DISCovering more about yourself to improve
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Whenever we think about who we are and what defines us, we generally drift towards ideas about personalities and the combination of different characteristics and qualities that form ours.
Personality types have actually been quite a hot topic as of late, with many people taking personality tests to try and figure out which personality category they fall under.
One test commonly used is the DISC behaviour assessment tool, used to analyse why different people behave differently.
It is based on the DISC theory by psychologist William Moulton Marston. The assessment tool centres on four main personality traits: Dominance (D), Influence (I), Steadiness (S) and Conscientiousness (C).
With DISC, we are able to better predict our behavior in terms of how we live our lives and how we deal with others. Understanding what motivates you, what causes you stress and how you solve problems, will come in very useful especially as you work with people in the future and can help to improve your working relations.
For example, you might realize through DISC that you are a more task-oriented person, thus you might find it difficult to work with people who are more people-oriented and will need to make adjustments in order to improve working relations. With a better understanding of ourselves, we will also be better able to tap on our strengths and work on our weaknesses.
Definitely who we are cannot be wholly encapsulated by one personality type. We are all made up of a blend of personality types, where we range higher on some scales and lower on others. We look at our more dominant ones to understand ourselves better and the blends typically come in the form of D/I, S/C, I/S or D/C.
Take a look at the table below for a breakdown of the the different DISC personality types!
Personality type 1: High D – Dominance
Behaviour:
- Determined
- Opinionated
- Direct
- Egocentric
- Decisive
- Demanding
Strengths:
- Problem solver
- Visionary
- Independent
- Self-sufficient
- Thrives in crises
- Strong willed
Weaknesses:
- Tendency to be overbearing
- Rash in making decisions
- Impatient with poor performance
- Not very encouraging
What they want from their role:
- Power and authority
- Prestige
- Challenge
How to improve:
Being strong willed is good because you won’t give up even when things get tough. However, it is important to know where the boundaries are and when you need to submit to authority. You may not always be right.Personality type 2: High I – Influence
Behaviour:
- Can be emotional
- Persuasive
- Talks more than listens
- Animated
- Outgoing
- Enthusiastic
Strengths:
- Friendly
- Interest in people
- Convincing
- Charismatic
- Life of the party
Weaknesses:
- More concerned with popularity than tangible results
- Poor with detail
- Short attention span
- Disorganised
- More talk then action
- Makes decisions based on emotions
What they want from their role:
- Visible recognition
- Approval
- Popularity
How to improve:
It is important to recognise that you thrive when attention is given to you and your ideas are heard, and to bank on that. You work well under pressure and are able to use your influence for good and the betterment of the situation. However, it is also important to know that when people are not receptive of your ideas – it doesn’t have to do with who you are as a person. Rejection of your ideas does not equate to rejection of you as a person.Personality type 3: High S – Steadiness
Behaviour:
- Stable and steady
- Consultative
- Patient
- Dislike change
- Reserved
- Sympathetic
Strengths:
- Good listener
- Compassionate
- Understanding
- Patient
- Predictable
Weaknesses:
- Resists change
- Holds grudges
- Spectator
- Too laid back
- Indecisive
- Not goal-oriented
- Difficulty in establishing priorities
What they want from their role:
- Standardisation
- Security
- Calm environments
- Status quo
How to improve:
Do not fear change and conflict. Change and conflict can be scary, but may be necessary. Don’t be afraid to fight for what you want (as long as it isn’t illegal or won’t lead to a physical fight). Change can also be good sometimes. After all, growth occurs outside of your comfort zone.
Personality type 4: High S – Conscientiousness
Behaviour:
- Adhere strongly to rules
- Structured
- Logical
- Careful
- Cautious
- Diplomatic
- Proper
- Hardworking
Strengths:
- Competent
- Analytical
- Precise
- Self-disciplined
- Loyal
Weaknesses:
- Meticulous to a fault
- Rigid
- Critical
- Legalistic
- Not expressive
- Unforgiving
- Clear expectations
- Autonomy
- Recognition of expertise
- Professionalism