Effective Communication Skills: How to Quickly Guess a Person’s DISC Style

One of the most common questions about using the DISC model is this: “How do I know another person’s personality style?” Well, the short answer is: you can’t know another person’s style without assessment results. You can, however, make an educated guess about their primary style (or at least how they are interacting in the current situation) by observing their words and behaviors and answering two simple questions (phrased in the language of the DISC model): Are... [Read more]

Exercise Your Power of Choice in Conflict Resolution

In many cases, the path from conflict to resolution is like traveling down a dirt road in the country. It’s a little rough. Dirt might get in your eyes so that you don’t see clearly what lies ahead. You have to go more slowly than you do in other situations. Once you are on the road, you have to keep going. It is too narrow to turn around and go back the other way. At some point, you come to a fork in the road and you have to make a choice. In the first few moments of a conflict... [Read more]

A DISC Model Question You Should Ask of Yourself

A Question to Ask of Yourself: How do I better control myself? I often hear people ask questions about the DISC model that indicate a desire to use the model to somehow change others. Rather than using the model to label, categorize, or stereotype people, I suggest a different approach: use the DISC model to find ways to connect with other people in better, more effective ways. Towards that end, one question that I suggest you ask yourself is this: How can I use the DISC model to better understand... [Read more]

DISC Model FAQ’s: Is Changing Your Behavior Phoney?

Guy Answers the Question:Is Changing Your Behavior Phoney? As I teach, train, and coach using the DISC model, people hear me say that I encourage them to change their behaviors to fit the situation and to better connect with other people. Sometimes, people ask me if consciously changing behavior is phoney or fake. This concern raises another common question about the DISC model, and how I recommend people use it to connect and communicate more effectively. In answering this question, I often refer... [Read more]

Effective Communication Skills: Use And More than But

This is a simple, straightforward communication technique that you can use immediately to improve your ability to connect and communicate with others: Use “and” more than “but”. Imagine that you and I are in a conversation and that you have just shared your opinion with me. Compare these two responses that I might make: “You know, that’s a good point, but …” “You know, that’s a good point, and …” With the first reply, it... [Read more]

Hear and Understand to be Heard and Understood

I don’t know about you, but I often get frustrated in conversations when the other person simply will not slow down long enough to hear what I have to say. On a number of occasions lately, I have had the opportunity to work through these types of conversations with other people. We both wanted to be heard, and both of us were talking. In reflecting on the situations, I recall some things I learned as a practicing engineer. I remembered concepts from the physical world that paint a clear picture... [Read more]

Communication Tips: Connecting With Reserved, Task-Oriented People

One way to improve your communication effectiveness is to communicate in a way that best fits the other person’s DISC behavioral style. When you find yourself communicating with a person who is reserved and task-oriented (primary Cautious behavioral style), remember these key communication tips: Slow down — they usually want you to give them time to process what you’re saying before they respond. Use data and third-party information to support your position — they want to know that... [Read more]

Communication Tips: Connecting With Reserved, People-Oriented People

One way to improve your communication effectiveness is to communicate in a way that best fits the other person’s DISC behavioral style. When you find yourself communicating with a person who is reserved and people-oriented (primary Supportive behavioral style), remember these key communication tips: Slow down — they usually want you to give them time to process what you’re saying before they respond. Show that you care about them — if you come across as focused only on the task... [Read more]

Communication Tips: Connecting With Outgoing, People-Oriented People

One way to improve your communication effectiveness is to communicate in a way that best fits the other person’s DISC behavioral style. When you find yourself communicating with a person who is outgoing and people-oriented (primary Inspiring behavioral style), remember these key communication tips: Smile — they tend to be very much in-tune with your body language and facial expressions as a way to “read” your emotions. Show some enthusiasm — if you seem bored, they will be... [Read more]

Communication Tips: Connecting With Outgoing, Task-Oriented People

One way to improve your communication effectiveness is to communicate in a way that best fits the other person’s DISC behavioral style. When you find yourself communicating with a person who is outgoing and task-oriented (primary Dominant behavioral style), remember these key communication tips: Get to the point quickly — offer the results or conclusions and then your data or analysis. Focus on results and outcomes — process and feelings are less important to them than results. Give... [Read more]

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