The Ultimate Guide to Understanding the DISC Test Meaning

disc-test-meaning two-coworkers-working-on-a-project-via-their-PC

If you’re in the world of HR or leadership development, chances are you’ve heard of the DISC test. 

But what is it exactly and how can it help you and your team? 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the DISC test meaning and provide insights on how to use it effectively.

What is a DISC Test?

The DISC test is a behavioral assessment tool that measures an individual’s personality traits. 

It categorizes individuals into four primary behavioral styles: Dominance, Inspiring, Supportive, and Conscientiousness

By understanding these styles, individuals and teams can improve communication, reduce conflict, and increase productivity.

disc-test-meaning-a-group-of-people-having-a-conversation-at-a-workplace

DISC Test Meaning: How is the Test Administered?

The DISC test is typically administered as an online assessment. 

Participants answer a series of questions that measure their behavior in various situations. The results are then analyzed to determine their dominant behavioral style.

To learn more about DISC test, sign up for a free trial of our course “Personality Testing for Workplaces.”

What Does Each Style Mean?

  • Dominance: These individuals tend to be assertive, decisive, and results-oriented.
  • Inspiring: These people tend to be outgoing, enthusiastic, and persuasive.
  • Supportive: These individuals tend to be patient, reliable, and supportive.
  • Conscientiousness: These people tend to be analytical, detail-oriented, and precise.

It’s important to note that everyone has a combination of these styles but typically has one dominant style.

DISC Test Meaning: How Can You Use the Test Results?

Once you have taken the DISC test and received your results or those of your team members, here are some of the ways you can use them:

  • Improve Communication: Understanding each other’s behavioral styles can help improve communication within a team.
  • Reduce Conflict: By recognizing potential conflicts before they arise based on different personality types within a team.
  • Increase Productivity: When everyone understands each other’s strengths better they can work together more efficiently

DISC Test Meaning: How to Implement the Test Results in Your Workplace

Now that you have a good understanding of the DISC test meaning and how it works, let’s dive into how you can implement the results within your workplace. 

The DISC test provides valuable insights into an individual’s behavior, but it’s essential to understand how to use these insights effectively.

disc-test-meaning-an-individual-doing-a-victory-dance-at-her-desk

Conduct Team Building Activities

Team-building activities are an excellent way to bring people together and build stronger relationships. 

Use the DISC test results to create teams based on behavioral styles

For instance, if there are individuals with dominant personalities, pair them up with those who have a Supportive or conscientiousness style. 

This will help balance out the team and improve communication.

Use It for Recruitment

When hiring new employees, use the DISC test as part of your recruitment process. 

Include it as part of your job application process or conduct assessments during interviews. 

This will help identify candidates who have behavioral styles that align with your organization’s culture and values.

Provide Training Programs

Provide training programs that focus on teaching individuals about different behavioral styles and how they can work together effectively. 

These programs should cover topics such as effective communication strategies, conflict resolution techniques, and leadership development.

Use It for Personal Development

Individuals can also use their DISC test results for personal development purposes. 

Encourage employees to take ownership of their development by providing resources such as self-assessment tools and coaching opportunities based on their results.

The Pros and Cons of Using the DISC Test in Your Workplace

While the DISC test can be a valuable tool for improving communication, reducing conflict, and increasing productivity within teams, it’s essential to understand its pros and cons before implementing it in your workplace. 

Here are some of the pros and cons of using the DISC test:

Pros

  • Improved Communication

One of the most significant advantages of using the DISC test is that it can improve communication among team members. 

By understanding each other’s behavioral styles, team members can communicate more effectively and avoid misunderstandings.

  • Conflict Resolution

The insights provided by the DISC test can also help resolve conflicts between team members. 

By recognizing potential conflicts based on different personality types within your team, individuals can take steps to prevent them from escalating.

  • Increased Productivity

When everyone understands each other’s strengths better, they can work together more efficiently. 

This leads to increased productivity within teams.

  • Proper Placement

The disc assessment could help you identify individuals who may excel at certain jobs. For example, those who score high in empathy may do well in customer service positions.

Cons

  • Simplistic Approach

One of the criticisms of the DISC test is that it takes a simplistic approach to measuring personality traits. 

The four primary behavioral styles don’t capture all aspects of an individual’s personality.

  • Lack of Scientific Validity

The scientific validity of the DISC test has been questioned by some researchers. 

Critics argue that there isn’t enough evidence to support its effectiveness as a reliable measure of personality traits.

  • Limited Application

The DISC test may not be suitable for all workplaces or job roles. 

For instance, it may not be effective for creative roles that require flexibility and adaptability rather than strict adherence to specific behavioral styles.

  • Unintentional Screening Out of Qualified Candidates

For many roles, there isn’t a mainstream personality that fits a job type. This means the tests may also exclude talented candidates who think outside the box.

Conclusion

The DISC test is a powerful tool that provides valuable insights into an individual’s behavior. 

And, when used correctly, it can improve communication, reduce conflict and increase productivity within teams when implemented well in recruitment processes or training programs or even team building activities. 

By implementing these strategies in your workplace, you’ll be able to leverage the strengths of each team member while minimizing potential conflicts based on different personality types within teams leading to better outcomes for all involved parties.

Relevant Articles

9 Personality Tests You Should Take

What is the DISC Test

The DISC Personality Tool can Never Measure This

DISC Test: What Is the S/C DISC personality type (Thinker) ?

DISC Test: What Is the S/I DISC personality type (Counsellor)?

Recommended Resources:
 

Uncover your strengths and weaknesses with our complimentary assessment. Boost your effectiveness at work and with your team.

Free Resource Library: Access our extensive collection of valuable resources for instant support in your personal and professional growth.

Explore Our Course Library:

Enhance your leadership skills with our diverse selection of courses. Take your abilities to the next level and become a more effective leader and team player.

Testimonials

Our Clients Love the Professional Leadership Institute

Your team will, too! Check out some reviews from our students.
The PLI program was invaluable to our network.
The range of topics delivered, the open dialogue, experience, and examples that PLI brought to each session were outstanding and provided a path for our Franchisees and Managers to look at leadership, coaching, and connecting with their teams in a new light. Many have implemented these strategies in their bakeries and have seen immediate results.
Michelle C.
COBS Bread
Highly recommend to help your team move forward
We have locations around BC and Alberta, so getting people on the same page can be very difficult... Until now. Our entire management team and location managers take the same great courses and then meet monthly online with our coach to apply it to our situation. People are engaged, the courses are excellent, we love our coach, and we are all learning together!
Jason Fawcett
President, Kelson Group
The result has been a transformation of our culture. 
We decided to implement PLI's strategies across the country in over 150 locations and over 3500 employees.  The result has been a transformation of our culture.  People's lives have been positively impacted - professionally and personally.  Morale is high and sales and profits are up as a result.
Daryl Verbeek
Daryl Verbeek
We’ve learned how to fix ongoing personnel issues once and for all
The roadmap laid out set our business up to quintuple in sales.  We've learned how to fix ongoing personnel issues once and for all, attract top talent, and spend our time focused on results, not internal staffing problems.  I highly recommend PLI to you - it's worked for us!
John DeJong
Satisfied Client
I had no idea that running a business could be this fun!
In less than 18 months of working with Trevor, he has transformed my business from being average to exceptional, where mediocrity is not acceptable, where being great is standard.  Working with PLI has allowed me to realize my dream of not simply owning a job, but owning a business.
Justin Bontkes
Principal, Caliber Projects
Our culture has taken major steps forward this year
Our culture has taken major steps forward this year with Trevor’s help.  He is funny, relatable, and his tools are very very practical and have helped us focus and upgrade our teams throughout our retail network. Trevor recently spoke to an employee group, and one person remarked, “I could listen to Trevor all day.”   We would highly recommend Trevor.
Stan Pridham
Founder, KMS Tools
The results have been remarkable
At first, we resisted, “This just won’t work with a law firm.” But we persisted and the results have been remarkable: our client base and profits have steadily improved, and staff engagement and morale is the healthiest its ever been.
Doug Lester
Partner, RDM Lawyers
Helped our fast-growing business become what it is today
I've experienced PLI's approach first hand and it's been crucial to sustaining our growth.  I can't imagine a business that wouldn't benefit greatly from his help.
Brian Antenbring
Founder, TEEMA
Provided practical ways to make positive changes
Trevor was incredibly well-received by the entire organization. He was able to articulate people issues that many of our franchisees were experiencing and provided them with practical ways to make positive changes. We have implemented the Star Chart tool across the organization and see it as vital to building happy, effective teams.
Aaron Gillespie
President, COBS Bread
Scroll to Top

Start Learning Today

For Individuals

Unlock your potential and accelerate your career with sought-after management and leadership skills.

 

Transform Your Organization

For Teams

Book a consultation to discuss your challenges and discover how we can help you build a winning team.

 

Sign Up For Weekly Tips!

Get Weekly Coaching Tips Straight To Your Inbox Every Monday.