Everybody wants to be right. Sounds like an obvious statement. I’m mean, really, who doesn’t want to be right? But for some people, not being wrong is more important than being right. This subtle, yet significant, difference is in part, driven by our DISC style.
You may find, for example, that people with the Dominant (D) or Interactive (I) styles like to generate new and out-of-the-box ideas. They crank out innovative thoughts and possibilities, while simultaneously acknowledging that their ideas may not work. However, with a barrage of creativity, they assume that something is bound to stick. D’s and I’s are likely to be the ones to come up with the ideas, but if they are bad ideas, no worries, they can always generate more. But make no mistake, D’s and I’s like being right and when they share the ideas, the D confidence and I enthusiasm will make them sound pretty darn convinced that the ideas will work. D’s and I’s may just be described by the statement, “Often wrong, but never in doubt.”
People with the Conscientious (C) style think through their ideas before they share them. They subscribe to the philosophy of, “Measure twice, cut once.” C’s usually offer fully-formed ideas, rather than the half-baked ones that I’s tend to share….or at least half-baked from the C’s perspective. C’s are vested in doing things right and abhor the idea of being wrong. And if something goes bad and C is wrong, they take it personally and internally ask, “What did I miss?”
Supportive (S) styles are fundamentally concerned that others will be impacted by their decisions. S’s would be mortified if they were wrong and consequently created more work for others. For S’s it’s less about them being right or wrong and more about everyone being in consensus about a decision or idea. They don’t need to be the one to get the credit for an idea and actually prefer the anonymity of getting everyone onboard so that it’s a group decision. But like the C’s, if an S is wrong, they internalize the mistake and question their own process or ability.
So, sure, nobody likes to be wrong, our DISC style has a big impact on how we make decisions and how willing we are to risk making a mistake.