People high in Dominance focus on results, challenges and control. They move fast, decide quickly and like to win. In William Moulton Marston’s 1928 book Emotions of Normal People, the D dimension described an active, assertive response to a challenging environment.
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The D Profile At A Glance
| Aspect | High D |
|---|---|
| Focus | Results and bottom line |
| Pace | Fast |
| Motivated by | Challenge, control, winning |
| Fears | Being taken advantage of, losing control |
| Under pressure | Impatient, demanding |
| Communication | Direct, brief |
How D People Behave At Work
- Take charge in uncertain situations.
- Set ambitious goals and push to reach them.
- Make decisions with limited information.
- Challenge rules that slow things down.
- Prefer autonomy over close supervision.
Strengths And Watch-Outs
| Strength | Watch-out |
|---|---|
| Decisive | Can skip input from others |
| Confident | Can seem arrogant |
| Competitive | Can create win-lose dynamics |
| Resilient | Can overlook others’ stress |
Under Stress
High Ds under pressure can become controlling, blunt or impatient. They may take over tasks, interrupt and push harder rather than step back.
How To Communicate With A High D
- Lead with the conclusion. “We need to decide X by Friday.”
- Offer options, not problems.
- Be confident and concise.
- Focus on outcomes, not feelings or detail.
- Disagree with facts, not emotion.
D Blends
| Blend | Description |
|---|---|
| Di | Dominance with Influence: persuasive, energetic leader |
| Dc | Dominance with Conscientiousness: demanding, high-standards problem solver |
| Ds | Dominance with Steadiness: determined but steady, less common |
Growing As A High D
- Ask others for input before deciding.
- Slow down for people who process more carefully.
- Recognise effort, not just results.
Explore other styles: Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness. See DISC careers and DISC communication styles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are high Ds good leaders?
Often, especially in crises or turnarounds, though they benefit from developing patience and listening.
Is D the same as being aggressive?
No. D describes assertiveness and directness, which can be expressed respectfully.
How common is the D style?
Commercial DISC providers report varying figures, but D is usually described as one of the less common primary styles.
DISC describes behaviour styles, not abilities. Not affiliated with any commercial DISC assessment.