You know that feeling of being trapped in a work meeting where nothing is being decided and you wonder why you’re even there at all? Well, meetings that could be emails are a classic example of what can go wrong when there’s a lack of effective communication at work.

Of the many different personality assessments available, the DISC assessment is one of the most helpful in work settings. This versatile tool can help you increase performance levels, boost productivity, build better team relationships and yes – communicate far better than you may be doing right now.  

Before we go any further, let’s take a moment to recap how the DISC system works.

DISC identifies four personality styles. Almost everyone identifies with one or two of the following types: 

  • Drive: assertive and goal-oriented ‘doers’ who are focused on achieving goals.
  • Influence: persuasive and approachable networkers who are great at generating ideas.
  • Support: supportive and dependable team players who are supportive and friendly with coworkers.
  • Clarity: autonomous and detail-oriented problem-solvers who are focused on accuracy and quality.

Taking the assessment will tell you which of the DISC styles you prefer and provides valuable insight into how you approach work, think and communicate.

Now, let’s take a look at how DISC can help you communicate better in the workplace. 

Communication styles of each DISC type

How many misunderstandings at work stem from making quick assumptions? DISC can be an effective tool to minimize confusion. To put it simply: every type communicates in a certain way. Knowing how each of your colleagues thinks, talks and writes, and the type of decisions they prioritize, will help you understand what they’re really saying behind the email and how they’d like you to respond.  

From a manager’s standpoint, if you have a good grasp of your team’s individual DISC styles, you can put yourself in their shoes and communicate in a way that gets your messages heard. This makes it easier to give feedback and better guide your team instead of jumping to conclusions too quickly.

How Drive types communicate

Drive types are forthright and direct in their communication. They tend to see the big picture, rather than focus on details, and express themselves in terms of concrete goals, plans, and achievements. Drive personalities may also be impatient and struggle to welcome other viewpoints.

Tips for communicating with Drive types:

  • Be concise and to the point
  • Avoid rambling
  • Try to involve them in the decision-making process
  • When disagreeing, focus on facts rather than emotions

How Influence types communicate

Influence types are open and enthusiastic in their communication. They want people to feel at ease around them and are good at reading body language and social cues. During a conversation, Influence personalities can deviate from the topic at hand and quickly jump from one idea to the other. You’ll need to tailor your communication to keep them on track.

Tips for communicating with Influence types:

  • Take time to chat
  • Verbally recognize when they've done a good job
  • Offer them space to express themselves
  • Avoid rejecting their ideas right away

How Support types communicate

Support types are empathetic and soft in their communication. They’re active listeners who look for ways to help others through their work. They tend to appear calm on the outside but can have strong opinions. Support types can take a long time when asked to make a decision, so it’s important to give them time to process what you are saying. 

Tips for communicating with Support types:

  • Show sincere appreciation
  • Provide time to make decisions
  • Let them know of any changes early on
  • Ask for their opinions

How Clarity types communicate

Clarity types tend to prefer written over verbal communication. They focus on facts rather than opinions and generally ask questions to study the specifics of tasks and projects. Clarity personalities are detail-oriented and can sometimes appear to be inflexible or overly critical of themselves and others.

Tips for communicating with Clarity types:

  • Be thorough when disclosing information
  • Respect their space
  • Listen attentively
  • Give clear expectations

What are the benefits of using DISC to communicate?

When everyone is on the same page about how they like to communicate, there will be fewer misunderstandings and missed expectations. And, people will feel heard and understood. Here are some of the many benefits of using DISC to help you communicate in the workplace:

1. Play to everyone’s strengths 

Like every personality assessment, DISC is a valuable tool for identifying each team member’s blind spots and strengths. This is the foundation for understanding what needs to be tweaked for things to work smoothly and how to work together towards a solution. Maybe it’s as simple as clearer instructions for a colleague who scores high in Clarity, for example, or making sure that you talk in terms of people for an Influencer. 

2. Dealing with conflict productively

We all know that poor communication can originate conflict and turn your workplace into a hostile environment. Fortunately, understanding your DISC profile may help you build clearer communication and avoid conflicting situations. Think of it this way: if you understand where your Influencer colleague’s lengthy emails are coming from, you can manage your expectations and not get annoyed. In the same way, if you know that a support coworker is more likely to need time to process information, you can avoid putting them on the spot in meetings.

3. Increased productivity

There are plenty of studies that show a strong link between communication and productivity in the workplace. It makes sense: when you communicate goals, expectations, deadlines and so on in a way that people understand, then everyone knows what’s expected of them and can get on with the task at hand. There's no need for costly mistakes or delays caused by a breakdown in communication. 

5. Thoughtful (and useful) feedback

Last but not least, the DISC assessment could also help you in giving and receiving useful feedback. If you’ve ever had to deal with an aggressive manager or team member who, instead of listening, shouted in your face, you’ll know what I mean.With a better understanding of DISC, you can learn to give feedback in a way that is more likely to be received and acted upon.

The bottom line: knowledge is power

Knowledge is a powerful tool. If you’re in a leadership position, being aware of the different DISC profiles of your team could help you get the most out of everyone. If you’re not in a leadership role, understanding your own DISC profile (and that of your colleagues) can help you build more productive and positive relationships in the workplace. And that is a win-win for everyone.

Andreia Esteves
Andreia is an INFJ who used to think she was the only person in the world terrified of answering the phone. She works as a freelance writer covering all things mental health, and psychology related. When not writing, you’ll find her cozying up with a book, or baking vegan treats. Find her at: https://andreiaesteves.com/