Using DiSC™ on a Daily Basis
from Monica Oakley

Discovering "Disc"

At the ADHA's Center for Lifelong Learning session on June 20, 2009, Kelli Swanson-Jaecks, RDH, Cheryl Thomas, RDH, and I presented the program, "America's Next Top Hygienist: How to Maximize Your Communication Style to Get Positive Results". The session was designed to improve inter-office and patient communication and was based on the DiSC™ Model* identifying behavioral style—a research tool that I have used in my work for over 20 years. Although this program focused on the work life of hygienists, the first question, interestingly enough was, "I have a family member whose style is definitely different from my own and is driving me crazy—what can I do to make the situation better?"

As we all know, work life affects our personal life, and our home life definitely can affect our work!  With the current economic crisis, many of our relationships have become strained because of external pressures.  So now, more than ever, when we need "a safe place to land" positive personal interactions are critical.
 

So what can we do to "make our situations better?" Self improvement comes with self-awareness. I believe that by increasing our knowledge of behavioral style differences and then consciously practicing adaptation skills with our families, we all can improve personal relationships as well as our professional ones, reducing conflict and stress.

In this two part series, you will learn more about the 4 behavioral styles so that you can learn to identify the traits in yourself and others. Then we will look at adaptation strategies that can immediately improve communication with your family and friends!
 

Let's take a look at the dimensions of behavior in each of the 4 predominant styles based on the
 

DiSC™ Personal Profile System*

                                                           

Most people are a blend of these styles, but usually have 1 or 2 predominant traits that guide their behaviors.  If we can begin to understand what each individual needs from us, if we can "see the world through their eyes", we will then be able to modify our style and chose more effective ways to interact and improve our daily interactions

Case Study - Applying Disc to Family

Let's take a look at how the various "Styles" may behave at a Family Reunion…

D    Checks to see if everything is "under control".  Takes over supervising the barbecue grill, Looks for activities where he/she can compete, becomes impatient if schedule of events is running late, may ask "what is the problem", directs relatives to begin eating, begins to eat when they do not respond. Leaves at scheduled time, waves goodbye one time, checks Blackberry on the way home. Talks about how the next reunion can be improved.
 

i     Greets/meets as many people as possible, tells personal stories, seen smiling and laughing most of day, calls out to include "C" relatives in activities, forgets to get food out of the car, realizes he/she left the condiments at home,  tells "D" to "Lighten-up"-- does not matter if picnic is late, everyone is having a good time".  Starts to discuss next year's reunion and who to include. Says goodbye to each individual which includes a recap of previous conversation. Talks about all "private" conversations on the way home.
 

S    Came early to set-up.  Brings special prizes for the children.  Helps set table, comfort children, offer appetizers. Quietly checks to see if there is anything else that should be done. Seen listening intently to individual relatives during the day. Is the last one to get food, last one to leave, makes plans to help needy relatives. Takes the blanket that the "i" relative left, so it can be returned. Relatives come over to hug goodbye. Content/happy on way home.
 

C   Mapquests the location and prints directions the night before.  Goes over schedule with family in the car. Tells children to make certain to be polite, introduce themselves, and help clean up. Quietly greets familiar relatives, only introduces self to new faces because i relative keeps insisting. Finds a quiet spot to sit and watch activities. Wishes he/she were home reading that new book. Offers to go get the condiments the "i" forgot.  While eating, begins to figure out the cost per person. Quietly packs everything in car before the end, forgets to say goodbye. Looks over the reverse Mapquest directions.  Appears exhausted from all the activity.  Talks little the next 24 hours.

You get the idea…

Once you have identified you own predominant style, you then can begin to assess the style of others.  Recognizing what others' need helps you evaluate if your natural or "default" approach is helping or hindering the interaction.

Often when faced with a misunderstanding we only view it through our perspective, our frame of reference, our "lens". Viewing it through the DiSC lens will help us adapt our behavior to improve the result.  It does not mean that we have to totally change our personality or appear fake.  It does mean that by altering a few of our behaviors in the visual, vocal, and verbal channels of communication we acknowledge and respect human differences in perspective and reactions.  As Stephen Covey stated:  "Seek first to understand, then be understood."

Look for adaptation strategies in Part 2!   

Monica Oakley is an Inscape Publishing Authorized Distributor. DiSC™ profiles are available for purchase by contacting Professional Performance Incorporated
www.ProPerformtraining.com
 

*DiSC Personal Profile System, ©2001 by Inscape Publishing,Inc.  All rights reserved.