their ideas and will appreciate the chance to share. 

That enthusiasm is balanced by a Reflective person’s ability to identify benefits and opportunities, bringing in a different point of view and full consideration of others. 

Flipping that, Outgoing communicators can greatly benefit their Reflective team members by helping them in conflict resolution. Reflective people prefer to work on friendly terms with everyone they meet, and this aversion to conflict can cause them to hesitate when they need to push forward. That’s where the Outgoing teammate comes in. Usually skilled at conflict resolution, they can guide tense situations to a positive outcome. 

Outgoing and Dynamic: Enthusiastic Action 

Outgoing communicators and Dynamic communicators have a lot in common: both styles thrive in fast-paced environments and are comfortable navigating chaos or unpredictability. A key difference between the two is how they move forward with plans. 

Outgoing people thrive when making connections, gaining buy-in, and focusing on people. Dynamic people are driven by urgency and want to push a situation forward as fast as possible. The Outgoing person’s ability to influence others and sell their point of view can help Dynamic communicators gain the support they need to move forward on a project with everyone on board. 

Dynamic people can help their Outgoing peers by embracing their optimism and social adaptability. When an Outgoing communicator is excited, they can be hard to follow and might overwhelm more reserved behavioral styles, but Dynamic communicators lack the need for routine and embrace uncertainty. They can thrive at an Outgoing pace. 

Precise and Reflective: Cohesion Without Conflict 

Reflective communicators are great collaborators, especially with Precise people, because they prefer thorough communication. Both styles dislike conflict, and a Reflective person will work hard to ensure productive, friendly communication. Their dependable natures, along with their amiability, can help Precise people open up while still achieving their goals. 

Precise people can help their Reflective teammates by stepping up and addressing issues of work quality. Reflective communicators might mask their feelings, especially during conflict, but Precise communicators won’t let quality suffer for comfort. Their focus and intention can guide difficult conversations, focusing on facts instead of feeling. 

Dynamic and Direct: Taking Risks for High Reward

Dynamic communicators can be engaged and excited by the quick decision-making capabilities of Direct communicators. A Dynamic person prefers lively, fast-paced conversations and can disengage when a situation becomes too routine or too slow. 

That won’t happen with a Direct communicator. Their creative and active minds are driven by solutions and results. They’re looking for a direct path to the best outcome and will eliminate obstacles to get there. Their ability to make decisions quickly will engage Dynamic team members and keep projects moving at an active pace. 

Reserved and Steady: Objective Support 

Reserved communicators are careful and analytical when it comes to working with others. They take time to observe and understand the people around them and are skilled at picking up on patterns. This will appeal to a Steady person, who thrives in routine and wants expectations clearly outlined. You can expect communication between these types to be thoughtful and thorough. 

Steady communicators can help their Reserved peers by balancing directness with diplomacy. Reserved people can sometimes communicate in a very blunt, factual manner; a Steady communicator can help reduce social strain by aiding with messaging, offering support for a grounded, safe working relationship.

Understanding different DISC behavioral styles can unlock new levels of collaboration and productivity. Appreciative behavior helps to foster stronger relationships, enhance communication, and achieve more as individuals, teams, and organizations. 

If you want to unlock the power of DISC for yourself or your team, we can help.