Why I Use The DISC Model

People frequently ask me why I use the DISC model in my work. Today, I'll offer some of my reasons.

I use the DISC model because:

• It is simple enough that…
  • I can work with someone for only a few minutes and help them gain perspective they have never seen before.
  • I can use it to help me when I am tired, stressed or angry.
  • I don't need assessment results to understand another person.
• It is descriptive enough that…
  • It helps me to see others more objectively and less subjectively.
  • It leads me towards understanding and away from judgment.
• It is accurate enough that…
  • I can get a good guess about what someone wants from me when we communicate.
  • I can quickly understand another person's perspective.
• It is flexible enough that…
  • I can use it “on the fly” in real-life situations.
  • I can see the blends, subtleties and variations in other people's perspectives without trying to force them neatly into a single box or label them.

Is the model perfect? No.

Does the model explain every nuance of human behavior? No.

Are there better clinical or analytical models? Yes.

Despite these limitations, for real-world, working-with-people-in-the-moment situations, it is the best tool for me.

These are the reasons that I use the DISC model.