Why That Email Made You Cringe

(And what DiSC has to do with it)

Ever opened an email and immediately thought... “Oof, that felt a bit much”? Maybe it was all business with no hello. Or maybe it was packed with emojis and exclamation marks and made you wonder if you'd missed a party invite. Well, there's a reason why some emails make us wince and it's not just because someone forgot to proofread. It's about communication style.

Using Everything DiSC® as a lens, we can start to understand why certain emails hit the mark for some people and totally miss for others.

Let’s break it down:

The “Just Tell Me” Email (D Style)

This one dives right in. No fluff. No friendly opening. No "hope you're well” (unless they go back in and add it!, we see you self aware Ds!)
Just: “Where’s the Q3 report? Need it by noon.”

Direct? Yes.
Efficient? Also yes.
Warm and fuzzy? Not even a little.

If you're someone who values a bit of human connection, this can feel... well, a little cold. But to a D-style sender, they’re just cutting through the noise.

The Emoji-Lover (i Style)

These emails feel like a virtual high five. Lots of energy, smiley faces, and probably a “quick chat?” thrown in.
“Hey hey! You were fab in the meeting! 🙌 Got a sec to catch up later? 😊”

Friendly? Definitely.
Focused? Hmm, questionable.
Useful for building rapport? Absolutely.

If you’re more structured, this kind of message might leave you wondering what’s actually being asked.

The Harmoniser (S Style)

Expect kindness, teamwork, and a healthy dose of “How can I help?”
“Hi everyone, just checking in to see how I can best support the team this week.”

Lovely tone, sometimes a little cautious. But these emails can bring calm to the inbox chaos. S styles want everyone to feel included, heard, and happy.

The Detail Seeker (C Style)

C-style emails are polished. Think grammar perfection, bullet points, and attached spreadsheets.
“Please find attached the proposal (v3). Let me know if you need further clarification on section 4.2.”

Precise? Yes.
Overwhelming to the i-style? Quite possibly.
But to another C-style? Heaven.

So, Why Does This Matter?

When we understand our own style and the styles of others, we stop misfiring. Instead of frustrating our team with tone mismatches, missed cues, or unclear asks, we start to connect in a way that actually sticks.

Want fewer email facepalms?

Learn your DiSC style. Learn theirs. Then adjust just a little, a tweak in tone here, a clearer subject line there and suddenly you're not just sending messages, you're making them land.

DiSC gives you a practical framework to navigate all of this. It takes the guesswork out of communication and replaces it with real, actionable insight. Whether you're managing a team, leading a project, or just trying to get a response before next Friday, understanding DiSC can help you be heard and help others feel heard, too.

And let's be honest, a little less inbox tension sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Have a DiSC topic you’d like us to cover?

Is there a workplace scenario or team challenge you'd love to explore through the lens of DiSC? Whether it's about managing conflict, improving team dynamics, or supporting different working styles, we want to hear from you.

Send your ideas to info@performancepartners.ie, and we’ll shape future content around what matters most to you and your team.

Let’s make work work better, together.