DISC and Me

The Power of DISC: A Lifelong Resource for Personal and Professional Growth

In life, we encounter resources that have the potential to change us forever. For me, one such resource was the DISC Behavioral Assessment, which I was introduced to in 1980. The self-discovery aspect of DISC helped me understand myself, my natural strengths and weaknesses, and, most importantly, how I interact with others. The four distinct behavioral styles—Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness—continue to shape my approach to life, business, and relationships to this day.

As a businessman running a sales organization, DISC became an invaluable tool in how I dealt with both my employees and customers. Understanding the different behavioral styles allowed me to tailor my communication and management style to fit the individual, enhancing productivity, reducing stress, and improving overall work culture. It wasn’t long before I saw the results, and I knew I had stumbled upon something transformative.

Around that time, I told my friend Bill Brooks, who was a college football coach, about DISC. Bill was developing a consulting company and helping my team with time management training. He quickly recognized the value of DISC and became so enthusiastic that he began working with Carlson Corporation, a DISC marketing company. Bill’s success was remarkable; he left his coaching position to pursue full-time consulting and became our dedicated trainer. He equipped all my sales personnel with the skills to sell using DISC principles. We also integrated DISC into our hiring process, matching individuals to roles based on what’s known as "Job Fit."

My interest in DISC didn’t stop there. Several years later, after selling my original company (the one I owned when I introduced Bill to DISC), I launched my own consulting firm, with DISC as a major part of our service offerings. While I’m no longer actively consulting, I still have clients who use my online assessment services. When I started, everything was done with pen and paper. But in the 1990s, TTI Success Insights developed a computer program that greatly expanded the assessment results. Now, everything is online, and the information provided to recipients is light-years ahead of what I originally received.

What is DISC? A Simple Overview

DISC was initially developed by psychologist William M. Marston in the 1920s to help people better understand human behavior. The model focuses on four primary behavioral styles:

1. Dominance (D): People who exhibit dominance tend to be direct, results-oriented, and confident. They focus on achieving goals and prefer to take charge of situations.

2. Influence (I):  Individuals with a high level of influence are social, outgoing, and persuasive. They thrive in environments that allow them to build relationships and influence others.

3. Steadiness (S): Those who score high in steadiness are calm, dependable, and supportive. They value stability and enjoy working in environments that allow for cooperation and teamwork.

4. Conscientiousness (C): People with high conscientiousness are detail-oriented, analytical, and methodical. They prefer to work in structured environments where they can focus on accuracy and quality.

Many companies have expanded on Marston’s work, but none have done it better than TTI Success Insights. Since 1997, I have partnered with them, and they continue to lead the industry in providing assessments that offer deep insights into behavior, communication styles, and job fit.

A Personal Review of DISC

Here’s what I’ve learned about behavioral style over the years: A person needs to understand both themselves and others. When you know your own temperament, communication improves. Stress is reduced or even eliminated, and productivity increases. Life just works better. After more than four decades of working with DISC, I can confidently say that it’s a proven tool for personal and professional growth. I highly recommend the DISC assessment and reports, and in my experience, TTI Success Insights is the best company that offers DISC and they remain the gold standard for behavioral assessments. Their other assessments are also highly regarded and when combined with DISC offer even greater insights.in yourself and others. 

Whether you're a business leader, a coach, or someone seeking self-improvement, DISC is a tool that can change your life—just as it has mine.