What Is the DISC Test and How Does It Help Us Understand People?
The DISC test is one of the most popular tools for assessing behavioural styles, widely used in business, sales and team management. Its main purpose is to help us understand how people behave and how they communicate and make decisions.
The DISC model divides personality styles into four basic types of behaviour:
- Dominance (D)
- Influence (I)
- Steadiness (S)
- Conscientiousness (C)
Thanks to the DISC test, you can quickly understand why people react the way they do, what their communication needs are and in what kind of work environment they feel their best. People with different styles make decisions in different ways. In the image below, you can see what drives each style when making decisions. Each of the styles will be covered in its own series of additional articles.
Where Does the DISC Model Come From?
The DISC model was developed on the basis of psychological research carried out by William Moulton Marston in the 1920s. He recorded his observations in the book „Emotions of Normal People”, available only in English.
Marston noticed that people respond to their environment in four basic patterns of behaviour, which we now recognise as the four DISC behavioural styles.
This gave rise to the DISC model, which today is used in:
- recruitment
- sales
- team management
- coaching
- leadership development
How Does the DISC Test Work?
The DISC test involves answering a series of questions about behaviour, reactions to stress and decision-making. The MaxieDISC® test contains 24 sets of statements that you rank from most to least important to you.
Based on your answers, the algorithm identifies:
- your dominant behavioural style
- your communication style
- your motivators
- how you act under pressure
The result is a report that describes a person’s DISC profile. The report shows both the natural and the adapted behavioural style, which not only reveals a person’s full potential but also shows how they adapt within the context in which they completed the test. Adaptation tells us whether we are functioning in a state of so-called flow or in a stressful situation.
The Four DISC Personality Styles
Below is a brief overview of the characteristics of the four main DISC styles. Detailed discussions will follow in upcoming articles and in additional materials available to our subscribers.
Style D – Dominance
People with a high D style:
- are decisive
- make quick decisions
- like being in control
- focus on results
They are often found in roles such as:
- leaders
- entrepreneurs
- sales managers
Style I – Influence
The I style describes people who are:
- communicative
- enthusiastic
- sociable
- inspiring to others
They excel in:
- sales
- marketing
- networking
- public speaking
Style S – Steadiness
People with a high S style:
- are loyal
- patient
- supportive
- emotionally stable
They often work in roles such as:
- HR
- customer service
- team support
Style C – Conscientiousness
The C style describes people who are:
- analytical
- precise
- logical
- detail-oriented
They excel in:
- data analysis
- finance
- IT
- quality control
Why Is It Worth Taking the DISC Test?
Completing the MaxieDISC® test is the first, very important step towards consciously managing your talents. For many people, it is also a starting point for planning a career path, retraining or changing their life for the better. Every result is discussed with a consultant who professionally helps you understand both the model itself and the conclusions that follow from your test result.
The DISC test helps you:
- understand yourself better
- improve communication
- increase your effectiveness at work
- build better relationships
- increase team effectiveness
- find the ideal job
- hire the best employees
and these are just a few of its benefits.
Thanks to this tool, teams work more smoothly and conflicts are easier to resolve.
If you are interested in a MaxieDISC® consultation, write to us at office@maxiedisc.com. And if this article has encouraged you to take the test, quote the code MaxieDISCblog to get a 10% discount on the test with a debriefing.