2 Minute Post #1: The DiSC model

For the next days, I’ll change format for the Killer Consultant and deliver more, but much shorter articles. If something catches your attention, let me know, and I’ll see if I can dig into that topic deeper then.

When dealing with different people on a professional basis all the time internally and externally, it helps tremendously to have a basic understanding of what type of personalities your are dealing with. Knowing how the other "ticks" gives you an advantage – you can anticipate actions and reactions and better interpret why that person does what he or she does the way he or she does it. There are many personality-profile systems out there, made for exactly that reason – and of course to enable one to have a better understanding of oneself.

Introducing the DiSC model. I was introduced to it by one of my favorite podcasts – Manager Tools. The DiSC method assesses personalities in four dimensions (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientious), thus you assign the type that a person has the highest affiliation with (I, for example, think I am a "high I", without having been professionally assessed).

On the Manager Tools website, you find a great cheat-sheet PDF on How To Use The DiSC To Be More Effective Every Day. I found this useful without having had any further insight to the DiSC methodology (for example, on why the "i" is in low caps), because this cheat sheet gives you a short description of the character, so you can match whoever you are thinking of at least roughly with a type.

What is it good for?
When dealing with someone is a challenge for you, try matching them with a DiSC type and reflect on what their motives might be, and how you might be able to approach them differently to make working with them more pleasurable and effective for both sides. I tried this with one person already – they were a "high d", and by adapting the way I confronted them in meetings, things changed for the better almost instantly, without changing the content that was exchanged.

More Inf0?
Of course – you can start at the Wikipedia page or go to DiSC profile, which seems to be "the" site to get profiled – though I have not checked that out yet.

Boy, that took more than 2 minutes… but hey, what can you do