Direct, Driven and Assertive: D (Dominant) DISC Profile for Authors

Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a 50,000-word book, only to be told it’s not good enough. Would you be devastated or determined to turn it around?

In last week’s blog, I introduced you to a secret weapon in my business: the DISC personality profiling tool.

Meet Paul Taylor, a high ‘D’ profile (D = Dominance). After chatting to him for a few minutes, this was plain to see, and it was something we acknowledged and talked about early on.

Let me give you an insight into how this impacted upon how we worked together as I supported him to write his first book.

‘D’ Strengths = Direct, driven, and assertive

High Ds are recognisable because they are direct, driven and goal orientated people. They are self-confident, decisive and results focused.

Paul had an initial conversation with me because of a recommendation from a former client. He’d already written 50,000 words and, although he’d had a good response from friends, he wasn’t happy with it.

After having a quick look, I had to give him some difficult feedback, as it wasn’t going to hit the mark as a book. There was a lot of repetition, the information didn’t flow from one clear topic to another, and there was no impactful idea that was going to be a game-changer for his business.

Already recognising his high D profile, this made this process relatively easy as I didn’t need to beat around the bush. I knew that Paul would take the feedback on the chin and decide quickly as to whether he wanted to pursue the project, which he did.

When Paul and I discussed the best way he could work with me, I recognised that a one-to-one programme would be much better for him than working on an online programme or as part of a group, which would likely frustrate him.

I also knew that Paul would want our mentoring sessions to be to the point. So apart from a few pleasantries, we get onto the task quite quickly, and our hour-long scheduled calls rarely last more than 20 minutes.

‘D’ Limitations = Struggle with detail, impatient, may miss things that are important

High Ds can see the bigger picture, but they can struggle with detail.

With Paul, I knew that we needed to focus on encapsulating his big idea for the book early on. We needed to create the vision, the focus and then the structure. I also knew that once we had this in place, Paul would find it easier to write and finish his book. So, we started with a day together initially to plan out the book and create a framework for his writing.

Our mentoring focused a lot on me providing feedback. Partly because Paul valued my input and suggestions and partly because high Ds can benefit from an alternate point of view with suggestions for improvement. Helping Paul to see the detail and sharing my ideas were hugely valuable in refining the narrative.

And, because high Ds can struggle with detail, I knew that referencing would not come easily. This meant that I was able to advise on the best way to manage this process. I knew that my recommended editor would be able to support him further at this later stage.

As Paul’s book is linked to a pivot in his business focus and additional learning he has done over the last year, it has taken longer than he has wished for – impatience is another trait! – but we know it’s better and more comprehensive as a result.

At the time of writing, Paul is on the cusp of handing his final manuscript over to the publishing team. Essential Habits of Future Financial Planners will be launched this spring.

If you identify with the ‘D’ profile, how does this affect how you write your book?

• Find a book mentor or coach who can work with you on a personal and individual basis, so you can focus solely on your goals rather than the collective goals of others. This will help you to ensure that your book meets your objectives and that the programme is tailor-made to your needs.
• You will value someone who can help you with the detail and the structure, so you don’t get lost in it. Without structure, you might have a lot of words but not a great book. Regular feedback will keep you on track and focused on the goal you want to achieve.
• You will benefit from working to a timescale that’s challenging but also fits in with everything else in your life that’s important. Your goals need to stretch you but not burn you out.
• Don’t try and do everything yourself, as you will quickly find yourself frustrated. Bring in a team of people who can project manage your book and support you every step of the way. These people will be experts in different parts of the process. Specially make sure you get an editor on board who can dot your i’s and cross your t’s and can check your work is referenced correctly and legally.
• Don’t miss out on opportunities to talk about your book as you write it. You are likely good at managing multiple tasks so, although confidence won’t be your biggest issue, you may miss out because you don’t have time to do everything.

If you identify with the ‘D’ profile, how does this affect your readers?

You are likely to want to create a succinct book that provides practical, actionable information and strategy. Remember that your ideal readers may be another profile.

‘I’ readers will appreciate stories and personal anecdotes.

‘S’ readers will want to feel understood and supported to make any changes in their life.

‘C’ readers want well-researched and referenced detail to support your energy and enthusiasm.

Getting support with your book

If you are a high D profile, then let’s chat about how I can support you as your Book Mentor.

The best option for you is working with me on a one-to-one basis. If you are a time-strapped CEO, I can offer you a “done-with-you” six-week writing sprint if you are eager to craft a compelling book quickly.

You can book a call with me to discuss this and other options here: https://librotasbookfocus.youcanbook.me.

What did you think about this post. Are you a high D or know someone who is? Check out next week’s blog post where I’ll explore the ‘I’.

A word of caution

While DISC is a powerful tool, it’s important to remember that personality profiling is just one among many methods for understanding human behaviour, and it’s one of many tools I use. It offers valuable insights, but it should be used in conjunction with other approaches to achieve a comprehensive understanding of people. It’s also worth noting I am a DISC trained practitioner through Thomas International and it helps to work with an expert to understand yourself better and know where you excel and where you might need help.