DISC Patterns Explained – Elevated C Pattern

Individuals who have an Elevated score in Compliance generally exhibit these types of tendencies:

The Elevated C Pattern individual requires structure and organization for peak performance. They are conscientious, careful, and have high standards for themselves and their work. Typically, Elevated Cs are referred to as analytical, methodical, or systematic. They are the types of people who seem to have a plan and contingency plan for any task or project they take on. Elevated C individuals are fact-finders with cautious focus on the details and quality of a responsibility. They love planning and contingency planning.

Cass Sunstein is a person who uses his Elevated C in everyday life.

He is an American scholar, focused on constitutional law, administrative law, environmental law, and the law of behavioral economics. He is the administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration. Sunstein’s works require him to be very focused and meticulous.

The Elevated C individual constantly checks for accuracy, usually wanting to know the “how” and the “why” before stimulating debate, locking down ideas and most certainly well prior to taking any action. They are often seen as the”anchor of reality” to other team members because they will consistently refer back to guidelines or regulations – especially when dealing with people who are permission-takers by nature. In fact, most elevated C’s are permission-askers even when suggesting how to change the rules.

Elevated C’s are even-tempered and typically can remain objective as they gather information and engage with others. This can change if they have a vested interest in a project or task however and might try to get their way by quoting rules and regulations that support their positions. The vast majority of Elevated C’s are careful planners and work hard to keep their team organized. They like to define a situation and delve into the important situational assessment questions up front, before making decisions or gathering data. These are questions like: What is the problem we are trying to solve? What are we trying to figure out? And what are the expected outcomes?

Ruth Bader Ginsberg is another example of an elevated compliance individual.

Since taking the oath of office in 1993, Ginsberg follows the rule of law and applies every case that she takes on to the laws set forth. The weakness in this is that she follows the rule of law as she understands it, which can possibly be different than others understand it. Her elevated compliance puts her on a strict path with rules and regulations but doesn’t necessarily mean that you will agree with her.

Elevated C Patterns are Motivated By:

Elevated C individuals are motivated by high-quality standards and organizational effectiveness. They like tasks and projects that are scoped and defined. They work best when there are clear-cut expectations of and boundaries for actions and relationships. Elevated C’s like rewards and recognition for individual work efforts even though they are motivated by team commitment to a project. They prefer practical work procedures and routines that lead to enhanced efficiencies. Typically, they like a work environment without conflicts or arguments. They like to have instructions and reassurance that the work they are doing is adhering to the standards expected of them.

Possible Weaknesses for an Elevated C Pattern:

Some possible weaknesses of the Elevated C individual can be stressful when they do not understand precisely how the task fits into the big picture. They can become agitated when surprises or sudden changes occur, and can become uncomfortable when ideas and statements are not fully supported with a comprehensive proven set of data. Sometimes, the Elevated C individual is constrained by procedures and methods, which can cut back on their creativity. Rather than argue or openly go head-to-head with colleagues for what they believe in, they can become mired in resistance or sabotage when they do not agree with the goals or methodologies being employed.

Occasionally, the Elevated C person will cave into authority and can become bogged down by their inability to grant exceptions to their coworkers.

Sometimes, the Elevated C person can be viewed as stubborn by other team members or peers because of their unwillingness to budge from their thinking of what the proper or appropriate way to complete a project is. They are often viewed as ‘stoppers’, pen pushers, or bureaucrats because of their tendency to quote rules to make others fall in line with the current way of doing things.

In examining how Sunstein has to operate, he must be very set in his ways and very sure of the rules and procedures and probably does not like to deviate from them. For him and the country, the stakes are high. As an Elevated C person, he may believe that there is one right way of doing things and he may be tempted to lock out other ideas and suggestions. Sunstein is sometimes viewed as getting frustrated when his team is working on a regulation and it is called off, seemingly on a whim from elected officials. He thinks that once he has set his team in motion and they are working their plan it is a waste of valuable expended time and efforts to change direction.

Another person who is had Elevated C tendencies is Albert Einstein.

He used his knowledge of physics and the rules of how the universe operates to develop his Theory of Relativity and the E=MC² equation. Although he did not participate directly in the invention of the atomic bomb, his research and theories were instrumental in its development.

He also discovered the theory of general relativity, revolutionizing physics. Although he changed the rules, he had to use his knowledge of the general rules of scientific discovery to put forth new theories and laws.

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