The Captain
People with the D (Captain) personality type tend to be assertive, intense, and ambitious. They are usually pragmatic, results-oriented executors who work quickly and make decisions with firmness and objectivity.
With a position on the top left of the DISC, Captains prefer more independence and may be drained when others expect them to be more collaborative. They also may prefer to be in control over a situation, rather than in position to react to others.
Captains tend to be very individualistic and determined. People with this personality type are likely to be self-reliant, resourceful, and self-sufficient in pursuing their daily activities.
They prefer dealing with people in a direct, straightforward manner and are likely to appreciate others engaging them with similar candor. Because Captains tend to be quite comfortable with conflict, they may initiate competitive interactions and would benefit from realizing that their desire to win may be stronger than their sensitivity to the needs of others.
In summary, D personality types tend to…
Be resourceful, strong-willed, and self-reliant in pursuing goals.
Enjoy engaging others in competitive situations.
Place high expectations on performance from yourself and others.
Enjoy lively debate.
Resists influence from others.
Every personality archetype has strengths and blind spots, and these are often amplified in professional settings where we often encounter a diverse group of people with vastly different backgrounds and value systems.
Strengths that are typically associated with the D personality type include...
Communicating directly, using facts and informal language.
Focusing on results and realistic expectations.
Being quick, independent and firm when making decisions.
Using goal-oriented approach to assigning work, omitting unnecessary details.
Operating with a sense of urgency.
Motivating others by creating competitive challenges.
Directing others in an impersonal manner with clarity and precision.
Being comfortable with responsibility and ownership over results.
Blind spots that are typically associated with the D personality type include…
Failing to involve others in problem-solving due to desire for an immediate solution.
Omitting too many details for the sake of brevity.
Displaying impatience when providing detailed instruction.
Having the urge to criticize others who do not share a sense of urgency.
Maintaining control by delegating responsibility but not authority.
Directing others so forcefully that they don't ask questions or discuss potential problems.
Reacting aggressively when others try to limit authority or autonomy.
Working with such a sense of urgency that it may cause others unnecessary stress.
Conversation should be direct and straightforward, using a confident and assertive tone.
Meetings should be very brief, to the points, and only scheduled when necessary.
Emails should be brief, business-like, and get right to the point.
Feedback should be direct, actionable, and focused on the most important points.
Conflict is essential to improvement, as long as it is actionable and objective.
When people experience pain, stress, or dissatisfaction at work, it can usually be attributed to energy-draining activities. Therefore, it’s important to know what kinds of activities energize each personality type and which activities drain them.
Captains tend to be motivated and energized by…
Completing ambitious projects on a tight deadline.
Taking primary responsibility and ownership over large projects.
Making decisions quickly with limited data.
Making decisions on behalf of other people.
Uses goal-oriented approach to assigning work, omitting unnecessary details.
Setting up and participating in competitions.
Seeing tangible, measurable results, milestones, and accomplishments.
Providing goal-focused direction to others without needing to provide detailed instructions.
Communicating with quick conversations and messages, only when necessary.
Captains tend to be drained by…
Paying close attention to the needs and concerns of other people.
Asking for feedback regularly.
Playing a supporting role on the team and staying out of the spotlight.
Responding to difficult situations with empathy and compassion.
Promoting teamwork and cooperation between parties.
Following up and checking in with other people when they are dealing with a challenge.
Taking time to understand how people are feeling about a recent change.
Listening to questions from other people and responding thoughtfully.
Building long-term trust and loyalty with consistent, predictable behavior.
Captains tend to gravitate toward positions of authority. They can be huge sources of motivation and they set an aggressive pace meant to achieve results as efficiently as possible.
They can also be relentlessly competitive, with themselves and with others. Asking a Captain to do anything they perceive as tedious or mundane will likely result in them either ignoring the request or delegating it to someone else.
Common jobs for people with the D personality type are:
President
CEO
Executive
Founder
Entrepreneur
Lawyer
Operations manager
Policeman or policewoman
Director
