May the FOUR Be With You – A Series on The DiSC Assessment (2023)
Part One: Learn to Identify the FOUR Primary DiSC Personality Styles of Your WorkFORCE.
Much like popular science fiction movies, every workplace is made up of a variety of distinct personalities. This is where DiSC Assessment comes in. Interacting with people in a one-size-fits-all or cookie-cutter STORM TROOPER approach may lead to RESISTANCE. Understand, you will, discovering DiSC personality styles need not require JEDI MIND TRICKS.
Everyone, based on personality style, has a unique way they gain motivation, prioritize, communicate, collaborate, and manage stress. Identifying and then understanding the 4 primary DiSC Assessment styles will improve the quality of your workplace relationships.
DiSC Assessment in the World of Star Wars
George Lucas filled the galaxies with diverse characters representing each personality style.
- (D) Dominance – Darth Vader – Direct, Firm, Forceful
- (I) Influence – Han Solo – Outgoing, High-Spirited, Lively
- (S) Steadiness – Chewbacca – Accommodating, Patient, Humble
- (C) Conscientiousness – C3P0 – Analytical, Precise, Systematic
Based on the description of these characters, several of your co-workers, or even family members, may come to mind for each style. You can determine the primary style of individuals by answering two questions. First, is the individual “Fast-Paced and Outspoken” OR “Cautious and Reflective?” Secondly, is the person “Accepting and Warm” or “Questioning and Skeptical?” Armed with this foundational information, use your YODA like skills, and the chart below, to identify the styles of your FORCES.
The Next Steps: A DiSC Exercise For You
Make a list of the people you interact with the most in your home or workplace and note their DiSC Assessment style. What is your primary DiSC style? Determining an individual’s style is the first BATTLE. You won! Committing to EXPLORE this SPACE is your second MISSION! Therefore, don’t go, ROGUE!
Do or Do Not, There is No Try. A Jedi’s Guide to Mastering Conflict in the Workplace.
Attacks, Battles, Civil Wars, and Revenge – Since 1977, we have watched the ultimate conflict play out in a galaxy far, far away. In George Lucas’s epic space-opera Star Wars series, it is EMPIRE vs. REBELLION, FATHER vs. SON, and DARK vs. LIGHT. As a 9.3-billion-dollar franchise, conflict is a moneymaker on the big screen.
Workplace Conflict
In comparison, conflict in the workplace costs businesses an estimated 359 billion dollars per year! That is the total price of the 2.8 hours per week U.S. employees spend dealing with workplace conflict. Now, I’m no C3PO, but my calculations tell me that businesses spend 3888% more money annually due to conflict than Star Wars earned in total revenue. Therefore, it does not take a MASTER to know that learning to navigate conflict effectively is critical to the success of organizations.
The Different Star Wars DiSC Personality Styles
Drama, gossip, bullying, and caving-in are just a few of the MENACING behaviors that play out in the workplace during conflict. Whether it is a brief dispute or a lingering issue, in BATTLE, we can all act in ways that add fuel to the fire and damage relationships. Unlike CLONES, each DiSC personality style handles conflict differently.
“Try, not. Do or do not. There is no try” – Yoda
When it comes to productively MANEUVERING conflict, we can learn a lot from a JEDI MASTER like YODA. We either DO, by handling conflict productively, or we DO NOT, by allowing the destructive tendencies of our DiSC personality styles to take over.
Destructive Conflict Quotes
Although there are many examples of the destructive ways, Darth, Han, Chewy, and C3PO behave when STRIKING BACK, here are a few of their most famous quotes during altercations.
“You underestimate the power of the Dark Side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny.” – Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker
“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” – Han Solo to Luke Skywalker
“UUURRHH AARGHHH” Translation: “Han, you spent too much time with Princess Leia and not enough time on repairing the hyperdrive” – Chewbacca to Han Solo
“Don’t call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease.” – C3PO to R2D2
Takeaways
MASTERING conflict in the workplace is not a PHANTOM. You can AWAKEN THE FORCE and inspire effective collaboration by tailoring your responses and communicate effectively in conflict situations. If you want NEW HOPE by improving your self-awareness in conflict situations, become our YOUNG APPRENTICE through Arrowhead Consulting’s Everything DiSC Productive Conflict Assessment and training.
Reach out to us at contactus@arrowheadconsulting.com for more information!
Join us next for part 2 as we examine DiSC personality styles and an Agile approach to workplace interaction through emotional intelligence entitled: Use the FORCE – What Star Wars Teaches Us About Emotional Regulation and Agility.
