Know your team members’ personality types using DiSC® Assessments to get the most out of your coaching efforts
Effective and sought-after managers mostly have one trait in common – they build a customized coaching relationship with their team members.
There is a ton of evidence out there demonstrating the magical effects of coaching on business results. For example, this research published in the renowned Human Resource Management Journal reported that a manager’s coaching skills directly impact the team’s performance.
And that’s what we’ll be talking about in this article today. Whether you’re an HR manager or a Chief Technology Officer, this article will help you improve your team’s performance by coaching each individual based on her DiSC® personality profile.
Why Tailored Coaching?
No matter how cliché, ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ holds true even today. Especially when it’s about us complicated human beings. Times for ‘one coaching for all’ should’ve been gone long ago but unfortunately, we still see companies using cookie-cutter coaching programs for their employees.
Here are the top three benefits of using a bespoke coaching approach based on learners’ DiSC® personality types:
Swift learning: When you know a person’s behavioral style, you can speak their language effortlessly. And that’s a sure-fire way to grab their attention immediately. As soon as you have their attention, coaching turns into an exciting endeavor instead of a grueling ordeal for both parties.
Resource optimization: By having your team members’ DiSC® profiles in front of you, you have the luxury of knowing in advance what approach to use and what approaches to avoid. This knowledge eliminates the guesswork leading to the conservation of time, energy, and resources being spent on a coaching intervention.
Brand Development: When the majority is average, even a single extra step gets attention. Only a small percentage of managers invest their time in coaching their people. Take this step and you’ll soon stand out from the rest. This is precisely what this study reported in the Journal of Organizational Excellence.
Harness the Power of DiSC® Assessment for Effective Coaching
DiSC® is one of the most powerful tools to get a real insight into your team members’ unique personality characteristics. A DiSC® assessment will tell you a lot about your team members’ personalities including their working styles, communication preferences, passions, and blind spots. Using this wealth of information, you can cut to the chase and address their issues in a way they can easily relate to.
Before we dive into the practical strategies for effectively coaching using DiSC® assessments, let’s have a look at the DiSC® model first:
Effectively Tailoring Your Coaching Efforts using DiSC® Assessments and Behavioral Styles
Here are a few tips on how to effectively coach all four DiSC® behavioral styles i.e., the D, i, S, and C personality types.
Coaching the D DiSC® Behavioral Style
People who fall into this style are dominant and direct. They are doers and thrive on action. They also feed off recognition for the results they’ve made possible for you.
When coaching your D members, start by appreciating their achievements and personal strengths to grab their attention right off the bat. Then provide them with a list of actions you want them to take along with as much information as possible. Follow up on their actions and keep providing them with direct feedback to let them know how they’re doing. This will keep them on the right track.
You also need to keep their desire to lead in check or else you’ll end up being coached by them!
Coaching the i DiSC® Behavioral Style
People who have the i style are sociable, charming, and friendly. When coaching them, take every opportunity to praise them for the desired behaviors – they’ll love it. Try not to take them through a very structured coaching program if you don’t want to disengage them from this activity. Keep the settings lively and they’re less likely to get bored.
While coaching the i style, try to keep your message and action plan as organized as possible because they often struggle with keeping their details together.
Coaching the S DiSC® Behavioral Style
This is the stable, steady, and sensitive class in the DiSC® categories. They thrive on stability and hate abrupt changes. So when you’re coaching an S, it’ll be a great idea to share a detailed plan with them and tell them what to expect in this activity. They will feel relaxed knowing that there are no surprises.
Make sure you don’t expose them to undue pressure or else they tend to become indecisive and confused in such situations.
Coaching the C DiSC® Behavioral Style
The C personality type people are conscientious, careful, and analytical. They are meticulous in their work and naturally a bit slower than other styles. In a coaching context, that means you’ll have to match their pace or they’ll feel left behind. In your discussions, make good use of their analytical capabilities by asking them to evaluate their performance and how it can be improved.
Calling them out directly for doing something wrong can activate their defense mechanisms so be careful with your words when giving them feedback.
Using DiSC® Assessments: Confidence building through DiSC®
Now that you know how to handle all four types of personality types, you will feel more confident about the positive results from your coaching efforts.
It’s also of significant value that you know your DiSC® personality type. This will give you a clear pathway to connecting genuinely with each personality type.
If you’re ready to take the first step from being good to a great manager, head over to our Everything DiSC® Profiles page and explore the variety of DiSC® assessment options we offer, as an authorized Wiley partner.
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