D + I · one of the twelve blends

Di personality type (The Persuasive Competitor)

The Persuasive Competitor wins people over, then wins the result.

This type used to be called The Driver.

The Persuasive Competitor drives for results and brings people along with energy.

Di is one of the twelve blends in the WiredType model. Dominance leads, and Influence is close behind. People also write this blend as DI or D/I. The Id blend, in which Influence leads, is a different type. This page describes the Persuasive Competitor. If the Persuasive Competitor is your type, you will likely recognize yourself in it. If you live or work with a Persuasive Competitor, it shows what the Persuasive Competitor is wired to do and how to work well together.

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Traits of the Persuasive Competitor

This section covers what drives the Persuasive Competitor and what the Persuasive Competitor works to avoid, then the Persuasive Competitor's main strength, main weakness, motto and signature animal, from WiredType's profile of the Di type.

What drives the Persuasive Competitor

  • The Persuasive Competitor wants goodwill along with a yes, so they thank a coworker for good work the same day it is done, and when they ask for a favor later, that coworker is glad to help.
  • They want their coworkers behind their plan, so when Monday's work needs splitting up, they suggest who could take which part and ask if that works for everyone.
  • The Persuasive Competitor wants friends to follow their lead, so when the group chat stalls on a date, they post one and ask, 'Who's in?'
  • They want a win they can show people, so they sign up for a 10K and text five friends their goal time that night.
  • They want speed with people beside them, so when someone says 'maybe,' they try a second angle before that person finishes the sentence.

What the Persuasive Competitor works to avoid

  • The Persuasive Competitor can fear looking like they overpromised, and the hard moment comes when a coworker texts, "Where are we on this?"
  • They can fear losing their say at work, so it stings when the plan for next month is set in a meeting nobody asked them to join.
  • They can fear being cut off from their circle, and it hits when three friends leave their texts unanswered in the same week.
  • The Persuasive Competitor can fear failing at something they announced, so when the garden they bragged about wilts in July, they dodge the neighbors' questions.
  • They can dread being turned down in front of people, like when they pitch an idea and someone says no while everyone listens.

Superpower (main strength)

When a plan stalls, the Persuasive Competitor names a bold goal in one sentence and talks people into it. A month later, the people who said yes are still showing up for it.

Kryptonite (main weakness)

The Persuasive Competitor counts five quick yeses after pitching an idea, and by Friday only two people are doing the work. Some of the others said yes to end the conversation.

Motto

“If you still have doubts, my pitch needs work. Give me two minutes to try another angle.”

Signature animal

The wolf leads the pack with presence, strategy and strength.

How the Persuasive Competitor works with each style

Each section describes what tends to happen between the Persuasive Competitor and a colleague of one style, and gives a line the Persuasive Competitor can say. If you are that colleague, read your own style's section.

DDi and D (Dominance)

The Persuasive Competitor and a D-type colleague can clash fast over who decides. In Monday's meeting, both reach for the budget call. The Persuasive Competitor settles the split with a smile: 'You own the budget. I own the client rollout.' The D-type respects that directness. The Persuasive Competitor's warmth can puzzle the D-type, because the Persuasive Competitor competes hard and stays likable.

What the Persuasive Competitor can say to a D-type colleague: “You like it straight, so here is mine. I want to start on the 1st, because it gets us there two weeks sooner. If you see a flaw, tell me now.”

IDi and I (Influence)

The Persuasive Competitor and an I-type colleague both love the brainstorm, and the Persuasive Competitor is the one who steers it to a decision. Twenty minutes into a whiteboard session, the I-type is still adding ideas and laughing. The Persuasive Competitor has already circled one idea and picked up the marker. The I-type brings the excitement, and the Persuasive Competitor turns it into a plan with a date.

What the Persuasive Competitor can say to an I-type colleague: “I love these ideas. Give me your top 3, and we pick one by Thursday. Which one excites you most?”

SDi and S (Steadiness)

The Persuasive Competitor moves and decides faster than an S-type colleague, and working with the S-type rewards the patience it takes. Once the S-type trusts the Persuasive Competitor, the S-type is steady and loyal. On Monday the Persuasive Competitor pitches a client plan in five minutes. The S-type says nothing. On Wednesday the S-type asks three questions about who covers the old work. When the Persuasive Competitor answers all three that day, the S-type will protect every step the plan needs.

What the Persuasive Competitor can say to an S-type colleague: “I know I come on strong. Before we decide anything, what worries you about this? Take until Thursday if you need it.”

CDi and C (Conscientiousness)

The Persuasive Competitor wants to sell the work, and a C-type colleague wants to prove it first. The Persuasive Competitor is five slides into the pitch deck while the C-type is still checking the data on slide one. Before building the deck, the Persuasive Competitor does well to agree with the C-type on which questions the data must answer. Once those answers are in, the friction gives the Persuasive Competitor a stronger pitch. When the two skip that agreement, they start writing each other off.

What the Persuasive Competitor can say to a C-type colleague: “I trust your research. Send me the main risks and your best option by Thursday at noon, and I will handle getting people on board.”

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