DiSC profiles are used by more than a million people every year to drive personal development, teamwork and productivity. But do you really know what the purpose of a DiSC analysis is and what the profiles can be used for? Read on to find out.

What is a DiSC profile?

A DiSC profile is a description of a behavioural type that can be used to understand a person’s behaviour in specific situations. This has made DiSC a popular analysis tool in many workplaces, where DiSC analyses can help teams gain a better understanding of each other’s strengths and limitations and thus strengthen the team’s ability to work together.

What does DiSC stand for?

The DiSC analysis is based on four different DiSC profiles, each with their own behavioural traits: Dominance (D), Influence (i), Stability (S) and Conscientious (C). The four behavioural traits are visualised in the DiSC model with a letter and a colour that describes typical behavioural patterns for each individual profile. Together, they describe our behavioural patterns, motives, preferred communication style and preferences in different situations.

The 4 DiSC profile types

The four DiSC profiles give us an understanding of our personality types and reflect our natural behaviour; that is, the preferences we have developed over a lifetime based on the experiences we have had.

DiSC profile i

The i-profile is enthusiastic, quick to make decisions, cooperative, charming and very sociable. Being in a socially functioning environment where group activities, cooperation and social relations are prioritized will motivate the i-profile. An environment lacking these things will appear daunting, however. Feelings of being ignored and socially rejected are feared by i-profiles.

DiSC profile C

The C-profile is methodical, detail-oriented, calm, a bit reserved and sceptical. It is important for this profile to have the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and to use already accumulated knowledge; emphasis will be placed on delivering quality work. As a result of this, this profile may not function very well in environments where quality is less of a priority. Being wrong and receiving critique may feel uncomfortable.

Strengths and weaknesses of the profiles

All behavioural profiles in the DiSC model have certain limitations, and it is these limitations that can cause discord between the profiles.

The D profile may lack empathy and patience in stressful situations, which can be especially worrying for an S profile, as they value harmony and appreciation. Conversely, the D profile may be frustrated by the S profile’s indecisiveness and need for stability. The C profile may find it difficult to work with the I profile because they can be disorganised and impulsive. Conversely, the I-profile may also experience difficulties when working with a C-profile who tends to be over-analysing and isolationist.

What is the purpose of DiSC?

Understanding employees’ limitations and strengths can improve performance and collaboration within an organisation . DiSC can help companies make employees’ personal strengths and development areas visible so they can more effectively use their personal profile and understand their own behaviour in specific situations. In this way, DiSC analyses can be used as a development tool to create a deeper foundation for individual, leadership and group development.

Build a common language of behaviour and attitudes with DiSC

Every day, DiSC profiles help companies improve their performance by building a common language of behaviours and preferences. With DiSC, organisations can work to improve engagement, align communication, improve team productivity and efficiency and build understanding and acceptance of each other’s differences.