The DiSC personality profile

- The DiSC personality profile is based on four personality types, and each person's behavior is going to depend on which personality types are strongest for them. There are actually many different companies that have created their own versions of the DiSC assessment, and even though all of the different versions are based on the same personality types, each company uses slightly different names for the different personalities. The first type is D, which can stand for dominant, a driver, or a doer personality. D's are confident, and they're risk-takers. They're focused on getting things done, and they're generally innovative, good organizers, and have a sense of urgency. But D's can also come across as argumentative and have a tendency to overstep their bounds, and they may take on too much at one time. The next categories is the I's, which can stand for inducement, influencers, inspiring, or interactive. I's tend to be trusting, talkative, and optimistic. They can be great motivators and problem-solvers, which is good for team cohesion, but they may be more focused on being popular than on producing results. Then we have the S's, which can stand for submissive, steady, supportive, or stable. S's are good listeners. They're predictable, friendly, and loyal. But they tend to resist change and might have a hard time setting priorities. Last are the C's, which stands for a compliant or conscientious personality. C's are precise and analytical. They want to gather the evidence and test to make sure that they're accurate. Because C's are thorough, they need clear-cut procedures and boundaries. That also means they can get bogged down in the details, and they can tend to give in rather than argue a point. Within the DiSC profiles, there are degrees of intensity. The strongest letter is the one that someone is likely to exhibit when they're under pressure, but it's possible to be strong in more than one area. The other strong traits may be observed when the situation is less stressful. So, for example, you may have someone who's a strong D but who's also strong as an I. In that case, they could seem autocratic and bossy when your team is under pressure to meet a deadline, but the rest of the time, they're persuasive and engaging. There are quite a few websites that offer DiSC assessments. Some of them even do it for free. You can also get certified to administer the DiSC assessment and to use it as a trainer or a coach. So try one of them out and see whether you think the DiSC personality profile gives an accurate assessment of your styles.