What Exactly is the DiSC Profile?

We've started this blog to help our clients get the most out of the DiSC Profile. Sometimes people also refer to the DiSC Profile as DiSC Classic, DiSC 2800 series or the DiSC Personal Profile System. If you've never used DiSC let me give you a brief history. The DiSC model was developed by William Marston and is one of the oldest personality profiles available. For more than 30 years, the DiSC Profile has opened the door to understanding the dynamics that influence productive communication and positive interpersonal relationships. The foundation of success lies in understanding self, understanding others and realizing the impact of your behavior on the people around you. Sometimes referred to as the DiSC Personality Profile or DiSC Behavioral Profile, DiSC helps people learn how to understand their behavior and how it affects others , examine their reactions to other people, maximize personal strengths, sustain a positive attitude about themselves and how to adapt their behavior to create positive outcomes in particular situations. You may be asking why call it DiSC. The letters D.i.S.C. refer to four dimensions of behavior. The D is for Dominance: Direct and Decisive. D's are strong-willed, strong-minded people who likeaccepting challenges, taking action, and getting immediate results. The I is for Influence: Optimistic and Outgoing. I's are "people people" who like participating on teams, sharing ideas, and energizing and entertaining others. S is for Steadiness: Sympathetic and Cooperative. S's are helpful people who like working behind the scenes, performing in consistent and predictable ways, and being good listeners. And finally C is for Conscientiousness: Concerned and Correct. C's are sticklers for quality and like planning ahead, employing systematic approaches, and checking and re-checking for accuracy. DiSC helps people to increase their emotional intelligence (EQ). If you were to take the DiSC Assessment you would learn which of these dimensions of behavior are most prevalent in your life. Typically we all possess a little of each but one or two of them are the strongest. You may be thinking this sounds a lot like the Myers-Briggs and it does. However the Myers-Briggs doesn't focus on things you can necessarily change. I'll post more about how DiSC compares to Myers-Briggs in the future. Next Friday I'll post about how to use DiSC.