Building Community Leaders – The Power of DiSC: Understanding People and Building Stronger Teams

What is DiSC©?

Have you ever wondered why some people focus on results and action, while others prioritize building strong relationships? And why certain people are motivated by challenges, while others thrive in steady, predictable environments?

It all comes down to our unique personality types. And to better understand others, we must first understand ourselves. We can use DiSC©, a personal development learning experience, to identify and understand our own behavioral styles and how we interact with others. DiSC© categorizes people into four main styles, each with unique priorities, motivators, and communication styles. By recognizing these differences, teams can improve collaboration and communication, and build stronger relationships.

What are the 4 DiSC© Styles?

The D (Dominance) style is active and questioning. This describes people who are direct, results-oriented, and outspoken. Their priorities are challenge, results and action and they are motivated by success, competition and authority.

The i (Influence) style is active and accepting. This describes people who are outgoing, enthusiastic, and lively. Their priorities are action, enthusiasm and collaboration, and they are motivated by social recognition, relationships and group activities.

The S (Steadiness) style is reflective and accepting. This describes people who are even-tempered, accommodating, and patient. Their priorities are collaboration, support and stability, and they are motivated by stable environments, sincere appreciation and cooperation.

The C (Conscientiousness) style is reflective and questioning. This describes people who are analytical, reserved, and precise. Their priorities are stability, accuracy and challenge, and they are motivated by opportunities to gain knowledge and attention to quality.

Tips for Communicating with the DiSC© Styles

D Style – Keep the conversation short and focused and allow them to feel in charge. This style prefers to talk in terms of results, not methods, and tends to avoid jokes and stories.

i Style – Smile, be informal, and praise them for their accomplishments. This style tends to avoid technicality and details, so instead focus on big picture ideas.

S Style – Be patient, give them time to express themselves, and express your appreciation of their work. Avoid pushing this style out of their comfort zone if possible.

C Style – Use short sentences that get to the point and stay away from jokes and stories. Display your appreciation for their detail and accuracy, and avoid criticizing their work if possible.

Hear What Participants are Saying…

“I learned that acceptance of all different personalities and problem-solving ideas are what make boards unique and more likely successful towards end goals”

“I have learned the knowledge and understanding behind my style and others’ styles. With this knowledge I can now build tools that will fit the scenarios and groups we have, with the confidence to implement it.”

“The DISC assessment was incredibly helpful in helping me further analyze directors and staff and I was able to immediately better understand how to do a better job of meeting difficult individuals where they’re at.”

“I learned how to better flex my style and preferences to support other team members, and to better understand how I can elicit feedback and comments from the team.”

“The acceptance of all different personalities and problem solving ideas are what makes boards unique and more likely successful towards and goals.”

DiSC© gives people a quick and intuitive way to understand themselves and others, and helps to appreciate the different behavioral preferences and tendencies of each style. Each style has its unique priorities, motivators, and communication styles, and understanding these differences help each style to better understand the people in their personal and professional lives.

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