There are many different types of personality assessments. All have their unique focus, perspectives and value. What I love about the DISC assessment is that it is one of the easiest models to remember and to apply. This makes it practical not just for the purpose of understanding yourself better, but to use in your day-to-day interactions with others. Of the many personality assessments, I find it is the easiest to remember, use and apply for real change. In fact, DISC at its core is so straightforward you can teach and use it with children as young as five.
DISC focuses on four main personality types. There are many blends, of course, so you can go really deep into DISC to explore yourself and others, but learning the four dominant types and their traits gives you a concrete tool to improve communication. It much easier to wrap your head around than MBTI or Enneagram.
I was first exposed to DISC when I was in sales, but the trainer never actually explained to us that is was the DISC Model of Human Behavior. Because the founder of DISC, William Moulton Marston (a Harvard professor) chose to allow DISC to be public domain, there are many variations out there. I chose to be credentialed through Personality Insights Institute because they appeal to various modes of learning and take a very positive, strengths-based approach.
When I was studying to become a DISC trainer, I realized how useful it was in any setting. I started having lightbulb moments about my husband and my son and myself. I have had others in my parenting workshops who had also used DISC at work but like me had never thought to apply it to their home life. DISC gives you a framework to understand others without judgment and teaches you to adjust to the needs and temperament of others. So when it comes to clashes with family or staff members it really helps to remove the emotions. DISC prompts you to take a step back and look at behavior through a neutral lens. It teaches you how to adapt but also how adopt traits from other dominant types.
Whether at work, in the classroom, volunteering or at home, DISC is a tool to improve our relationships and our communication skills. It has powerful applications for all of us, in all settings.
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