DISC is one of the most popular psychological profiling assessments on the market, read on to learn everything you’d like to know about it.
Table of Contents
- Everything You Need to Know About DISC
- What is DISC?
- How do the Four DISC Behavioural Factors Work Together?
- What Does Each DISC Factor Measure?
- D – Dominance
- I – Influence
- S – Steadiness
- C – Compliance
- Who Created DISC?
- What Makes TTI SI’s DISC Different from Other Providers?
- A Holistic Insight
- Innovation
- In-House Research
- Who Can Use DISC?
- DISC For Individuals
- For Two People: The DISC Comparison Report
- For Three or More People: The Team Report
- For Entire Organisations
- How Can You Use DISC Right Now?
- Contact KONA to discuss DISC Profiling
Everything You Need to Know About DISC
DISC is the most popular psychological profiling assessment available. Read on to learn how individuals, teams and organisations can benefit from their DISC Profile and the insights gained from KONA Group’s guided DISC training.
What is DISC?
DISC is a universal behavioural model used to articulate the common ways that all human beings tend to behave and communicate. It uses the following four behavioural factors:
- Dominance
- Influence
- Steadiness
- Compliance
The DISC assessment measures why a person does what they do.
It creates a language around observable types of behaviour which exist in any group of people.
KONA Training uses DISC when training teams, leadership groups, account managers, sales professionals and other client facing roles.
How do the Four DISC Behavioural Factors Work Together?
To fully understand DISC, it’s important to understand how the four individual components work together.
While a typical person may have one or two dominant characteristics from the DISC model, it’s the combination of the four components of DISC that defines a person’s behaviour.
The four components of DISC create a “behavioural makeup (profile)” unique to every individual.
What Does Each DISC Factor Measure?
D – Dominance
- This factor measures how someone handles problems and challenges.
- If your highest score is D, you are a Direct communicator.
- If your lowest score is D, you are a Reflective communicator.
I – Influence
- This factor measures how someone handles people and contacts.
- If your highest score is I, you are an Outgoing communicator.
- If your lowest score is I, you are a Reserved communicator.
S – Steadiness
- This factor measures how someone handles pace and consistency.
- If your highest score is S, you are a Predictable communicator.
- If your lowest score is S, you are a Dynamic communicator.
C – Compliance
- This factor measures how someone handles procedures and compliance.
- If your highest score is C, you are a Compliant communicator.
- If your lowest score is C, you are a Pioneering communicator.
Who Created DISC?
DISC was created by Walter V. Clarke, an industrial psychologist who created the assessment based on the behavioural theory of William Marston. The assessment was developed in its earliest form in the 1960s.
What Makes TTI SI’s DISC Different from Other Providers?
DISC is a very popular assessment tool, and TTI SI while not the only group to provide a version of DISC Profiling – has built and delivered a DISC profile solution that is industry leading in its accuracy, depth of insights, and consistency.
A Holistic Insight
TTI SI is the only provider who looks at the entire DISC graph, instead of only measuring above the energy line. (The energy line is at 50 on the graphic; anything above it is considered a dominant score.)
By looking at every score in every factor, TTI SI’s method gives a more holistic and complete assessment of a person. This provides more clarity overall and makes the assessment more effective.
Innovation Since Day 1
TTI SI also introduced the first computerised and personalised DISC assessment and reporting tool back in 1984.
In-House Research
TTI SI has been an industry leader for the last 35+ years and has a dedicated research team that works in-house. Our brain lab lets us conduct research that is internally and externally verified and peer reviewed.
Who Can Use DISC?
DISC is a tool that can be used at every level of an organisation.
The assessment measures an individual’s responses, but those responses can be mapped.
For Individuals
DISC uncovers insight into the “how” behind your “why”. It reveals the behavioural makeup that is unique to each individual. Taking and understanding a DISC assessment helps people….
- Minimize unnecessary conflict
- Increase productivity and engagement
- Enhance communication
- Maximise their strengths
- Develop self-awareness
For Two People: The DISC Comparison Report
TTI SI is able to run a report that compares 2 individuals, this helps share their similarities, highlight their differences, and run through ways they can both communicate with each other.
This report is a game changer for teams with different communication styles. KONA provides these reports free to companies where we have profiled their staff.
Who Can Use a Comparison Report?
- Manager to direct report
- 2 candidates applying for the same position
- Any two people conflicting with each other
- New hire to boss
- Partners with each other
For Three or More People: The Team Report
The Team Report is similar to the comparison report but includes three or more individuals in its findings. These reports are a great way for an entire team or department to learn more about each other and get a better sense of their strengths and weaknesses as a unit.
It is particularly useful for Leadership. For example key account managers who can use each other’s strengths to best support customers including proposal preparation, tender submissions and then client on-boarding and management.
How Can a Team Report Help You?
- Compare your team
- Find communication gaps
- Gain higher productivity on projects
- Smoother internal communication
- Understand behavioral style dynamics of team
- Become more effective together
One of the best outcomes of a Team Report is that deeper insight into your team as individuals and as a whole. It helps leaders understand how to leverage their teams’ strengths and communicate more effectively overall.
For Entire Organisations
How can an entire company harness the power of DISC for multiple teams? While you can use DISC individually and then find the average score of your entire organization, it’s most effective with smaller teams. Use Team Reports in every department to discover what team needs more development or resources, and to see how different personalities work together in different areas.
By using DISC to help improve individual engagement and productivity, you will improve your organisation overall.
How Can You Use DISC Right Now?
DISC is a foundational assessment for all TTI SI products — it’s an excellent starting point and introduction to the science of one’s self. It’s also an easy concept for people to absorb and apply right away. If you’re looking for quick results, DISC is the assessment for you.
Learn more about DISC here.
Use DISC to Support…
- Coaching
- Team building
- Sales Training
- Negotiation Training
- Leadership development
- Understanding clients
What’s Your Next Step With DISC?
If you’re ready to start using DISC today, KONA can help!
Do you want to take a DISC assessment or start using assessments for your team or organise a facilitated DISC workshop for your team run by a qualified DISC Behavioral Analyst? Let us know here.
DISC Profiles available – Sales, Executive and Management/Staff
Download example DISC Profile here.
KONA Training specialise in facilitating DISC Profiles to corporate groups and we offer onsite or virtual workshops. Our standard DISC workshop is delivered in 4 hours onsite and 3 x 1.5-hour sessions via Zoom or Teams both options use one of our best Australian DISC qualified trainers.
The DISC Facilitated 4-hour Workshops include a certificate of achievement and cover three key areas. The first two modules include the basics of DISC. The third Module is then selected from one of the three outcomes we offer.
Module 1. DISC- Understanding the model. (Core)
Module 2. DISC- Understand Ourselves. (Core)
Module 3. DISC- Leadership and how to lead others using DISC (Select)
Module 3. DISC- Team Building and working better as a team (Select)
Module 3. DISC- Customer Profiling and how to better understand your clients (Select)
To organise a free DISC Discover Session — Call 1300 611 288 or email info@kona.com.au
Thanks to our partners TTSI Australia for this in-depth content.