What is an S Style Personality?

The letter 'S' in DISC represents the S personality type, also known as Steadiness. The S style is one of the four basic DISC personality types that originate from William Marston's DISC Model. Simply put, a High S style is supportive and reserved. They enjoy collaborating with others. S Styles make up approximately 33% of the New Zealand population.

Key Characteristics of an S Style Personality

S styles are patient, modest, and laid back. They are eager to help, loyal and make excellent team players due to their collaborative approach to work. They are typically cool, calm and collected people. S styles tend to be patient listeners, trustworthy, and balanced between tasks and people. They are very persistent.

S styles need stability and security and, therefore, need help with changes. They may be too willing to pitch in and at times are taken advantage of. Others may perceive S styles as too slow, stuck on the status quo, indecisive, stubborn and even quietly resentful. S styles value harmony and steady atmosphere. They can fear change, loss of stability, and offending others and may not perform well in conflict situations.

Communication of an S Style Personality

S personality styles listen more than they talk and often answer only when asked. They don't interject and tend to speak only when spoken to, for this reason, they are great listeners. They are great instructors and can see things from many viewpoints. They can often focus more on the negatives and subdue their excitement. When talking, S styles are not very animated and their communication style is somewhat reserverd. S Styles are more comfortable in one-on-one communication.

When communicating with S Style, establish trust and fairness. Proceed in a logical order, slow down and explain things in detail. Be prepared to provide them with assurances and clarification. Remember to focus on benefits to their team and people close to them. When an S style is speaking, allow them time to say what is on their mind, don't interrupt.

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How to Work With an S Style Personality

Emailing an S Style

Emails should be warm, sincere, and expressive. Remember to carefully craft the email, using language that is kind and courteous, fixing mistakes and using the correct grammar. Emails that read like a traditional letter format with a friendly greeting and closing and that are slightly longer in length will likely appeal to the S style. S styles are helpful and supportive by nature, emails that make them feel needed will motivate them to get involved.

Meeting with an S Style

Unlike their counterparts, S styles prefer meetings that are planned and organised ahead of time. They feel more comfortable when they are provided with an outline in advance. Explain your points carefully and in enough detail. Allow time for the S styles to think about your topics and ask questions or seek clarification.

Providing Feedback to an S Style

When giving feedback to S styles, be specific and offer real examples. Start with the positive areas first and provide negative feedback in a way that's reassuring, such as creating policies to make changes easier or offering to work with them to fix development areas. S styles often need time to process feedback, so offer them the chance to discuss the issues again later to give them time to think.

S Style Leadership Culture

An S style is a leader who guides, teaches, and develops employees. They are comfortable maintaining routines and tend to be steady and service-orientated. They prefer "small teams" as they have a very participative approach to their leadership. S syle leaders create a culture of trust, loyalty and sincerity. So, privacy and confidentiality of a team member are crucial to them and expected in return.

S Styles Working Remotely

S styles working remotely will work efficiently alone but over time. However, they may struggle with a lack of frequent check-ins at a personal and professional level. Ensure you schedule regular virtual meetings or calls at least once a day with your S style employees, so they do not feel disengaged or anxious.

What Does an S Style Personality Contribute to a Team?

S personalities thrive on being part of a team. While they may not emerge as the natural leader, they enjoy being in group environments. S styles are great listeners and bring harmony to the team. They are compliant towards authority and are loyal team players. S types help and support others, taking on responsibility when needed. They help to create consensus and bring all agreements and common principles to group meetings.

What are the Strengths of an S Type Personality?

S personalities are attentive towards the concerns of others and ensure all voices are heard. They are helpful, loyal, and support. S types appear very calm and controlled and create stability.

Calm and steady
Patient
Reliable
Builds trust
Diplomatic
Supportive of others

What are the Potential Weaknesses in an S Type Personality?

S personalities may oppose new ideas and be very cautious about embracing change. They prefer steady and incremental change. S styles listen and receive information from others but may not always provide information in return. An S style can be very steadfast in their principles and are always ready to defend their values.

Keeps the status quo
May require lots of support
Can be inflexible
Cautious in new situations
Will always help, often to their own detriment
Can become defensive and stubborn if pushed

Typical Careers for an S Style Personality

Your DISC style does not limit your career opportunities. DISC styles are all capable of working in any profession. The different DISC personality types may find some aspects of a job more or less challenging than the other styles.

S styles tend to gravitate toward career pathways that allow them to specialise in a particular area. They like to work on tasks one at a time and see them through from start to finish. They flourish in a team environment where everyone gets along, and there is little conflict. They enjoy working around people and are comfortable when they can create relationships with individuals and groups they trust.

Some of the tasks and work environments that suit the natural strengths of S personality types are:

A clearly defined role
Predictable, risk-free environment
Ability to work at their own pace
Relating to expertise
Being part of a team
No overlapping projects that are urgent

When finding a new career, S personality types should look for jobs that allow them to make a greater contribution to the organisation while using their own area of expertise. S styles like to have freedom from being at the mercy of others and used as just another resources. Some career pathways that include these factors are: