Disc Assessment Analysis

LFGSM Paper 2

Write a 3 – 3.5 page paper describing what aspects of your DiSC profile have helped you in your career and which aspects have hindered you. Explain how you see this happen and what steps you can take to amplify the positive aspects and mitigate the negative ones.

(Introduction): “Most people don’t have a good idea of what their unique abilities are. Eighty percent of what you accomplish will come from 20 percent of what you do. Do you know what that 20 percent is?” This quote comes from a business fable called the “The Dream Manager” by Matthew Kelly. This book relates how organizations can achieve astonishing outcomes by helping their employees fulfill their dreams. The 20 percent referenced by the fable refers to our strengths. The question of “what strengths do I bring to the table” is one that plagues many employees. Most people don’t fail because they want to fail. They fail because they do not know how to succeed. One critical role of a manager and leader in an organization is to realize the strengths and tendencies of the team, and understand how to position those strengths for the betterment of the business and its employees at the same time.

DiSC is a useful tool because:

2) Learning about other people’s DiSC styles can help us to understand the other person’s priorities and penchants and how/why they might be different from our own.

3) It is helpful to know that all DiSC styles are valuable and everyone is a blend of all four styles in some way.

The DiSC profile showed that I am a moderately included “Di”, having both traits of Dominance, and on the border with Influence. People with the trait of Dominance are: direct, results-oriented, firm, strong-willed and forceful. Influence trait people are: outgoing, enthusiastic, optimistic, high-spirited, and lively. I do not seem to have strong tendencies towards the other two traits: Conscientiousness (analytical, reserved, precise, private and systematic) or Steadiness (even-tempered, accommodating, patient, humble and tactful). Though I am lower on those two traits, it does not mean that I never exhibit these qualities, as all people are a mix of all 4 quadrants.

My trait of “Di” has helped me in my career because I approach conflict in a confident manner, because my main aim is to resolve it quickly. 

My trait of “Di” has hindered me in my career because I want to be heard, and tend to push back if I feel that my opinions are overlooked or sidelined. Perhaps there have even been times where I was too demanding or even pushy when I felt that my ideas were not acknowledged or valued. At times if I am under a great deal of pressure, I may become confrontational or argumentative, which has the chance of making others uncomfortable when I give free rein to my frustrations.