Understanding DiSC Styles Through Body Language: Insights from Equine Assisted Learning

Combining DiSC with EAL offers a unique perspective on body language, leading to improved relationships and communication skills.

As a student of Everything DiSC^(R) and the owner of multiple horses, my natural inclination was to try to understand the personalities of my horses and consider how to interact with each one. As an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) facilitator, I’ve observed firsthand how my horses react differently to various handlers. This unique perspective has helped me understand how DiSC styles and EAL can be used together to interpret and adapt to nonverbal cues, enhancing communication and relationship building. DiSC stands for Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. It provides a framework for understanding different personality types. While knowing your DiSC style is invaluable, recognizing and interpreting body language can enhance communication. By recognizing and adapting to the non-verbal cues associated with each style and observing how horses mirror these cues, you can enhance your interactions, build stronger relationships, and create a more harmonious and productive environment.

Image of a group meeting with DiSC Halos — Click to enlarge

Let’s explore this by first examining the main DiSC styles.

Dominance (D): Assertive and Results-Oriented

Body Language Traits:

Posture: Confident, upright, and often leaning forward
Gestures: Firm handshakes, purposeful movements, and pointing gestures
Eye Contact: Direct and sustained, indicating assertiveness and focus
Facial Expressions: Serious, intense, and often challenging

Tips for Interacting: When communicating with someone who has a dominant style, mirror their confident body language without being confrontational. Maintain direct eye contact, use concise language, and be prepared for a results-oriented discussion.

Influence (i): Enthusiastic and People-Oriented

Body Language Traits:

Posture: Open, relaxed, and often animated
Gestures: Expressive hand movements, frequent touching, and expansive gestures
Eye Contact: Engaging, with frequent eye contact to connect with others
Facial Expressions: Warm, friendly, and often smiling

Tips for Interacting: When connecting with someone of the influence style, match their enthusiasm and openness. Use expressive gestures, maintain engaging eye contact, and smile to create a friendly and collaborative atmosphere.

Steadiness (S): Patient and Reliable

Body Language Traits:

Posture: Relaxed, steady, and often leaning slightly back
Gestures: Gentle and deliberate movements, minimal hand gestures
Eye Contact: Calm, consistent, but not intense
Facial Expressions: Calm, composed, and approachable

Tips for Interacting: When engaging with someone with a steadiness style, it is recommended to maintain a calm and relaxed posture. Use gentle gestures and sustain consistent but non-intense eye contact. Discussions should be approached with patience, and it is important to show appreciation for their reliability.

Conscientiousness (C): Analytical and Detail-Oriented

Body Language Traits:

Posture: Controlled, reserved, and often formal
Gestures: Minimal and precise hand movements
Eye Contact: Intermittent, often looking away to think or gather thoughts
Facial Expressions: Thoughtful, serious, and often reflecting concentration

Tips for Interacting: When communicating with someone who is conscientious, it’s important to respect their need for precision and control. Use clear and detailed language, maintain a formal posture, and give them time to process information. Avoid overwhelming them with excessive gestures or rapid changes in the conversation.

Applying DiSC Insights and Equine Assisted Learning for Better Communication

Understanding body language in the context of DiSC styles, combined with insights from Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), enables more effective and nuanced communication. By recognizing and adapting to the non-verbal cues associated with each style and observing how horses mirror these cues, you can enhance your interactions, build stronger relationships, and create a more harmonious and productive environment.

Person looking in a mirror with a horse reflecting back.

Horses as Mirrors: Horses respond to the confident and assertive body language of individuals with a dominant style, respecting and following such a leader but also being wary if the assertiveness comes off as too aggressive. They respond positively to the open and engaging body language of individuals with an influence style, mirroring the enthusiasm and openness to create a harmonious interaction. Horses find comfort in the calm and steady body language of individuals with a steadiness style, mirroring the composed demeanor to foster trust and safety. They are sensitive to the controlled and precise body language of individuals with a conscientiousness style, mirroring the seriousness and concentration, and responding best to clear and consistent signals.

Understanding Horse Personality Types and Adapting Behavior:

Just as we adapt our communication styles to different DiSC personality types, adapting to horse personalities can create more effective and harmonious interactions.

“Horses are mirrors. They’ll show you back whatever you show them. Watch a man with a horse, and you’ll see what’s inside his own self.”
― Mary Doria Russell, Doc

Dominant Horses:

Traits: Confident, assertive, often take charge in a herd
Interaction Tips: Approach with confidence and clarity. Establish boundaries early on to earn their respect. Consistent, assertive behavior is key.

Submissive Horses:

Traits: More passive, tend to follow rather than lead
Interaction Tips: Approach gently and with patience. Use calming, reassuring body language. Building trust is crucial.

Curious Horses:

Traits: Inquisitive, playful, often seek out new experiences
Interaction Tips: Engage their curiosity with new activities and stimuli. Be patient and allow them to explore at their own pace.

Fearful Horses:

Traits: Easily spooked, sensitive to their surroundings
Interaction Tips: Use calm, soothing body language and voice tones. Avoid sudden movements and create a safe, predictable environment.

Steady Horses:

Traits: Reliable, calm, not easily agitated
Interaction Tips: Maintain a consistent, calm demeanor. These horses often appreciate routine and steady interactions.

Understanding and adapting to the various personalities of horses provides valuable lessons that can be directly applied to human interactions. By recognizing these traits and modifying our behavior accordingly, we can improve our communication and build stronger relationships. Now, let’s explore some practical tips that can help you integrate these insights into your daily interactions.

Practical Tips:

Observation: Pay attention to body language cues in various interactions to identify DiSC styles.
Adaptation: Adjust your body language to match or complement the style of the person you’re interacting with.
Reflection: Use interactions with horses to reflect on and understand your body language and its impact.
Feedback: Seek feedback on your own body language to ensure it aligns with your intended communication style.

Conclusion

Integrating DiSC style understanding with body language awareness and insights from Equine Assisted Learning offers a powerful toolset for personal and professional development. Whether you’re leading a team, building relationships, or simply aiming to communicate more effectively, these insights can help you navigate interactions with greater ease and empathy. By learning to read and respond to body language through the lens of DiSC, and observing how horses mirror these behaviors, you not only improve your communication skills but also foster a deeper connection with those around you. Embrace this approach and watch your interactions transform.

Please feel free to contact us if you would like to delve deeper into your DiSC style or take part in our specialized workshops at Carey Springs Farm. At our farm, we offer a combination of traditional assessments and unique Equine Assisted Learning experiences to help you understand and adapt to both human and horse personalities. We also offer traditional assessments and team dynamics workshops (sans horses) using Everything DiSC and/or The Five Behaviors^(R) in your boardroom, at your retreat, or through Zoom.

Further Reading

Bowser, C. (2017, Sep 28). Identifying DiSC Styles of Others. Retrieved 6 10, 2024, from Extended DiSC: https://blog.extendeddisc.org/identifying-disc-styles-of-others

Decoding Body Language with DISC. (2017, May 8). Retrieved from Differently Wired: https://differentlywired.co.uk/decoding-body-language-disc

Elmer, P. (2018, 11 30). DISC Personality Types and Body Language. Retrieved from DiSC Insights By People Keys: https://blog.discinsights.com/disc-personality-types-and-body-language

Williams, J. (2023, August 31). How To Read Your Horse’s Body Language, Retrieved 6 14, 2024, from EQUUS: https://equusmagazine.com/behavior/horse-body-language