DISC Personality Test

Intro

Personality tests can be a fun way to learn more about ourselves and how we interact with others, but they can also have serious implications in the workplace. DISC Personality Test is an assessment tool used by more than one million people every year to help improve teamwork, communication, and productivity in the workplace.

Author

The DISC test originates from the theory of psychologist William Moulton Marston. Marston developed it in the 1920s as a tool to measure an individual’s personality and behavior. Marston’s theory was that an individual’s personality determined their behavior, and that understanding an individual’s personality could help to predict their behavior and decision-making processes. Besides, he believed that each individual belongs to one of four primary personality types: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance (DISC). Each type describes a particular approach to getting work done and contributing to a team. However, each of the four DISC personality types is equally valuable, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

DISC Personality Types

• Dominant.
  Confident and places an emphasis on accomplishing bottom-line results; takes charge and makes key decisions.
• Influential.
  More open and places an emphasis on relationships and influencing or persuading others; engages others to work together.
• Steady.
  Dependable and places the emphasis on cooperation and sincerity; assists others to achieve group goals.
• Compliant.
  Places the emphasis on quality, accuracy, expertise, and competency; works independently to produce correct results.

* We use the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) for our testing approach. It’s a collection of items managed by the Oregon Research Institute, freely available to the public. This tool helps us assess personality traits, and because it’s open-source, it promotes broad research and practical use.

Marston proposed his DISC Personality Test for better understanding of how individuals respond to different situations and challenges. He was sure that the tool can be useful in a variety of settings, including in the workplace and in therapy. The DISC Personality Test consists of 54 questions and takes not much time to complete. Multiple researchers proved the inventory to be valid and reliable. Currently, thousands of organizations around the world, from sprawling government agencies and Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits and small businesses see certain advantages in using it. Equally important that the test helps to improve communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Discovering your own type can help you to better understand how to bring your strongest talents to your work, while minimizing your blind spots.

Reasons for Use

Raise self-awareness

Constructive change begins with self-knowledge. DiSC profiles show you how you respond to conflict, what motivates you or stresses you out, and how you solve problems.

Improve teamwork

Teams are where things get done in the modern workplace. DiSC profiles teach you how to improve communication and understanding between team members.

Make conflict more productive

DiSC profiles can turn conflict into a positive, productive exercise that helps your organization move forward boldly.

Develop stronger sales skills

DiSC profiles can also help improve your effectiveness in sales situations. Understanding and adapting to your customers’ styles is essential for connecting on a human level and seeing each other “eye to eye”.

Manage more effectively

Leaders become more naturally effective when they understand the dispositions and preferred working styles of their employees and other team members.

Train without judgment

No one likes to be judged. DiSC profiles level the playing field by giving trainers and trainees the non-judgmental information they need to train more effectively.

Please read our dedicated articles to learn more about individual DISC personality types: Dominant, Influential, Steady, Compliant.