3 Ways We Use Personality Profiles at Westminster Tool
As part of our culture, learn three of the ways we apply DISC to improve workplace communications.
At the core of every organization is its people. At Westminster Tool, we believe in constantly investing in the growth and development of our people to improve not only their ability to exceed customer expectations but also to improve their quality of life. We believe that strong, productive communication is a key component in establishing an equally strong internal culture where employees can grow.
There are several resources available that are designed to make that happen. One of these tools is using personality and behavioral profiles. Our company has used one method in particular, DISC, to strengthen workplace communication and develop our internal culture, and it has ultimately become a cornerstone to our company’s growth.
First, a few things you should know about DISC:
What is DISC? DISC is a behavior assessment tool based on a personality profile test comprised of 28 word groupings, where participants identify the words in each group which they resonate with the most or least. Ultimately providing a comprehensive profile based on four behavioral groups.
- D – Dominant
- I – Influence
- S – Steadiness
- C – Compliant
Each test reveals a complex combination of traits that can change over time or adapt to certain situations. For example, a person might test as a “High S”, meaning they strongly associate with the “Steadiness” group, and that person might be a “Low C”, meaning they have lower “Compliant” tendencies.
The results not only identify primary and secondary personality traits, but help you to better understand social and learning styles at home or at work, either in the presence of stress or without. These results provide a detailed explanation of the strengths and weaknesses of each personality type, and it further offers tips for how to approach working with different personality types.
Here are a few ways Westminster Tool utilizes and applies this method:
Understand and Manage Team Dynamics
Everyone is different – and personality profiles show us that this is a good thing! And better understanding different personality types can really help a team to better balance and cover all of the strengths necessary to complete a project. One of the great aspects of the DISC profile is that nobody fits neatly into one group.
For example, if a team has no C (compliant) people – they may be likely to overlook details. However, if a team lacks a D (dominant) person, they may be less likely to make progress and finish a task. By understanding an employee’s strengths and weaknesses, it allows the team as a whole to be more aware of potential gaps, ultimately providing a better opportunity for success.
Another way to use this approach is to be aware when you have a majority of one personality style. For example, a group of several D (dominant) personalities and only one S (steadiness). Being in many way each other’s opposites, it is important to make sure the minority in the group gets a chance to contribute without being overshadowed by the more dominant group members.
To Enhance Communication
One of Westminster Tool’s core values is curiosity: a method that serves as an alternative to judging. DISC has been an incredible resource in supporting this value. When an apprentice moves to a new role, the trainer’s first question is “What is your DISC profile?” Why? So they present information in the way that works for the trainee. For example, a high I (influence) will need to see and understand the big picture before they can start working down in the details. Understanding who you’re communicating with allows you to craft your message to accommodate that individual in a way that works for both parties. For example, in an email to a coworker, do they want the details? Do they want the big picture? Or, do they want bullets with a combination of both? These kinds of questions improve the channels of communication that are necessary to accomplish everything from everyday tasks to major projects.
To Aid Conflict Resolution
With every company comes the need for conflict resolution. Understanding your audience helps your team to:
1. Not judge
2. Get curious and
3. Adjust their approach to present their message in a way the other side can understand.
Understanding DISC profiles can provide just as much insight into an individual’s weaknesses as their strengths. These profiles can help identify what kind of situations or environments trigger stress for each profile and can help explain how individuals deal with that stress. As a result, conflicts can be diagnosed and solved more quickly and easily. Using DISC profiles, future conflicts can be mitigated or avoided before they turn critical.
DISC profiles are a great resource to start getting in the habit of understanding coworkers from different perspectives. It challenges individuals to think beyond their own personal preferences or methods of communication and puts emphasis on a “team” mentality. .
Are you interested in learning more about how we use this tool within our company? Join us on Thursday July 19th at 12:00 PM ET for a 1 hour webinar where we will review these topics in more detail! Register here today!
