Understanding Your DISC: Influencing

The I in DISC is Influencing. Influencing reflects how you respond to people.

Scores above 50 are considered High Influencing or High I’s. High I’s tend to be talkative, enthusiastic, and outgoing. High I’s like to express themselves and connect with people. They trust others easily. The higher the score the more this is true.

Scores below 50 are considered Low I’s. Low I’s tend to be more reserved and reflective and listen more than they speak. Low I’s prefer a more cautious approach when developing trust. The lower the score the more this is true.

From Indigo CEO Sheri Smith:

Introverts and Extroverts

“The Influencing score does not measure whether someone is an extrovert or introvert. It is possible for a High I person to be either type. The I score merely indicates the degree to which an individual enjoys a people-oriented, energetic environment. Extroverted High I’s gain energy from this type of environment, while introverted High I’s need time away from it to recharge. DISC measures how you do what you do. The terms “introvert” and “extrovert” measure how you recharge. If you suspect that you are a High I introvert, explore this by asking yourself questions about how you recharge.”

DISC ACTIVITY: INFLUENCING

Start by identifying your Influencing/I score from the DISC chart. You can find your I Score in front of the yellow bar on the DISC Profile page. Do you have a high, medium, or low score?

Read through the lists of traits below and write down the ones that you think best describe you. If you are a Low I, focus on the Low I list. If you are a High I, focus on the High I list. Note that if your score is near the middle, you may identify with traits from both lists.

Low I Traits:

Reflective

Good Listener

Observant

Thoughtful Communicator

Focused

Reserved

High I Traits:

Friendly

Optimistic

Enthusiastic

Persuasive

Self-Promoting

Sociable

When have these traits worked well for you (school, work, leisure)? What are some challenges or problems you’ve faced exhibiting these traits?

DISC AND COMMUNICATION

In corporate America, DISC is used mainly as a communication tool. It is important for you to communicate with other people based on their DISC styles, not your own. For example, if you are a High I, you likely want to talk a lot, usually in a friendly, enthusiastic manner. However, a Low I prefers less chatter, more time to think before responding, and a quieter tone of voice.

Think of someone you know well with a different high/medium/low Influencing style than you (or a different DISC score in general). How can you communicate with this person differently now, based on what you know about communication styles?

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