Everything DiSC Workplace® Profile

The Everything DiSC® model is a simple tool used by people to connect better.  Everything DiSC® is used by all the Wiley applications, including: Workplace®, Agile EQ™, Productive Conflict, Work of Leaders®, Management, Sales, and 363® for Leaders. The Everything DiSC® report uses your assessment results to provide a wealth of information about your workplace priorities and preferences.  However, you also learn about colleagues whose priorities and preferences differ from yours. 

What if we had our needs and preferences written all over us, such as; Independence, Reassurance, Plans, Just the Facts, Less Micromanagement, Social Interaction, Results, Recognition, etc.  If there were only a way we could decode or decipher that information.  Well, there IS a tool that helps you do that!  It’s called the Everything DiSC Workplace^® Profile.

The profile is built around the time-tested DiSC® model.  This amazing tool pinpoints your specific dot on the Everything DiSC® map and provides you with work-centered priorities that are unique to you.  My goal here is to increase your understanding of the Workplace® Profile, and share the benefits of the profile for your examination using specific results from an actual assessment. 

The Everything DiSC Workplace® application is intended for a broad audience of working adults and is designed to:

• Help people understand their personality
• Help people better understand their colleagues
• Provide tips and guidance for improving their relationships

The eight words around the Everything DiSC Workplace® map are what we call priorities.  In other words, they are the primary areas where people focus their energy depending on their DiSC® style.  Everyone has at least three priorities; some have four to five.  Having more is no better or worse than having three.  Your Everything DiSC Workplace® Profile is unique to you and based on your results.  Priorities simply help us understand how our style might be reflected in motivations and behaviors given real-life work scenarios.  The important thing to remember is that when things get foggy (when stress or uncertainty appear, we seek the priorities associated with our style.

Let’s look at what the Workplace profile tells the participant, and what action plans can result.  I always encourage to consider the basic styles before we dive deeper.  Let’s also suppose that we have a participant whose name is Susan and initial review of her DiSC Workplace results indicate she’s in the C style quadrant.

With that, we can begin to know something about her.  As a Conscientious or Conscientiousness style, we know that Susan’s traits include:

Analytical, Reserved, Precise, Private, and Systematic.

The Workplace^® Profile will show us much more.  Let’s suppose further examination of the results shows Susan to be a CD style.

All the profiles begin with a very good summary of the DiSC® and what the 4 quadrants mean in terms of basic styles.  Then the profile provides several paragraphs of helpful information and context unique to Susan.  They discuss inclination and proximity (which was covered in a previous lesson) to help Susan understand the unique nuances in her personal Workplace^® report.

I have included an excerpt from the description provided to Susan in her personal report, which I’ll read for your now:  Because you have a CD style, Susan, you probably take an efficient approach to your work.  Since you have high expectations and you value expertise, people who consistently demonstrate competence are most likely to gain your respect.

This is just one of several, short paragraphs providing Susan further clarification about her CD style.

I need to mention shading & priorities here.  The computer-generated, colored areas within the D, I, S, & C quadrants are called shading.  The shading you see is the computers placement of the results in pictorial form, while the dot is the specific pinpoint of those results.  In this example, one can see how the shading in the “D” quadrant actually appears a little larger than the shading in the “C” quadrant.  However, in Susan’s case, the dot reflects how she answered certain questions, resulting in a CD style.  And, the shading determines one’s priorities which - in Susan’s case - are Challenge, Accuracy, and Results.

Susan’s priorities are where she focuses her energy.  The closer your shading comes to a priority, the more likely you are to focus your energy on that area.  Let me share the three priorities in this report.  Your own priorities will likely be different and tailored to your results.  Let’s look at Susan’s priorities.

We begin with Challenge:  Susan, when you spot a flaw, you’ll speak up about it.  You are skeptical of new ideas, and you’ll question others’ opinions if you’re unconvinced.  Furthermore, you have little tolerance for incompetence, and you prefer to work with people who won’t waste your time.  You value critical thinking and common sense, and you aren't afraid to challenge others with tough questions to ensure efficient outcomes.

Next, we have Accuracy:  Susan, people with a CD style tend to be precise and logical.  You’re willing to do what it takes to get things right, and you won’t settle for sloppy, subpar work.  Most likely, you rely on objective facts to guide your reasoning, and you believe decisions based on intuition are careless or foolish.  Because ensuring accuracy is important to you, you devote ample time to careful analysis and critical thinking.

And, priority number 3 is Results:  Susan, like others with the CD style, you tend to be goal-oriented and focused on accomplishment.  You’re interested in getting things done, and your persistence to overcome obstacles is usually very clear to the people around you.  In fact, you’re sometimes so strong-willed that you might stick to a path even if others aren’t on board.  You prioritize getting results and have the determination it takes to cross the finish line.

The profile continues on with Motivators and Stressors.  As a CD style, here are a few of the aspects of Susan’s work that she probably enjoys:

• Catching errors or flaws in design
• Having independence
• Working toward challenging goals
• Achieving efficient results
• Looking at issues rationally
• Emphasizing quality

Similarly, as a CD, here are a few of the aspects of Susan’s work that may be stressful for her:

• Being wrong
• Following inefficient procedures
• Dealing with others who don’t meet your standards
• Having to display empathy or emotional support

The Workplace profile offers advice on “how might you react to the other styles”.  In this case, I’ve chosen to present how the report shares what Susan should expect when dealing with an “i” style coworker:  Susan, you may notice that your co-worker seems to be drawn to fast action and enjoys initiating rapid change.  You are more concerned with accuracy and results, so their constantly “on-the-go” approach may seem somewhat reckless.  And since you like to weigh the evidence before taking a new direction, their spontaneity probably makes you uncomfortable.

Susan, to you, people with the “i” style may seem:

• Emotional
• Talkative
• Naïve
• Scattered

Remember back to our previous lesson about stretching?  These helpful tips provide what you need to consider when stretching to deal with other DiSC styles.  The motivators for the other DiSC® styles are also provided to increase understanding for Susan.

The Workplace® profile offers advice on connecting with other styles.  With Susan’s CD style in mind, it addresses all 4 styles and provides specific feedback and suggestions for:

• When you need to be more effective
• When problems need to be solved
• When things get tense

And finally, the Workplace^® profile wraps up with three key strategies that – as a CD style – may help Susan work more effectively with all the people in her workplace.  Those strategies are:

• Show more willingness to work as part of a team
• Recognize the value of networking
• Consider the impact of your words

Each of these strategies is fully explained with examples of what action to take.

The last section of the Workplace^® profile provides a fantastic reference of individual summaries of each of the 12 styles.  Since we’re discussing a CD style today, I’ve included a sample of that one.

Click this link to see a PDF sample of the Everything DiSC Workplace® for yourself.

As ALWAYS, the key to effectiveness through DiSC® is understanding your and others’ styles and then using that knowledge for improved interactions.

If you would like a live, complimentary webinar (online) for your team or organization, please send an email to info@traininglocation.com.  If you’d like to purchase the DiSC®, visit  DiSC® Classic or Everything DiSC® at our website.  And, check out our products from The Ken Blanchard Companies as well.