It is fascinating to use our understanding of the DISC Styles to put together what the best combination would be for each role in an office. Over the 30 years of our orthodontic practice, we did this consistently, resulting in happy, satisfied staff and very little turnover.
Last week, we looked at the DISC Style combination that is best for the Receptionist role. If you would like to read it, just click here.
This week, let’s examine the staff a patient is most likely to encounter next in their orthodontic journey. You probably have a flow chart for your office as well, showing what steps a new patient or client moves through.
For us, it was the staff doing the New Patient Exam, which was me after my children were in school. Similar to the Receptionist, this person needed to be the strong High S-Style – warm and welcoming, friendly and people-focused. But there was also quite the list of what was required to get accomplished during the New Patient Exam, so I had to keep an eye on the clock and keep moving through the list.
Also, much of the list required detailed measurements – a very High C-Style part of the job, as well as putting together what that patient’s Phase of Treatment normally cost. I also had to allow time for my orthodontist husband to come in, meet the patient and any family members who had come with them, and answer their questions, giving them the time and focus they needed, but again, keeping an eye on the clock.
So the New Patient Exam staff needed a strong S-Style, plus a good amount of C-Style as well. It also helped to have at least some D-Style to help hold the conversation to a forward-progressing momentum and stay relatively on schedule.
As a quick refresher, in a nutshell, the 4 DISC Styles are:
- D-Style: Gets things done, is decisive and authoritative, prefers to be in charge
- I-Style: Is enthusiastic, outgoing, positive and persuasive, a “party looking for a place to happen”
- S-Style: Is steady, dependable, cooperative and patient, a great team player
- C-Style: Likes procedures, is systematic, precise and conscientious, focuses on the details
When we learned about using the DISC System for placing employees in their best roles, we first gave the DISC Assessment to each of our current employees. We did not do a Fruit Basket Upset all at once in roles and responsibilities, but we discerned how we could move jobs or people around a bit at a time to best accomplish that goal.
Then every time we hired new employees, we always gave each of them the DISC Assessment, to make sure they were the combination we needed.
Next week, we will look at the Operatory Staff, who made up the bulk of our employees. It turns out we needed a couple different combinations there.
I hope this is eye-opening and extremely helpful for you, whether you have an office full of employees, or are one of many employees wanting to find your best role at work.
***In the meantime, if you would like to find out what your DISC Style Combination is, just click here for more information on getting a DISC Assessment – an easy online process that will gain you lots of insight.
QUESTION: Have you ever considered how your DISC Style Combination would best fit a specific job? I’d love to hear your thoughts and observations. Please share in the comment section below.
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