Although mild stress is not usually a cause for concern, it is crucial to ensure that it does not persist or intensify. Different DISCp4 profiles react to and manage stress in different ways.
Factors
Lack of control
Delays
Not being challenged
Criticism or questioning of their work
Incompetence, inefficiency or irresponsibility of co-workers or even themself
Absence or lack of decision-making, absence or lack of action
Opposition to ideas, immobility, downtime, slowness or doubts
Isolation or loneliness
Routine
Absence or lack of recognition, especially from a social point of view
Conflicts
Aggressive, even hostile relationships
Suppression of creative freedom and procedures in general
Changes which are sudden or which impact people
Insecurity
Instability
Aggressiveness, especially towards their tribe
Urgency and pressure in general
Conflicts between others or inconsistencies
Inconsistencies
Time pressure or lack of time
Disorganization
Criticism, especially if it's gratuitous
Chatter, digressions, endless and aimless discussions
Exuberant gestures
Absence or lack of information or logic, imprecision in general
Credits: Vecteur de croissance
Credits: Vecteur de croissance
Credits: Vecteur de croissance
Credits: Vecteur de croissance
Mild stress
If under mild stress, people adjust their behavior to their circumstances and what is happening around them. Each DISCp4 profile reacts in a unique way, but in general, stress tends to amplify each person's characteristic traits.
In the case of red profiles, their fiery temperament intensifies under mild stress. They use brusque gestures and display sudden mood swings and impatience. Their extroverted nature increases, they make decisions even faster and their behavior can become aggressive.
For yellow profiles, mild stress serves to exacerbate their theatrical behavior. They become more extroverted, use more expansive gestures, and their enthusiasm can seem overpowering. They tend to exaggerate in their actions and their words, sometimes to the point of appearing ridiculous. They may make hurtful personal or professional remarks and find it hard to concentrate, easily losing their focus.
With green profiles, even slight stress can paralyze them and accentuate their introversion, causing them to withdraw further into themselves, sometimes to the point of utter submission. They tend to conceal their emotions even more, to become extremely attentive and listen more closely, or to have considerable difficulty taking any initiatives.
Where blue profiles are concerned, exacerbated stress brings out their fears, sometimes prompting them to back down. Their introversion may intensify and they may opt for more visual types of communication, or display a heightened need to master subjects in greater detail.
Major stress
As stress increases, the types of behavior associated with the different DISCp4 profiles can change dramatically.
Dominant profiles can change in surprising ways when under major stress, going so far as to become introverted, retreating or withdrawing altogether. Some Dominant profiles, often in leadership roles, may even abruptly terminate a project or activity, with serious and irreversible consequences for the team or organization.
Influential profiles react very negatively to high levels of stress, reducing their usual expressiveness and sliding into introversion. They may feel excluded or less appreciated by those around them. In extreme cases, some Influential profiles, including company managers, may break off relationships with clients they perceive as insufficiently grateful, or even express their distress through spontaneous and unexpected crying fits during critical meetings.
Stable profiles can behave radically differently under major stress. They sometimes become extroverted and can display surprising aggressivity. Their behavior, which may even lead to outbursts of anger, shows signs of rage that are difficult to control. It's crucial not to underestimate these reactions, for although rare, they are intense and can have serious consequences, as their anger can provoke definitive rather than temporary results.
Conscientious people, usually measured and reserved, can become surprisingly expressive under intense stress. They start to express their accumulated frustrations clearly and in a structured way, not hesitating to bring up old disputes (the skeletons in the closet). At such times, there's a real risk that they'll adopt a posture of total confrontation, rejecting any attempt at mediation or compromise, and even turning into naysayers.
Consequences
Stress is generally harmful. However, mild stress can sometimes be beneficial in overcoming a blockage, although it should not be used excessively or systematically.
In general
Red and yellow profiles will be ready to pick up the pace. This is known as positive acceleration.
They can be set challenges or dares, sometimes combined with bonuses. For Dominant profiles, having challenges set is stimulating, while it's an effective way to energize Influential profiles. It's best to favour short-term objectives, start over completely after each task or cycle, segment any tests, and organize special days full of action. Festive moments such as Christmas, Thanksgiving or New Year's Eve can also be given prominence.
Green and blue profiles will need to calm things down. This is called a positive slowdown.
Encouraging group relaxation activities rather than competition is beneficial. It is also crucial to respect and show the importance of break times such as meals, celebrate collective successes, hold productive meetings, mentor newcomers, and implement relevant training.
An ongoing situation of stress or conflict needs to be de-escalated.
With a dominant profile, it's usually enough to clarify things simply and directly.
With an influential profile, it's effective to focus on reinforcing their self-esteem, as well as the trust and affection the team shows them.
For someone with a Stable profile, it's vital to intervene quickly to ease tensions before they reach the limit of what they can stand.
With a Conscientious profile, it's important to allow them to present their arguments methodically, and to acknowledge them one by one. The mistake to avoid is being too quick to agree with them, without really considering the points they have made.
In a group
The DISCp4 wheel can help detect hidden feelings of stress among co-workers.
Although differences between the adapted profile (left-hand wheel) and the natural profile (right-hand wheel) are common, reflecting the way people adopt to different situations, they can also indicate underlying feelings of stress, to varying degrees. If any doubts remain, it may be advisable to carry out a new test to accurately assess the team's situation.
The example above shows the results for a group on site. We can see that some people have very similar adapted and natural profiles, while others adapt more.
For person n°4, there are almost no differences. They need to feel at ease in their working environment and show their true face.
People n°1 and n°3 adapt slightly, but with no significant changes.
Person n°2 displays a noticeable difference between their natural profile and their adapted profile, a sign that they are making an effort to adapt to their team, whether they are aware of this or not.
This example also shows an overall shift of profiles to the left. We can therefore suppose that the team is under stress or in a productive phase, as they are concentrating on action.
