Team Dynamics & Group Work

Foundations of DISC Profiling

Now that you have learned about your individual DISC Profile, let's build on those foundations as we start to apply DISC to leadership and business. These videos and activities will help you dive deeper into the other DISC Styles to uncover the similarities and differences to continue to build your self-awareness.

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, 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.

DIVE DEEPER INTO DISC

Watch the video below 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.

ACTIVITIES

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 the use of DISC. Use this activity to build a strong foundation for developing self-awareness and improving interpersonal skills to work more effectively with others.

DISC Line-Up

DISC Line Up

The DISC Line Up Activity uses different scenarios to highlight the scales of behavior for each of the Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientious styles. Groups you work with 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 has. 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. If you are watching this online and independently, consider where you would stand in each of the line ups and where some people you know would likely be based on behaviors you notice in them.

Pairing

This activity encourages team members 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 the interpersonal skills of those you work with to work well with others.

Statistical Validity and Reliability of Athlete Assessments' DISC Profiles

The only real way to judge the true quality of an assessment, is if it has been independently analyzed by a reputable expert. Below is an interview with the Assessment Standards Institute (ASI) who re-analyzed the reliability and validity of Athlete Assessments' DISC Profile, to ensure continued compliance with industry standards.