DiSC S styles

What does the S in DiSC mean?

The S in the Everything DiSC® model stands for steadiness. People with S-type personalities are often described as calm, peaceful, or even-tempered. They're dependable and enjoy collaboration. They show a great deal of concern for the feelings of the people around them.

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DiSC S style characteristics | Working well with DiSC S-style people |
S style variations: Si, SC, S

DiSC map showing fast-paced and outspoken at top, cautious and reflective at bottom, questioning and skeptical on the left, and accepting and warm at the right

How do you get typed as an S style in DiSC?

The DiSC model, at its foundation, is two-dimensional, measuring:

pace (from fast-paced and outspoken to cautious and reflective)
agreeableness (from questioning and skeptical to accepting and warm)

S styles are those personalities that are both cautious and reflective, and also accepting and warm.

An Everything DiSC assessment goes far beyond these two scales. When you take the assessment, you'll discover your placement within the DiSC circle model, which fine-tunes the four main DiSC styles into 12 more specific styles.

DiSC map showing a dot on the edge of the S quadrant

Dot placement

Human personality is incredibly varied, and the DiSC assessment recognizes this. Though people with S styles share high-level behavioral preferences, these traits show up in many ways. The dot placement on your Everything DiSC profile tells this story.

For example, you might be strongly inclined to the SC style, with your dot appearing on the far edge of the circle, in the S quadrant close to the C quadrant like the image shown here. Or you might be slightly inclined toward the S style with your dot appearing closer to the middle and centered in the S quadrant.

Learn more: DiSC^® dot and priorities explained

Think you have an S style?

Take your Everything DiSC Workplace assessment today to find out! Learning about your style can help you form stronger connections at work and at home.

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DiSC S style characteristics

Personality traits are informed by “driving assumptions.” These are beliefs—often unconscious—that direct a person’s behavior. The person might not be able to defend these statements rationally, but they have a great influence on shaping personalities. Those with a DiSC S style typically have core psychological needs such as: the need for harmony, the need to avoid burdening others, and the belief that they are valuable when they are helping people. Various people with S styles will identify with these core beliefs to varying degrees. Here are some ways that the needs of S-type people show up in their personalities.

Common traits:

When someone has a DiSC S style, you may notice their even-tempered nature and their consistent pace. Common S style traits include:

patient
cooperative
humble
dependable

Motivations:

S-style people generally want to make others happy, and as a result, tend to be very accommodating. They tend to be service-oriented and feel valuable when they are helping others. DiSC S style motivators include:

empathy
ensuring everyone gets along
stability

Priorities:

S-style people generally like to keep things running smoothly and enjoy making steady progress towards a goal. On the Everything DiSC Workplace® model, you'll see these priorities for DiSC S-style people: collaboration, stability, support. S styles feel most comfortable when they are able to prioritize:

supporting people
maintaining a steady pace
sticking to a plan

What they value:

Although each individual has a unique set of values, you can observe some common patterns among people with similar DiSC styles. For example, DiSC S-style people tend to value peaceful collaboration and stable environments. Other values of the DiSC S type include:

creating and maintaining harmony
trust
orderly systems and projects
loyalty

Stressors in the workplace:

Knowing common stressors for the S type can help you build better relationships with your S-style coworkers. Managers should keep in mind the situations that tend to stress S styles out so they can offer support when these situations arise. Things that DiSC S-style people find stressful include:

working without clear guidelines
arguing for their point of view
making quick, bold decisions

Fears:

Each DiSC style has core fears. People don't always recognize these fears on a conscious level, yet the fears inform many decisions and behaviors. S-style people fear:

letting people down
rapid change
confrontation

How they influence others:

S-type people influence others using the traits and behaviors that come naturally to them. When someone with an S style is trying to influence others, you may notice:

accommodation
consistent performance

How they handle conflict:

Like all styles, DiSC S styles in conflict situations can use their natural tendencies in both productive and destructive ways. S-type people in conflict generally listen with empathy and demonstrate a willingness to compromise. However, they can also become passive and give in to please others. During conflict, S styles may:

present a diplomatic and reassuring demeanor
choose to ignore problems or let them simmer

May need to work on:

DiSC assessments are great tools to help identify both strengths and weaknesses. Growth opportunities for S-type personalities include:

sharing their ideas
valuing their own needs
cultivating a quicker pace when the situation calls for it

S-style managers

S-style managers tend to look for stability and prefer an orderly, peaceful environment. They enjoy providing support and helping their teams progress steadily toward a goal.

Learn about common traits of S-style managers, and how they can utilize skills that don't come as naturally to them to hone their management skills. Read more on our learning hub.

S-style managers are even-tempered, accommodating, and patient

Working well with DiSC S-style people

People with DiSC S personality types bring a lot to their workplaces. Their even-tempered nature and excellent listening skills are assets on many different types of teams. In group situations, people with S styles often play the peacemaker role. They seek compromise and try to make everyone happy. Because S-type folks are so calm and accommodating, you may have to pay attention to subtler behaviors than with other styles. The advice for working well with S-type coworkers will differ based on your own personality type. For example, the challenges a D-style person might have communicating with an S-style teammate are likely quite different from those of two S-style people. That said, here are some general tips for working with DiSC S styles.

Communicating with S styles

Because people with different DiSC styles have different communication preferences, you can strengthen your relationships by learning some style-based communication tips. If you have an S style, these behaviors may come naturally to you. If you don't have an S style, you may benefit from reviewing the best way to communicate with S types. Here are some S-style communication tips:

Leave space for them to speak.
Notice and celebrate their work.
Be personal, amiable, and polite.
Make your expectations clear.
Express your interest in them.

S styles in meetings

To run good meetings with S types, review their priorities and motivators. S-style meeting tips include maintaining an amiable environment and providing explanations and details when presenting big changes that could make them feel less secure. Here are some more meeting tips for DiSC S styles:

Be clear about deadlines.
Avoid being unnecessarily confrontational.
Understand that big changes might be more stressful for them than for other styles.

Problem-solving with S styles

When problem-solving with S-type people, remember that they appreciate warmth and are naturally accepting. S styles often put other people's needs before their own, and when problem-solving, you may need to check on their workload while delegating tasks to prevent them from overcommitting. Here are some S-style problem-solving tips:

Check in regularly on their stress levels and workload.
Respect their cautious pace.
Consider other people’s feelings when making decisions.

Do S-style people make good salespeople?

S-style salespeople take time to build sincere, trusting relationships. They display a genuine interest in their customers and take pride in supporting them over the long run.

Learn more about the 8 styles of salespeople and how you can stretch into other sales styles to meet the needs of your customers on our learning hub.

The S styles: S, Si, SC

Everyone is a blend of all four DiSC styles: D, i, S, and C. But most people tend strongly toward one or two styles. If your style falls on a border with another style, you probably show traits associated with that style, as well. Thus, S styles often show traits associated with the i and C styles. Part of the reason the Everything DiSC model scores so high in accuracy is that it helps you discover not just your main DiSC style but your sub-style as well.

The Si style

The Si style is the S style closest to the i quadrant, so Si-type people display some i-style tendencies in addition to S-style behaviors. This means Si-style people are typically the most approachable and upbeat of the S styles.

Common Si-style traits: collaborative, well-liked, team-spirited, positive, encouraging, conflict-averse, over-extended, approachable, generous, compassionate

Learn about Si styles

The SC style

SC-style people share some priorities and behaviors with the C style. This means that of the S styles, SC-style people are usually the most patient and consistent of the S styles.

Common SC-style traits: stable, consistent, predictable, accommodating, patient, inflexible, self-controlled, reliable, thoughtful, soft-spoken

Learn about SC styles

The S style (“solid S”)

People who fall solidly in the middle of the S quadrant in the DiSC model are sometimes referred to as having “solid S styles.” Their personalities likely align most closely with the larger S-style qualities discussed on this page.

Common S-style traits: sincere, cooperative, gentle, supportive, patient, stable, consistent, diplomatic

Other styles

D styles

fast-paced & outgoing, questioning & skeptical

Learn about D styles

i styles

fast-paced & outgoing, accepting & warm

Learn about i styles

C styles

cautious & reflective, questioning & skeptical

Learn about C styles

What is your style?

Do you have the DiSC S personality type? If so, how does your unique personality differ from the typical S type? Taking a DiSC assessment is the first step toward meeting many personal development goals. Not only will you understand your own behaviors more, but you’ll learn how to form better relationships at home and work. We recommend starting your DiSC journey with Everything DiSC Workplace.

Take a DiSC assessment