At today’s DFWTRN. meeting, Leroy Hamm, provided an insightful overview of the DiSC assessment. Hamm is the founder of IHDCorp, a leader in pre-screening and personnel development.
The DiSC assessment measures one’s bias in the four temperaments:
D – Dominant. A High ‘D’ is extroverted, hot-tempered, quick thinking, active, practical, strong-willed, and easily person. Archie Bunker, Lee Iacocca
I – Influencing. The High ‘I’ is an extroverted, fun-loving, activity-prone, entertaining, persuasive, and optimistic person. Lucille Ball, Robin Williams
S – Steadiness. The High ‘S’ is an introverted, calm, unemotional, easygoing, never-get-upset, person. Mr. Rogers, Jimmy Carter
C – Competence. The High ‘C’ is an introverted, logical, analytical, factual, private, depression-prone, let’s-do-it-right person. Spock, Albert Einstein
While looking at each temperament independently is a good starting point, it becomes even more interesting when we look at the natural combinations we have. The assessment provides a dominant temperament and a secondary temperament. That is not to say that the other two temperaments are excluded from our personality. In fact, we each have, at least some, of each of the four temperaments. Our particular personalities will determine the final blend.
The DiSC is primarily suited for increasing self-awareness in a setting where the individual can decide how to use the information to build relations with others. Understanding your own bias is a good beginning to self-awareness. If we can successful make passage through the Self Awareness door, then many other doors related to interpersonal skills and success will be available to us.