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I have taken the DISC Profile and I received the outcome of 1736. I am curious if this really is possible. I thought the scores had to be close in the hemispheres. So for me to be a High I and a High C I thought I would have to be a High S & C or a High I & S. Just curious on any input. From the way I look at it the I wouldn't care about details and the C does?

flexiblefine's picture

I'm partly relieved to see another D of 1 -- I thought I was all alone with the very low D. :)

It's possible that your score indicates that you deal with people in one way and tasks in another -- in your case, very open with interpersonal/social situations but more methodical when dealing with projects and tasks. Remember that while the hemispheres contain related things, they also contain separate things (because the other set of hemispheres is split the other way). Your DISC profile results should include a set of 15 "classic" profile types, including which ones matches best with your results.

If the scores "had to be close in the hemispheres," a D of 1 wouldn't let you have a high I or C, and you manage to have both. I'm a high C too, even with my low D.

I'm no expert on DISC (I did my assessment just a couple of weeks ago), so I'm sure you can get better answers from others here on the forum.

flexiblefine
Houston, Texas, USA
DISC: 1476

mtietel's picture
Training Badge

 It's possible to be a High-I & High-C.  DISC is a 4-dimensional instrument, not a 2-dimensional instrument.  Even then, there are variations in the four dimensions (it's not that you either care about details or you don't)...

The combination of the relative "intensity" of each of the four scores adds a layer to it as well.  If you got a DISC report that shows the "Classic Profile Patterns", you should look at that.  If not, check out this one and look at the "Appraiser" pattern at the top of page 16.  Do you think that description fits you?

 

nknk's picture
Licensee Badge

Great question JMINROD! It is possible and I know others with that profile.

We all have traits from all four quadrants in different amounts. Someone may have many High-I traits, and that does not preclude having High-C traits such as attention to detail.

Anecdotally (and I do not have substantial data to back this up), people with profiles similar to you are great at organizing social events. Notice the key words in that description: organizing and social. Understanding that you have both those traits is a great first step toward adjusting your behavior to have more rapport with those who are different from you like. . . oh, I don't know. . . perhaps High-Ds!

Mark's picture
Admin Role Badge

It's possible, though it's not common.

The key for someone in your situation is to read the classical profile information in the back, which puts all of your 4 tendencies together and gives you a toal picture.  AND THEN remember that your score is not as important as your ability to adapt.

What I tell High I/C's at conferences is that they can use that to their advantage, as long as they're self aware.  Keep in mind first  that NO ONE's score - whether you're a 7711 (very high and very low) like me or a 3355 (all very close to the center) says ANYTHING about their ADAPTABILITY.  The real key to using DISC effectively is being able to change in situations to be effective, rather than simply being yourself.

Because you have a High I, there are times when you're assertive and people focused.  With the High C. you can be task focused and reserved.  So, you have some abilities to be task or people, and assertive or reserved.  That serves you well, potentially, making you comfortable in all 4 hemispheres. 

Bottom Line: Work on your adaptability.

Mark

Singers's picture

Hi,

I'm a high C, High I myself and though I have to say the C is the main part of my default behavior is High C, I have a number of high I things that shines though, I prefer updates to be delivered in person rather written by mail, I 'm very much of a people person and look forward to the company parties - Though smiling in unfortunately not one of my defaults...

The strong point in being a cross quadrant, is that you are much closer in terms of adopting others behavior, so as Mark said, adaptability is key and you are in a better position then many to easier work effectively with all your colleagues.

Good luck ;)

TNoxtort's picture

Just wanted to let you know that I'm like you as well. I'm very detailed and organized and thorough, but I'm very much about people and into public speaking, facilitating people, and just talking to folks. Unlike the high-Is though, I start AND finish things. I have a part D too, as I like to push things forward, but just make sure it is the RIGHT path forward.

I say, use your people skills and your technical skills to make the right things happen, which just plain old High Cs and plain old High Is may not be able to.

Like Mark said, adaptability is important. When I was in college years ago, a communication professor told me that being able to move across personality types (in this case Myers Briggs) was what good leaders do. In this case, choosing the behavior that is most appropriate to the situation is something you may be able to do better. I see so many managers at my work using High D all the time, and it is disasterous.

afmoffa's picture

I'm a High C, High I, and it has been a challenge for me. In one sentence:

It takes me forever to get ready to do something, but when I finally do something, I want the whole world to be watching.

It takes me two hours to write a six-sentence cover letter, because it has to be perfect, it has to be topical, and it has to be stylish. I love brainstorming, I love methodical behavior, I love attention to detail. I constantly struggle with deadlines because there is always one more thing to polish, one more detail to tweak. I'm loud, outgoing, and fearless until I run out of prepared material; as soon as I have to wing it I become taciturn and withdrawn. I'm the guy you want to deliver a big presentation, lead a VIP tour, or teach a workshop on a new procedure. I'm the last person you want to arbitrate a dispute between team members, handle an irate customer, or stall for time while the keynote speaker is stuck in traffic.

I always know the right way to do something, and I'm happy to show other people my process. When people develop their own workflows and procedures, I often get very uncomfortable, even if our end results are similar. I love process and ritual and tradition. Everything I do is geared toward winning the approval of others, and when I get that approval, I am very clumsy in how I receive it.

I get lots of compliments on my clothes.

D's make me nervous or resentful. S's seem possessed of a mystical ability to relate to people. Pure I's strike me as superficial or fake. I admire pure C's, often more than they admire me. True to the DISC motto that "diagnosis is not destiny," I can fake a High-S when I have to. When life requires me to dredge up my High-D, it's very hard, and I'm often emotionally exhausted afterward.

Most people see me only as an I, because they see the side of me that basks in the limelight when a big project is finally rolling out. But they don't see all the obsessive care and quiet work that got me into that limelight. Nor do they see my huge mental closet of abandoned projects and false-starts.

bug_girl's picture

There are lots of possible combos--my particular one means that I get impatient with people who don't deliver, and then feel guilty about it because I care about their feelings ;p

The key is recognizing the patterns, and making them work for you.

BJ_Marshall's picture
Licensee BadgeTraining Badge

Your DISC profile indicates your default mode of communicating with others; it's what you do when you're on auto-pilot. You can actively choose to behave any way you want to, and takes awareness, discipline, and effort.

Communication is what the listener does, so as long as you're aware of how your intended audience communicates and you make the effort to adapt your behavior to suit that style, you'll be in better shape. But when all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a cliché. ... Or something like that.

- BJ

430jan's picture

If you didn't care about the details I doubt if you would have composed the forum post regarding caring about the details. It's a gift to be who you are, embrace it with your high "I" self!

DiSC is a super tool, and as others have said there aren't any rules about who you are, only opportunities to grow behaviors to boost the attributes that don't come so naturally. It takes a bit of guilt away. Instead of feeling inadequate about yourself it opens doors to change your behavior in tangible ways. I'm high D/high I. Even so, I spent a very hard day today preparing (after 2 years of feedback and coaching) to fire someone. These types of days will never do anything but make me very, very sick but my natural tendencies do not drive my commitment to the agency I serve. Knowing myself did help me to relax after work and spend some time taking care of myself. It makes life a bit less confusing...and that's a gift too.

Janet