iS style

People with the DiSC iS style personality are often welcoming, trusting, and easygoing. People with iS styles value friendship and collaboration, and often have a strong need for connection.

What do the 'i' and the 'S' in DiSC mean?

The i in the Everything DiSC® model stands for influence. The S stands for steadiness. People whose DiSC® profile shows an iS style display both the influence of the i style and the steadiness of the S style. They are patient and empathetic, always ready to offer their support to others. They tend to have a generally positive attitude and to see the good in others.

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DiSC iS style characteristics | Working well with DiSC iS-style people |
Similar styles: i and Si

What is a DiSC style blend?

Everyone is a mixture of all DiSC styles, but most people tend toward one or two. While some individuals' DiSC assessment results will show a style with just one letter (D, i, S, or C), others will show a 2-letter style (iS, SC, CD, etc.).

These 2-letter styles are style blends, and they indicate that an individual's personality type falls near the border between two of the four main quadrants.

Everything DiSC® assessment takers can see this clearly in their results by looking at where their dot is placed on the DiSC map. If your dot is close to the border with another style, you probably show traits associated with that style, as well. Thus, i styles often share characteristics with the D or S styles.

The Everything DiSC test is calibrated to help you discover which main DiSC style quadrant you fall into, and if your results show a blend, which style blend best fits you.

Dot placement

There's a lot of variety within each of the four main DiSC styles because human personality is so wonderfully varied! People with iS styles share many high-level traits, but each iS-style person manifests the style differently. The dot placement on your Everything DiSC profile will help you discover your unique place on the DiSC map.

For example, you might be strongly inclined to the iS style with your dot appearing on the far edge of the circle and between the i and S lines. Or you might be slightly inclined toward the style, with your dot appearing closer to the middle.

Learn more: DiSC^® dot and priorities explained

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 iS 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)

These two scales form the four primary DiSC quadrants.

However, these are just a starting place for the Everything DiSC assessment. This assessment will tell you not only your main DiSC style (D, i, S, or C) but which of the 12 style blends best represents you and how strongly you align with those traits.

A more detailed look at the DiSC map reveals both the four main quadrants and eight scales.

Everything DiSC® assessments measure respondents on these eight scales: D (Dominance), Di/iD, i (influence), iS/Si, S (Steadiness), SC/CS, C (Conscientiousness), and CD/DC.

People with the iS style score highest on the iS/Si scale. Further, their responses show tendencies slightly more in line with the i style than the S style. People with i styles are outgoing and enthusiastic. S-style folks are even-tempered and patient. iS styles are a blend of the two, with a bit more i than S.

This is another way that Everything DiSC accounts for how varied our personalities can be!

Why is the i in iS lowercase?

The small i in DiSC helps you distinguish Everything DiSC® and DiSC® Classic products from other assessments based on the DISC model. Learn what makes Everything DiSC different.

Think you have an iS style?

Take an Everything DiSC Workplace assessment today to find out. Learning about your DiSC style can help you identify strengths and areas for growth in and out of the workplace!

Take the DiSC assessment

DiSC iS style characteristics

Personality traits are informed by the driving assumptions that we have: unconscious beliefs that shape our personalities and influence our decisions. While these driving beliefs are often hidden from our rational minds, they do have an influence on our behavior.

Individuals with a DiSC iS style typically have a few core psychological needs, including the need to be accepted, the need for interpersonal harmony, and the need to make others happy. People with iS styles will identify with these unconscious beliefs to varying degrees. Here are some ways that the core needs of iS-type people show up in their personalities and behavior.

Common traits:

When someone has an iS style in DiSC, they may come off as warm, welcoming, and upbeat. They display many behavioral traits people associate with extroverts. Common iS style traits include:

friendly
expressive
collaborative
optimistic

Motivations:

iS-type people typically enjoy collaboration and helping their teammates. Since they're people-centered, individuals with iS styles often feel motivated when their teams are cohesive and community-focused. DiSC iS style motivators include:

doing what's best for the group
community
encouraging others

Priorities:

The Everything DiSC Workplace model shows these priorities for the DiSC iS style: enthusiasm, collaboration, and support. They want to cultivate a comfortable environment and help others feel a sense of belonging. People with iS styles prioritize:

offering support
ensuring their teammates feel included
expressing enthusiasm

What they value:

Every person you meet has their own unique set of values. However, you'll notice some common patterns among people with similar DiSC styles. For example, DiSC iS-style people tend to value connecting with others, fostering creativity, and collaboration. Other values of the DiSC iS type include:

relationships
coaching and counseling
warmth and empathy

Stressors in the workplace:

You can better understand your iS-style coworkers if you know common stressors for their style. Managers should be aware of the situations that tend to stress out an iS-style employee in order to provide better support when these situations arise. Things that DiSC iS-style people find stressful include:

giving and receiving critical feedback
making hard decisions independently
speaking up about problems
pressuring others

Fears:

Each personality type has core fears. People may not be consciously aware of these fears, but they still influence decisions and behaviors. iS-style people fear:

being disliked
conflict

How they influence others:

iS-type people are very concerned with how they influence others (that's what the i in iS stands for, after all). People with iS styles use the traits natural to them to influence people around them, such as:

agreeableness
empathy
approachability

How they handle conflict:

Like all styles, DiSC iS styles have personality traits that are both productive and destructive in conflict situations. iS-type people in conflict generally help make conflict productive by listening to others empathetically and working to understand others' points of view. However, iS types might avoid conflict altogether, and appear withdrawn when it arises. During conflict, iS styles may:

avoid it
take criticism personally
give in to please others

May need to work on:

DiSC assessments help you understand both strengths and weaknesses. Growth opportunities for iS-type personalities include:

holding others accountable
standing firm in their opinions
practicing skepticism or objectivity

iS-style managers

iS-type managers are encouraging, enthusiastic, and collaborative. They tend to be great listeners who love building team spirit and helping individuals reach their full potential.

Discover common traits of iS-style managers, along with fresh insights that can help them hone their people management skills. Read more on our learning hub.

i-style managers are outgoing, enthusiastic, and optimistic

Working well with DiSC iS-style people

iS-style teammates contribute a balance of enthusiasm and support to their team dynamics. Their warm, upbeat dispositions can add energy to tasks and meetings. They care deeply about cultivating community and are flexible to accommodate their teammates' needs and interests. While tips for working with an iS style will vary based on your DiSC style, there are some general tips that can help you work better with your iS style teammates.

Communicating with iS styles

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

Express interest in them.
Avoid being confrontational or too aggressive.
Work collaboratively with them.

iS styles in meetings

For effective meetings with iS types, review their priorities and motivators. iS-style meeting tips include making time for social connections while being clear about deadlines/decisions that need to be made. Here are some more meeting tips for DiSC iS styles:

Share ideas and successes.
Understand that they might need some time to process the feedback before moving forward.
Be personal; make time to chat, even if it’s not directly work-related.

Problem-solving with iS styles

When problem-solving with iS-type people, remember that they appreciate having a safe, inclusive space to collaborate on solutions. As you work through a problem, reassure your iS-style colleague that your relationship will stay strong even if there are disagreements. Here are some iS-style problem-solving tips:

Create a space where they feel comfortable speaking up.
Make sure you’re not dismissing their perspectives.
Avoid being confrontational or too aggressive.
Be clear about deadlines and when you need them to make decisions.

Do iS style people make good salespeople?

iS-style salespeople like to connect with customers on a personal level. Their warm demeanor and enthusiasm put customers at ease. iS folks have a genuine interest in getting to know other people, and customers can sense that.

Learn more about the 8 types of sales people on our learning hub!

Similar styles: i and Si

The Everything DiSC circumplex is divided into 12 distinct styles. The wedges on either side of the iS wedge are i and Si. This means the i and Si styles are most similar to the iS style.

The i style

People with i styles share many similarities with iS-style individuals, but are likely a bit more fast-paced, energetic, and social.

Learn about i styles

The Si style

As you would expect, Si-type folks have a lot in common with iS-style people. Both styles score high on the iS/Si scale. People with Si styles tend to be somewhat more even-tempered, cautious, and reflective than iS-style individuals.

Learn about Si styles

Other styles

D styles

fast-paced & outgoing, questioning & skeptical

Learn about D styles

S styles

cautious & reflective, accepting & warm

Learn about S styles

C styles

cautious & reflective, questioning & skeptical

Learn about C styles

What is your style?

Do you have the DiSC iS personality type? If so, how does your unique personality differ from the typical iS type? Taking a DiSC assessment is the first step toward understanding yourself better and forming better relationships at home and work. We recommend you start your DiSC journey with Everything DiSC Workplace.

Take a DiSC assessment