Which Personality Profile is Best for Your Organization?

SYTE CEO, Erin Koss, shares her Innermetrix DISC profile. As explained by Innermetrix, the “Innermetrix Disc Index is a modern interpretation of Dr. William Marston’s behavioral dimensions.” It measures behavioral preferences along four dimensions: Decisive, Interactive, Stability, and Cautious.

This week I dug up my old DISC profile.  I’d taken it along with the Meyers-Briggs personality test many years ago.  Since then, we’ve tried lots of tools and watched our clients do the same.  Things like, Gallup’s Strengths Finder, Enneagram, Keirsey Temperament Sorter, etc. While each has their value and have created a fair amount buzz in recent years, I find there’s a reason the oldies tend to stick around.  They provide great insight and value in a more comprehensive and practical way.

I retook the DISC profile again and came back with similar results: strong D and I, lower S and C.

Ok, so we are who we are.  The real value, though, was taking the time to review the specific insights provided by the customized report on my strengths, ideal job, and ways to improve.  I recall this being part of the feedback years ago, but there was something about retaking after having more life and work experience under my belt. It felt richer, more accessible, and more applicable somehow.

The best part for me was realizing it provided insights into how others can best communicate with me so that I can hear them.  This was my “aha” moment, and I really want to have this information front-of-mind when I’m talking with the people on my team.  Sometimes I communicate so much from my own perspective (hello, D and I!) that I fail to think about how best to communicate with those I care about in a way that will truly serve them.  So, I’ve asked them to retake the DISC assessment also, and we’ll be using this as our standard going forward. It just seems to do it all (for us, anyway) most effectively.

What tools are you using to understand yourself, your team and your partners better?  Please share in the comments, below, or contact us to see how these tools can be used effectively in your organization.