The core traits of each DISC style remain consistent across generations. However, they are expressed differently based on life experiences and the world they live in.
Someone with the D style, or as I call them, Eagles, born in 1966 and another born in 2026 both desire results. What changes is the environment they grew up in—technology, parenting norms, economic shifts, cultural expectations, and whether they experienced peace or war—all influence how that drive manifests.
Here’s how the results-oriented Eagles (D’s) , social Parrots (I’s), empathetic Doves (S’s), and logical Owls (C’s) express themselves across generations.
Gen Z
🦅 Eagles: Digital natives with urgency. Authority doesn’t impress them, competence does. They move fast and will pivot their jobs or careers instantly if they don’t serve their long-term goals.
🦜 Parrots: Social fluency comes naturally. They easily build communities both online and offline. They share ideas confidently and expect engagement, not silence.
🕊 Doves: Very sensitive to emotional safety. Mental well-being is their top priority. They value inclusion and fairness and will not accept a toxic environment.
🦉 Owls: With abundant information, analysis becomes power. They verify facts carefully and research thoroughly before making decisions. They take pride in their technical skills.
Millennials
🦅 Eagles: Ambitious yet pragmatic, they seek meaningful achievement. Many combine career ambitions with lifestyle design, building businesses or side ventures.
🦜 Parrots: Prefer collaboration over hierarchy, growing up with group projects and the rise of social media. They thrive in team settings and value flexibility.
🕊 Doves: Purpose-driven, they want work that aligns with their values. Loyalty must be reciprocal, and they will leave a leader who doesn’t support them.
🦉 Owls: Prioritize competence over charisma. With Google at their fingertips, they fact-check everything, read reviews before purchasing, and respond with well-formed perspectives after research.
Gen X
🦅 Eagles: Independent and self-directed. They respect autonomy and results. Micromanagement is the quickest way to lose them.
🦜 Parrots: Charismatic and optimistic. They connect through humor and shared experience. They prefer in-person rapport over constant digital connection.
🕊 Doves: Steady and dependable. Often, the glue in organizations. They balance work and family quietly, carrying more than others know.
🦉 Owls: Practical analysts. They value competence over the spotlight. They may distrust trends until proven useful. Their strength lies in steady judgment.
Baby Boomers
🦅 Eagles: Competitive and achievement-focused. They build careers within structured hierarchies and respect titles and tenure. Recognition often comes through formal advancement.
🦜 Parrots: Relational networkers. They build influence through face-to-face connections long before LinkedIn. Storytelling is a strength.
🕊 Doves: Loyal to organizations and leaders. They value stability and commitment. Many stay in roles for decades, investing deeply in the organization.
🦉 Owls: Detail-oriented and disciplined. They learn systems before automation simplifies them. They may pursue incremental change or revolutionary innovation.
Overall
The core traits of each style remain consistent over time. What changes is how those traits manifest within a specific generation. When you connect someone’s style to the era that shaped them, you gain clearer insight into why they think, decide, and act the way they do.
About Merrick Rosenberg
Merrick Rosenberg is the creator of the Eagle, Parrot, Dove, and Owl personality framework and author of Personality Intelligence: Master the Art of Being You. As an award-winning speaker and founder of Take Flight Learning, Merrick has helped hundreds of thousands of people unlock the power of personality styles to transform their communication, leadership, and relationships. He’s on a mission to make self-awareness accessible, fun, and unforgettable.
