D.I.S.C.

They’re not difficult people.

You’re just speaking different languages:

As a leader or innovator, your breakthrough ideas mean nothing if you can’t translate them for the people who matter.

Your CFO needs ROI and risk assessment.
Your creative team needs vision and energy.
Your operations lead needs stability and process.
Your engineering manager needs specifications and logic.

Same idea.
Four different languages.
This is DISC.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟰 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

𝗗 (𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁): Bottom line up front. “Here’s what we’ll achieve.” Skip the journey, give the destination.

𝗜 (𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹): Energy and possibility. “This is going to transform how we work.” Paint the excitement.

𝗦 (𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆): People and stability. “Here’s how we’ll support everyone through this change.” Address the human side.

𝗖 (𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀): Data and proof. “Based on this analysis…” Bring receipts.

𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀. You can have the best strategy in the room, but if you’re speaking data to someone who needs vision (or vision to someone who needs data), you’re dead in the water.

Your stakeholder management will make or break your long-term success. It’s the difference between being right and being effective.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟲𝟬-𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲:
1. Watch their pace (fast vs. measured)
2. Listen for their focus (tasks vs. people)
3. Test with a keyword (results/exciting/team/analysis)
4. Adapt immediately

The most successful leaders aren’t the smartest.
They’re the most adaptable communicators.

Which style is your biggest stakeholder challenge?