The DISC System and Its Value

“I just can’t take it anymore! If I have to go back there, I’m going to lose my mind!!”

This was a direct quote from our eldest daughter when she was around thirteen years old. She was (and still is) our super high energy child, who loves lots of activity in her life and is renewed by plenty of People Time.

With the best of intentions as good parents, we wanted each of our children to work in different areas of our orthodontic practice. It just happened that we needed help in the lab at the time. So our daughter had to sit in the far back recesses of our office, alone in a cubby, with a scaler in one hand and a model of someone’s teeth in the other, carefully picking the bubbles off the models, model after model, hour after hour.

I ask you – was this job a good fit for our daughter? I assume you said, “Absolutely NOT!” It went against every inch of how she was designed and how she preferred to function. No wonder she was losing her mind!

This is just one example of how knowing the DISC Styles of those around you, whether at home, at work or in the neighborhood, can make all the difference.

This week and next, we will look at the DISC System, review the Basics of it and the ways to apply it. On my website, I quote Dr. Charles Boyd from his excellent book, Different Children, Different Needs, “outside of God’s Word, the insights I’ve gained through the DISC model are the most important body of information I possess.”

So I publish a blogpost once a week on some aspect of the DISC System and its application in professional practices or its usefulness for individuals and families. My goal is to provide enough information to make a difference in your office and your life; to share what I have found to be successful so you can put your new-found learning into your personal and professional practice immediately.

I know there are many systems out there that will give you more understanding. But there are lots of reasons why I value the DISC System. First, it is easy to learn as there are just four main Styles. Most people are a combination of at least two styles, but that is still fairly simple to evaluate and very straight forward.

The applications of the DISC System range from communication preferences, to hiring know-how, to motivation, to stress or time management. For example, picture your staff or fellow employees. Think about the roles they have in the office. Are any of them silently screaming, “I’m going to lose my mind if I have to go back there again!” This is entirely possible and this is one of the keys in preventing turnover in any office.

Next week, let’s look at each style in more depth.

QUESTION: Have you ever considered how a person’s design could be crucial to understand? I’d love to hear your thoughts and observations. Please share in the comment section below.