Unlocking the Secrets: Your Go-To Guide for Everything DiSC Assessments

Let’s talk Everything DiSC, if you’ve never heard of it before, don’t worry we’ll strip it all the way back and explain the important bits. DiSC assesses personal development, aiding individuals in understanding their work behaviour and their colleagues’ behaviours. The idea of DiSC was first introduced by William Moulton Marston in 1928. In his book “Emotions of Normal People,” Marston identified four primary categories of emotions that he observed in many individuals. These categories formed the basis of the DiSC model: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness, hence the acronym “DISC.”

1. Dominance (D): Individuals with a dominant style tend to be assertive, results-oriented, and decisive. They are often seen as strong-willed and driven, preferring to take charge of situations and make quick decisions.
2. Influence (i): Those with an influential style are typically outgoing, sociable, and enthusiastic. They thrive on building relationships, motivating others, and bringing energy and positivity to their surroundings.
3. Steadiness (S): Individuals with a steady style are known for their patience, reliability, and stability. They prefer consistency and harmony in their environments, valuing cooperation and supportiveness.
4. Conscientiousness (C): Those with a conscientious style are detail-oriented, analytical, and systematic. They strive for accuracy and precision, focusing on quality and thoroughness in their work.

These four dimensions represent different behavioural preferences and tendencies that influence how individuals approach tasks, interact with others, and navigate workplace dynamics.

The DiSC theory provides a framework for understanding oneself and others, shedding light on communication styles, decision-making processes, and responses to conflict and stress. By gaining insights into these behavioural patterns, individuals can enhance self-awareness, adapt their communication and behaviour, and improve interpersonal relationships. Everything DiSC assessments build upon Marston’s foundational work, offering a modern and comprehensive approach to understanding and applying the DiSC model in the workplace. Online assessments provide detailed DiSC insights and strategies for diverse colleague interactions.

The 12 Styles

While the original DiSC model focuses on four primary behavioral styles (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness), Everything DiSC expands upon this framework to include 12 distinct styles. These 12 styles provide a more nuanced understanding of individual behaviour, allowing for greater insight into workplace dynamics and interactions.

Let’s delve into each of the 12 Everything DiSC styles:

1. D-Style (Dominance): Individuals with a D-style are direct, assertive, and results-oriented. They thrive on challenges, enjoy taking charge, and are focused on achieving their goals.
2. Di-Style (Influence + Dominance): People with a Di-style combine the traits of Influence and Dominance. They are outgoing, enthusiastic, and persuasive leaders who excel at rallying others towards a common objective.
3. i-Style (Influence): Those with an i-style are outgoing, sociable, and charismatic. They enjoy building relationships, inspiring others, and bringing energy to group settings.
4. iS-Style (Influence + Steadiness): Individuals with an iS-style blend the traits of Influence and Steadiness. They are friendly, supportive, and approachable team members who excel at fostering collaboration and harmony.
5. S-Style (Steadiness): People with an S-style are patient, dependable, and empathetic. They value stability, loyalty, and cooperation, and are skilled at providing support and maintaining relationships.
6. SC-Style (Steadiness + Conscientiousness): Those with an SC-style combine the traits of Steadiness and Conscientiousness. They are methodical, detail-oriented, and reliable team members who prioritise accuracy and consistency in their work.
7. C-Style (Conscientiousness): Individuals with a C-style are analytical, precise, and systematic. They value accuracy, thoroughness, and efficiency, and are adept at problem-solving and strategic planning.
8. CD-Style (Conscientiousness + Dominance): People with a CD-style blend the traits of Conscientiousness and Dominance. They are strategic, results-driven leaders who approach tasks with a meticulous and decisive mindset.
9. CS-Style (Conscientiousness + Steadiness): Those with a CS-style combine the traits of Conscientiousness and Steadiness. They are thoughtful, organised team members who excel at balancing attention to detail with a supportive and collaborative approach.
10. Si-Style (Steadiness + Influence): Individuals with an Si-style blend the traits of Steadiness and Influence. They are warm, sociable communicators who prioritise building relationships and fostering a positive team environment.
11. iD-Style (Influence + Dominance): Individuals with an iD style are outgoing, sociable, and enthusiastic, like those with an Influence style. They enjoy building relationships, inspiring others, and bringing energy to group settings.
12. DC -Style (Dominance + Conscientiousness): Individuals with a DC style tend to be assertive, results-oriented, and decisive like Dominant individuals, while also demonstrating characteristics of being analytical, detail-oriented, and systematic like Conscientious individuals.

Understanding these 12 Everything DiSC styles provides a comprehensive framework for navigating workplace dynamics, fostering effective communication, and building strong, cohesive teams. By recognising and appreciating the diverse strengths and preferences of each style, individuals and organisations can leverage these insights to enhance collaboration, drive innovation, and achieve collective success.

How Everything DiSC Works

Assessment Process:

• Questionnaire: Participants complete a questionnaire consisting of a series of statements or questions. These questions are designed to measure various aspects of behaviour, preferences, and tendencies.
• Behavioural Responses: Participants respond to the questionnaire based on how they perceive themselves in different situations at work. The assessment captures their behavioural responses across a range of scenarios.

The Profile:

• Personalised Report: Based on the participant’s responses to the questionnaire, the Everything DiSC assessment generates a personalised DiSC profile report. This report provides insights into the participant’s primary DiSC style and how it influences their behaviour, communication preferences, strengths, and potential areas for development.
• Graphical Representation: The DiSC profile typically includes a graphical representation, such as a DiSC map or circle, which illustrates the participant’s relative scores across the four DiSC dimensions (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness). This visual representation helps individuals understand their behavioural style in relation to others.

Importance of Everything DiSC Assessments

1. Enhanced Self-awareness: Everything DiSC assessments provide individuals with valuable insights into their own behavioural tendencies, preferences, and communication styles. This heightened self-awareness allows individuals to better understand their strengths, areas for growth, and their behaviour to different situations.
2. Improved Communication: By understanding their own DiSC style and those of their colleagues, individuals can communicate more effectively. They can tailor their communication approaches to better resonate with others’ preferences, leading to clearer, more productive interactions and fewer misunderstandings.
3. Enhanced Team Dynamics: Everything DiSC assessments help teams recognize and appreciate the diversity of behavioural styles within their group. By understanding and valuing each other’s strengths and contributions, teams can collaborate more effectively, leverage complementary skills, and achieve greater synergy.
4. Conflict Resolution: With insights from Everything DiSC assessments, individuals and teams can navigate conflicts more constructively. By understanding the underlying motivations and communication styles of others, individuals can approach disagreements with empathy and find mutually beneficial resolutions.

Practical Applications of Everything DiSC

1. Team Building Workshops: Everything DiSC workshops provide a platform for teams to explore their individual and collective DiSC styles. Through interactive exercises and discussions, team members can gain a deeper understanding of each other’s strengths and communication preferences, fostering stronger relationships and teamwork.
2. Leadership Development Programmes: Everything DiSC assessments are invaluable tools for leadership development. Leaders can gain insights into their own leadership styles and learn how to adapt their approaches to effectively lead and motivate individuals with different DiSC styles.
3. Conflict Management Training: Everything DiSC assessments can be used to facilitate conflict management training sessions. By helping individuals understand their own conflict resolution tendencies and those of others, these sessions equip participants with strategies for resolving conflicts constructively and maintaining positive relationships.

Understanding The Assessment

The report is designed to be accessible to everyone and you don’t need to have a deep academic understanding of psychology to be able to read and digest the information detailing your specific DiSC results. However, it is beneficial to consult with someone trained in psychometric testing to gain a broader understanding of your behavioural styles. This is where DCo can help! We have people trained in psychometric testing, including DiSC, that can provide you with a deeper insight and understanding in to how this behavioural assessment can benefit you as an individual or your team. Get in contact to discuss your options.