S Style DISC Personality

What is an S style Personality?

The “S” in DISC stands for the Steadiness personality type, one of the four primary styles from William Marston’s DISC Model. Individuals with a High S style are supportive, patient, and reserved. They value collaboration and enjoy working alongside others, often seeking harmony and stability in their relationships and environments. S Styles make up approximately 30% of the worldwide population.

Key Characteristics of an S Style Personality

DISC Profile S styles are calm, modest, and laid back. These are the team builders of the world. They care about everyone else, in some cases, to the extent of their own expense. S styles tend to be patient listeners, trustworthy, and persistent. They are balanced between tasks and people. DISC Profile S styles are reliable and stable with an emphasis on cooperating with whoever is in charge to carry out tasks.

S styles are:

• Calm
• Steady
• Careful
• Patient
• Trustworthy
• Modest

Communication of an S Style Personality

DISC Assessment S personality types tend to speak calmly and warm-heartedly. They have a reserved communication style. They are great instructors but prefer to listen more than they talk. S styles tend to be the ones not speaking in a group situation, as they are more comfortable in one-on-one communication. Steadiness personality types like to create trust and rapport during interactions and are happy talking about topics that they have mastered.

S styles usually ask ‘how’ questions like:

• ‘How are we going to do this?’
• ‘How do you feel about that?’

When communicating with S Style individuals, slow down and explain in detail. Establish trust and fairness and proceed in a logical order. Demonstrate the advantages to their team and people close to them. 

How to Work with an S Style Personality

Meeting with a S Style

Meetings should have a prepared agenda and be done in person. S styles are very comfortable with small talk, so be prepared to slow down and allow the small talk to happen. S styles are not comfortable asking questions in a group setting. Ensure you follow-up to make their voice heard.

Emailing an S Style

Emails to a DISC S Style should be warm, sincere, and expressive. Try to adopt a friendly tone and open your email with the line “I hope this finds you well.” Write relatively long emails with a few paragraphs and convey the message clearly and thoroughly. End your email with “sincerely”, “all the best, or “best wishes.”

Providing an S Style with Feedback

Feedback should be given in private, thoughtfully explained and delivered with empathy. Be gentle and take your time to explain the reason for the feedback. Show them how the changes will positively impact their wider team.

Motivating S Styles

Genuine appreciation and acceptance by others drive the S styles. Time is a significant motivator of the DISC S types. Do not put pressure on them, while they can hide it well, S styles can get frustrated by others’ impatience. Instead, allow them time without interruption to adjust to a situation.

Managing S Styles

As manager of an S style, you must win their trust first. To maintain it, keep your promises, show the right attitude towards work, and treat them as a personality rather than just a means of producing results. When managing S personality types, give them plenty of space to adjust to changes and listen to them while they speak.

S Styles Working Remotely

Remote work is most suited to your S Style workers, especially if they are working at home with friends or family. Ensure you offer them enough support to cope with the change in working environments. 

S Style Leaders

Supporting leaders are comfortable in maintaining routines and in general, tend to be stable and service-orientated. Steadiness personality types prefer “small teams” as they have a very participative approach to their leadership. Because this type of leader is so patient, they also have a great ability to guide, teach and develop their people.

What does an S Style Personality Contribute to a Team?

For an S Style, it is imperative to be part of one team. They look for security, the feeling of being a part of something, continuity and trust. They give a lot to the group they belong to, being one of the “workhorses” in the team. Type S personality styles try to see all sides of the situation and create an inclusive atmosphere. They ensure tasks are completed and support others to complete their work.

What are the Strengths of an S Type Personality?

DISC S styles are very attentive to the needs and concerns of other people, and they like to praise and encourage others. S styles can stay on task for long periods and produce a meaningful contribution to the organisation. S types can present themselves in a calm and controlled manner, using the ability to concentrate as a means to listen and learn.

These strengths come easily and naturally to S personality types:

• Working systematically
• Making small improvements
• Developing routines
• Takes the team into account
• Won’t make hasty decisions
• Listens to everyone

What are the Potential Weaknesses in an S Type Personality?

DISC Profile S styles need stability and security and, therefore, need help with changes. They may be too willing to help out and at times are taken advantage of by others. Type S personality styles can be too slow, stuck on the status quo, indecisive, stubborn and even quietly resentful. S types are not always direct when communicating and avoid giving feedback to others who may need it.

S styles: 

• Hold on firmly to traditions
• Doesn’t react or make decisions quickly
• Makes small changes only
• May fall into a non-developing routine

Typical Careers for an S Style Personality

Type S personality styles tend to thrive in predictable, calm, and cooperative environments. They are comfortable with consistent and stable work. Steadiness personality types want their work to be meaningful and have a more significant contribution to the organisation while operating in their area of expertise.

Jobs best suited to S behaviours are:

• Social Worker
• Medical Practitioner
• Teacher
• Physical Therapist
• Human Resources Manager

It’s important to note that your DISC personality type does not limit your career opportunities in any way. It simply helps you understand what behaviours will take energy and which come naturally to you.

S Style Celebrity Personalities

• Princess Diana (British Royal Family Member)
• Mother Teresa (Roman Catholic Nun and Missionary)
• Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
• Nicole Kidman (Actress)
• Michelle Obama (wife of former US President)
• Gandhi (Writer and Social Activist)
• Raj Koothrappali (The Big Bang Theory)

What about the other DISC Styles?

D personality styles are risk-takers, decisive and results-oriented. They move fast and complete tasks quickly.

I personality styles are talkative, optimistic and lively. They are people-focused and influence others.

C personality are logical, analytical and correct. They are task-focused and get things done accurately.