Uses for DiSC Profiles

On a daily basis I talk to people who wonder how DiSC Profiles can help their organization. DiSC is a flexible assessment that can be used in a variety of ways. If you can think of a situation where understanding a person's behavioral tendencies might be helpful then you’ve come up with a way to use DiSC. If you can think of a situation where you need to figure out how to approach or motivate a person or group then you’ve come up with another way to use the DiSC Assessment. The truth is you can use the tool any way you see fit. Some of the most common uses include:

• Assessing current employees
• Evaluating potential hires
• Improving communication
• Understanding behavior
• Learning how and when to adapt behavior
• Promoting the appreciation of differences
• Enhancing individual and team performance
• Reducing conflict
• Creating and maintaining relationship-based sales
• Identifying customers' DiSC styles and adapting selling or support styles
• Staying focused on customer needs
• Managing difficult customer service situations

DiSC can be taken in different formats. There is an online DiSC profile and a paper-based DiSC booklet. Each profile uses a series of 28 groups of words where participants choose which word is most like them and which is least like them. Each group contains 4 words for the participant to choose from. In the paper version participant’s use a coin to scratch off their choices and reveal corresponding symbols. They then calculate their scores based on a count of theses symbols. Once the student completes the scoring they can look up their results in the back of the booklet. Online profiles are scored electronically and the results are provided in a narrative format. The participant answers the questions using their mouse and once the profile is submitted the results are returned instantly. People find this is a convenient option considering the time constraints placed on people these days. Organizations that wish to use online DiSC profiles have the option of using an online account we call EPIC – Electronic Profile Information Center. EPIC allows organizations to distribute profiles 24 hours a day and restrict people from viewing their results. The system provides several other options but I think we’ll get into that next week. For now, please feel free to post how you use DiSC.

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.