Putting it into Action in the Classroom
Now that each of you have learned about your individual DISC Profile, we'll dive deeper into the other DISC Styles to uncover the similarities and differences to continue to build your self-awareness. These videos and activities are to be utilized in your classroom setting, your lecturer will take you through this in your relevant class.
Understanding the DISC Model
DISC measures the degree of Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientious behavior. Everyone has their unique level of each behavioral style in the context of their role. The four-quadrant model explains the behavior of people with high degrees of D, I, S, and C. We will also look at how these behaviors combine as we move along.
Pace and Directness
Here’s how to identify behaviors in others based on their pace and level of directness.
Direct/Faster-Paced Behaviors
Frequently uses gestures and voice intonation to emphasize points, more likely to introduce self to others, frequent contributor in groups, less patient, expresses opinions readily, sustained eye contact.
Indirect/Slower-Paced Behaviors
Infrequent contributor in groups, reserves expression of opinions, more patient and cooperative, more likely to wait for others to introduce them, often makes qualified statements, infrequent use of gestures and little change in voice intonation.
Orientation and Openness
Look for these behaviors when working with others to determine their level of openness and focus.
Guarded/Task-Orientated Behaviors
Keeps feelings private, limited range of facial expressions, more formal and proper, avoids/minimizes physical contact, conversation stays on subject, speaks in specifics: cites facts and examples, goes with an agenda.
Open/People-Orientated Behaviors
Shows feelings and enthusiasm freely, more relaxed and warm, conversation includes digression, easy to get to know, initiates/accepts physical contact.
Watch the below video to understand more about the DISC Model
Quick Recap
- Faster-paced and more direct behavior coupled with a goal orientation and guarded manner will indicate a likely Dominance or ‘D’ Style.
- Faster-paced and more direct behavior coupled with a people orientation and open manner will indicate a likely Influence or ‘I’ Style.
- Slower-paced and less direct behavior coupled with a people orientation and open manner will indicate a likely Steady or ‘S’ Style.
- Slower-paced and less direct behavior coupled with a task orientation and guarded manner will indicate a likely Conscientious or ‘C’ Style.
ACTIVITY #1
Hand Opening
This activity uses the metaphor of ‘getting a hand to open’ to highlight some of the key principles and applications of DISC Profiling. It is designed to be interactive and spark engagement in this area of work. Use this activity to build a strong foundation of developing self-awareness and improving interpersonal skills to work more effectively with others.
ACTIVITY #2
DISC Line Up
The DISC Line Up Activity can be done as a whole-of-class exercise or in smaller groups within the class. Groups sizes can range from four to five people, all the way up to hundreds within the group – it all depends on space and time, but either way you will find it highly effective.
This activity uses different scenarios to highlight the scales of behavior for each of the Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientious styles. Students will benefit from learning from each other and their range of responses to the different situations presented. This brings to life the different measures of each DISC style that each individual student has.
ACTIVITY #3
Pairing
This activity encourages students to work in pairs or groups of three, with people of different DISC results. By sharing their own preferences in how they like to communicate, contribute to a team, or deal with conflict, they learn how people with different DISC Profiles behave. Use this activity to further build self-awareness and continue to develop students’ interpersonal skills to work well with others.
