The DISC System and What We Value

I just got home last week from our Family Vacation, to be met with the prep for a colonoscopy (oh joy, oh rapture). It has been a rough week, to put it mildly… but as I’m thinking about it, I’m realizing some important truths.

As I quote from Dr. Charles Boyd on my website, “outside of God’s Word, the insights I’ve gained through the DISC model are the most important body of information I possess.” I do tend to look at experiences through the lends of the DISC System.

What I’ve realized these last few weeks is how much we tend to view the world and other people through the lens of our prominent DISC Style.

As a quick review of each DISC Style, think of someone (maybe it’s you) who:

• D – Has to TAKE CHARGE
• I – Always ADDS FUN
• S – Is so very PATIENT
• C – Loves the DETAILS

To expand on these descriptions:

• D-Style: Gets things done, is decisive and authoritative
• I-Style: Is enthusiastic, outgoing, positive and persuasive
• S-Style: Is steady, dependable, cooperative and patient
• C-Style: Likes procedures, is systematic, precise and conscientious

It follows then, that what we value tends to also line up with our prominent DISC Style:

• D-Style: Opportunities and people who are high energy and get things done and done NOW
• I-Style: Opportunities for fun and laughter and the people who will add to them with their own fun-loving ways
• S-Style: Quiet talk times, often 1:1 people time
• I-Style: Quiet alone times or the opportunity to use our love of details to make situations easier or run smoother

Michael Hyatt has a famous quote that I think about often. When faced with challenges or things aren’t going as we hoped, he asks, “What does this make possible?” Because of my weakness from Long COVID, instead of the usual hiking and active approach to my Family Vacation, I found it gave me the opportunity to do what I value most – have talk times with people – sometimes just a word or two, sometimes a lovely, lengthy discussion. This gratified my High S-Style self tremendously! And hopefully communicated their importance to the other person.

But we also need to validate and honor the DISC Styles that are not part of our personal make up, and try to view the world through their lens as well, and grow in our understanding of what others value.

Just interesting things to think about as I recover this week.

QUESTION: What do you value? Does it align with your DISC Styles? I’d love to hear your thoughts and observations. Please share in the comment section below.