What is DISC?
At its most basic, DISC is a way of describing a person’s behavior, and using this knowledge, being able to predict how they are likely to act in the future. By answering a simple questionnaire, DISC creates a behavioral profile or assessment of the individual.
The result is an easy to understand system of visual diagrams and textual analysis in non-judgmental language that provides the user with a host of details regarding their approach to work.
Here’s another way of looking at this. We are all at our best when we are operating within our natural styles. For example, you wouldn’t want to be working in sales if you weren’t comfortable around people, would you?
The DISC behavioral reports show you your natural behavioral style (how you intrinsically operate) and also your adapted behavioral style (how you respond to the demands of the environments). With this information we can see where your strengths are not being leveraged, and the underlying causes of stress for you.
What does the DISC acronym stand for?
There are four behavioral “styles” that DISC measures:
D – Dominance — How a person responds to problems and challenges.
I – Influence — How a person influences others to his or her point of view.
S – Steadiness — How a person responds to the pace of the environment.
C – Compliance — How a person responds to rules and procedures set by others.
Why should I learn DISC?
DISC Reports show you, step-by-step, exactly what to do – and stop doing – to unleash your potential and dramatically enhance your personal effectiveness, starting today.
1) DISC provides the information to open lines of effective communication to you.
When you become aware of your unique communication style, you can show those around you how to effectively relate to you — opening doors instead of closing them.
2) DISC provides the information to open lines of effective communication from you.
You will learn how to identify the communication style of others and how to adapt your unique style to effectively relate to his/her unique style. It’s that simple.
In business terms, there are several important reasons to use the DISC reports at work.
1. Designed For Professional Use
One of the reasons that DISC is such a practical value is that it was specifically designed to address business-related behaviors. DISC isn’t a personality test as it doesn’t attempt to create a complete psychological profile of the user. Instead it concentrates on how individuals behave at work. This makes the DISC model very easy to understand and makes the insights truly accessible and applicable to real-life business situations.
2. Gaining Commitment and Cooperation
People tend to trust and work well with those who seem like themselves. The most effective way to gain the commitment and cooperation of others is to “get into their world” and adapt to their behavioral style. Observe a person’s body language, “how” they act and interact with others. Notice clues in their work or living area. By applying the DISC language you will immediately be able to blend your style with another’s unique style for much better communication.
3. Building effective teams
People tend to be too hard on each other, continually value judging behavior, therefore, team development tend to be slowed or halted due to people problems. An awareness of behavioral differences has an immediate impact on communication, conflict resolution and motivation for the team.
4. Resolving and preventing conflict
Understanding the style similarities and differences will be the first step in resolving and preventing conflict. By meeting the person’s behavioral needs, you will be able to diffuse many problems before they even happen. Some people prefer structured management, others like to work alone. The DISC language will teach you more about a person in 10 minutes than you can learn in a year without DISC.
5. Gaining credibility and influence.
An other word for credibility and influence is “endorsement.” Every interaction you have with a person either increases or decreases your endorsement. Have you ever met a person who won’t stop talking and relates his whole life story to you? When you see this person coming, do you dread the interaction? If so, it is because their behavior has caused them to lose endorsement with you and therefore that person does not get the benefit of your time.
Conversely, a person who you can’t wait to see daily has gained your endorsement and, therefore, is deserving of your time. The DISC language allows you to behaviorally “stack” the deck of card in your favor. By knowing a person’s behavioral style, you can immediately adapt to their style and gain endorsement.
You can view sample reports, their descriptions and their recommended use here.
(Numbers Two – Five adapted from The Universal Language of DISC, A Reference Manual by Bonnstetter, Suiter and Widrick. A Product of Target Training International, Ltd.)
What type of business situations do people use DISC for?
1. Team building and engineering for optimal project performance.
With any successful team, there are a number of roles that need to be filled by the right people. DISC reports will provide you with the insight necessary to build a “well-oiled machine.”
2. As a communication tool to handle conflict and misunderstanding.
You need to decrease conflict and promote harmony within your organization or team. Effective communication is the key to reducing conflict. When you know how to adapt your communication style to properly address the individuals around you, things run much more smoothly.
3. Interviewing, Hiring and Promoting for optimal job-candidate matching.
You need to bring the right people into your organization. Hire the right person the first time reduces the cost and hassle of employee turnover.
4. Annual reviews.
Make annual reviews more effective and learn to leverage your in-house resources for optimal job performance. DISC reports show you and the employee exactly where their strengths lie and what needs improvement. This encourages honest dialogue about job expectations, descriptions and helps human resources leverage your staff’s strengths and improve morale.
5. Time management evaluation and improvement.
In a matter of minutes you can identify specific employee time wasters.
6. Optimizing customer service.
You are in a business where you need to better understand your clients or customers. Quickly learn exactly how to treat your clients or customers, retain them, and turn them into raving fans.
7. Improving Manager-Staff relations and performance
You lead/manage others. And it’s critical for you to better understand how those around you perceive you as well as how you must treat them to lead them to maximum performance and effectiveness.
8. Improving Executive-Direct Report relations and performance
The quality of your product’s customer service to the quality of your staff’s job performance is always a reflection from the top. Support your key staff to model best practices and clear communication. DISC assists them to leverage their strengths and create optimal communication channels strengthening work relationships between executives and their department managers.
9. Employee motivation
In this day and age when employees change job every two years, it’s critical to retain and attract great staff. DISC offers tools to make employee events inspiring and encourages honest dialogue that helps staff feel heard, appreciated and directed toward continuous improvement.
10. Benchmarking
One of the foundations of total quality management and continuous quality improvement is by creating systems within an organization that demands all processes are at optimal performance. From product delivery to direct report meetings, it all starts and ends with communication. DISC reports can help your organization fine-tune your systems.
11. Sales training
You want to convert prospects into sales. In order to do this, you need to understand how individuals make buying decisions and treat them accordingly, on a person-to-person basis.
12. Personal and professional development
These reports will show you your natural behavioral style, the underlying causes of stress in your life, how you are currently not leveraging your unique strengths, and where to focus your energy.
13. Coaching
Offer your clients valid and results-oriented assessments that makes your coaching easier and more effective. Get clients “unstuck,” move through transition into focused direction and assess natural talents for career success and discover adapted behaviors that may be holding them back.
How does DISC measure behavior?
DISC is the language of “how we act,” or our behavior. Research has consistently shown that behavioral characteristics can be grouped together into four styles. (Hence the DISC acronym) People with similar styles tend to exhibit specific types of behavior common to that style – this is not acting. A person’s behavior is a necessary and integral part of who they are. In other words, much of our behavior comes from “nature” (inherent), and much comes from “nurture” (our upbringing and our environment).
The DISC model scientifically analyzes an individual’s or team’s manner of doing things with as many as 384 combinations of the four measurable styles based on the results of a brief questionnaire. Responses to this questionnaire are rated in terms of Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Compliance, (The four styles of the DISC model) from which a computer program derives a “score” from the answers, usually expressed in as a value of zero to one hundred. This “score” places people’s actions on two axes, that when placed at right angles, create four quadrants circumscribing a behavioral pattern.
Using Marston’s theory it is possible to apply the powers of scientific observation to behavior, and then be objective and descriptive rather than subjective and judgmental.
What DISC is NOT
Right and wrong has nothing to do with the DISC language and system of reports. Right and wrong is based on values and beliefs. DISC is a neutral language only describing the differences in how people approach problems, other people, pace and procedures. Winners and successful people come from all styles of behavior.
People do not like to be labeled. The DISC language and your individual report results, when understood and used properly is a silent language. Meaning, a person well trained in the DISC insights shows their knowledge of the language in the way they interact with others. Not by openly referring to people as a high or low D, I, S or C.
DISC is not like a “foreign” language that takes years to master. Results are fast when you simply 1) Gain an appreciation and respect for other people’s styles and 2) Learn to recognize them in your interactions and adapt your conversational approach. This alone radically improves connection and communication. And that will make a big difference to your personal success.
DISC does not measure intelligence, skills, experience, education and training. However, we do have reports that respectively measure workplace values and personal values that act as hidden motivators (not easily observable) at work.
(From The Universal Language of DISC, A Reference Manual by Bonnstetter, Suiter and Widrick. A Product of Target Training International, Ltd.)
How did DISC come about?
DISC reports were borne out of the research of psychologist William Moulton Marston, Ph.D. of Harvard University. Marston’s research was refined, enhanced, and validated by Target Training International’s, Ltd. (TTI) founder and CEO, Bill Bonnstetter.
Throughout history, scientists and researchers, from Hippcrates to the groundbreaking psychologist Carl Jung, have observed basic behavioral similarities and now these have been clearly validated by companies such as TTI. DISC Instruments have been developed to assist people in maximizing their personal potential and the potential of their human resources.
Are you the founder of DISC?
No, I’m not the founder of the DISC language and system of reports. I am a licensed DISC distributor through Target Training International, Ltd. (TTI)
Why are DISC companies offering different variations of profiles, assessments and reports?
Marston’s DISC Theory in of itself is in the public domain. Different companies have evolved Dr. Marston’s DISC work into variations based on their own philosophy and approach to using DISC. TTI’s formulation are considered the original DISC instrument, essentially closest to Marston’s orginal work.
Why did you choose to distribute TTI products?
Of the hundreds of such tools available, DISC Reports.com have chosen the TTI Success InsightsTM (formerly Managing for Success®) for its precision, validity, and ease of use. This family of profiles meets a variety of needs and special applications required for increased individual and organizational performance.
As a Ph.D. in Social Pyschology and trained researcher, I did my homework before choosing the TTI products and found their report system the most scientifically validated and reliable system of DISC reports.
Why are there price differences in the DISC market?
You will find many websites with DISC products priced from $13 – $100+ dollars. The variations in price reflect the product’s studied effectiveness, scientific validity, product support and if the reseller sells based on price or service. As a distributor of TTI DISC products, we are not allowed to post prices because TTI Distributors do not sell a commodity type product.
At DISC Reports.com we truly are in the relationship business and we are DISC fanatics who provide you with the best available product with top-notch service. To learn more about our pricing policy please click here.
The bottom line with DISC is like most things in life — you get what you pay for!
Why are many of the websites about DISC so poorly organized and confusing?
Many resellers / distributors sell DISC products as a side-business or as an adjunct to their already existing offerings. And of course, not everyone is committed to learning effective online business strategies that make it easier for you and I to navigate their site. Having said this, at DISC Reports.com we are a full-time staffed DISC business and are committed to sharing DISC products and services with organizations, business owners and independent consultants, coaches and trainers.
What is the difference between DISC and other personality assessments such as MYERS BRIGGS?
If you’re considering the DISC Behavioral Assessment, you’ve probably heard of the Myers Briggs personality assessment. This assessment categorizes you using an acronym and descriptors (e.g., ENFP — Extrovert). However, the Myers-Briggs only has the capability to categorize only 16 personality types and the assessment consists of well over 100 questions – a tiresome process.
In contrast, the DISC Behavioral Report consist of just 24 questions and can graph over 19,000 individual responses, results in 384 different behavioral styles (over 20 times the Myers-Briggs)! What’s more, DISC assessments can be completed in only 20 minutes!
Having used DISC in Fortune 500 companies for over a decade now, the true beauty of DISC compared to Myers-Briggs is DISC’s simplicity. People can take the assessment, be debriefed on what the results mean and start applying DISC all in a morning workshop! Try that with Myer’s Briggs…
Snapshot of DISC vs Myers Briggs:
- DISC measures how we act :: Myers Briggs measures how we think.
- DISC is designed for work-related situations :: Myers Briggs is more personal.
- DISC acronym is easy to remember (only four letters in the same order, measured either high or low) :: Myer Briggs requires you to remember your own unique variation of letters – 16 possible combinations of letters.
- DISC takes 10 – 20 minutes to take :: Myer Briggs can take much, much longer.
- DISC is a behavioral analysis :: Myer Briggs is a personality test.
Who uses DISC?
For a complete list of clients, click here.
- Executives and HR personnel of corporations (including Anheuseur- Busch, Coca-Cola, Philip Morris, IBM and Motorola to name a few).
- Entrepreneurs looking for a competitive edge
- Small business owners looking to better serve their clients and customers
- Professional coaches who want to quickly identify their clients’ strengths and challenges to move them forward faster
- Independent Consultants and Trainers who want to create programs and trainings that result in maximum effectiveness.
- Any individual who interested in personal development and gaining insight about themselves and others.
If I wanted to order DISC reports with you, how would this work?
Here is a basic outline of what happens.
- Step 1 – Get clear on what is the issue driving the need for DISC assessments by talking with our DISC expert.
- Step 2 – Select the appropriate assessment and training level with our DISC expert to address your needs and achieve the results you want.
- Step 3 – Set aside 20 minutes and take your assessments online
- Step 4 – Meet your Personal DISC Coach and receive a warm welcome to DISC Reports E-Learning Center.
- Step 5 – Access the DISC E-Learning Center at your convenience for free support on living into your DISC insights. (Training Level 1)
- Step 6 – Your Personal DISC Advisor checks-in with you to answer any new questions you may have, schedule additional training if needed and helps you anticipate future needs.
Schedule a DISC consultation now and let’s see if we can help.
Can I see samples? What do they look like? How do I take the tests?
All of our reports are delivered online and take a mere 10 – 20 minutes to take. Please feel free to view our sample reports here.
What if I have questions about my assessment?
Just call me, Dr. Drew Rozell, during business hours and I’ll be happy to help. In addition, all clients of DISC Reports.com receive access to our DISC E-Learning Center with resources and tutorials to answer your questions and help you get the most out of your reports.
What are the benefits of choosing DISC Reports.com as my DISC provider?
At DISC Reports.com, we’re passionate about the difference DISC products and services can bring to your business. Here are few places to learn more about what makes us unique.
Review the DISC Reports.com Difference
Review the DISC Reports.com System
Does this DISC stuff really work?
Yes, it does. Just taking the assessments alone and reviewing your results is enough to gain deep insight into your behaviors at work. However, at DISC Reports.com, we believe in seeing a significant return on your investment.
That’s why each of our clients gets a Personal DISC Coach to help answer questions, share ideas on implementing discussion and help you get the most use out of members-only DISC E-Learning Community. Please feel free to contact us to try a report yourself.
Will taking a DISC assessment really make a difference in my business situation?
Each of our DISC reports are geared for addressing very specific business situations. Before you purchase your reports, we encourage you to review our sample reports and their descriptions and suggested use, and then schedule a free consultation to assess your unique situation with our DISC expert. This will help you be sure that what you order will be the right fit for your needs.
Schedule a DISC consultation here
How can an assessment possibly address the real issues we are having at work?
Some organizations need more support than what is offered in our complimentary Level 1 Training. We also provide customized training sessions via teleconference and on-site presentations for more in-depth support and DISC facilitation. Please contact us to see if we can help.
Still have a question? No problem. Call or email us and we would be happy to help.
Contact us via telephone now. 877.866.DISC (3472)