While adapting to remote work due to safer-at-home orders, it’s now more important than ever to know how to communicate with each other clearly and effectively. With the goal of increasing productivity and implementing clear, effective communication within the workplace, we needed to understand our individual DiSC profiles because people can adapt their styles to fit particular situations or environments.
What is DiSC?
A business needs different kinds of personalities, but what are the personality types and how can we work together to create a harmonious work environment while working remotely? DiSC is a personality assessment tool we use to improve work productivity, teamwork, and communication. There are four DiSC personality types: D style (Dominance), i style (Influence), S style (Steadiness),and C style (Conscientiousness). Let’s take a look at how each style handles remote work. Feel free to take the DiSC test to find out your personality and follow along!
D Style
First up is the Dominance personality type. Dominance personality types are direct, strong-willed, and forceful. For instance, you’re probably eager and ready for the challenge of working from home. You feel like you’ll get a lot done; you’ll be able to focus your energy. But you probably wonder about being able to work with your team from a distance.
Strengths
- You’re results-oriented and driven, so you’ll get done what you need to get done.
- You will ask for what you need in order to be successful while working from home.
- You’re willing to try new collaboration and communication tools.
Challenges
- You might be tempted to take shortcuts to complete something that’s recently been stalled.
- There is a chance you might move ahead on something too quickly, or ahead of the rest of the team.
- Your communication style might feel cold to others and leave colleagues feeling unappreciated or even hurt.
i Style
Next is the Influence personality type. Influence types are sociable, talkative, and lively. Therefore, you’re usually ready to try something new, so working from home might seem exciting at first. You understand that you’ll need to find new ways of staying connected with your colleagues and friends from work. You’re probably more likely than others to keep your extended work networks alive and active.
Strengths
- You’re naturally positive and enthusiastic and can use that energy to rally your team and maintain a feeling of camaraderie.
- You won’t forget that human interaction is a human need and can make sure that times or spaces (like Slack channels or virtual happy hours) are created for socializing. You can also use tools like TEAMs for a fun group chat; it isn’t just for work.
- Experimenting is key, and you will probably have ideas to share with the rest of the team about how to make working from home work for all of you.
Challenges
- Working alone can be stressful for you and you might be easily distracted.
- Routines can feel stifling, but they can also be very helpful in supporting the self-discipline you’ll need to stay focused and on task.
- You might want to charge ahead when you should be asking for more specific instructions or for clarification around communications.
S Style
Now, let’s move on to the Steadiness personality type. Steadiness personality types are gentle, accommodating, and soft-hearted. This means you might enjoy friendly, cooperative workplaces and will miss the ease of collaboration that physical nearness enables.
Strengths
- You like clear, complete, yet concise and friendly communication. You can model that for your team while working remotely.
- It might be easier for you to contribute your ideas and share your knowledge when given the extra time communicating online can provide.
- Working alone isn’t stressful for you. You aren’t easily distracted from your focus on the team and its goals.
Challenges
- Lack of frequent check-ins at a personal and professional level might leave you feeling disengaged or anxious.
- New communication technologies while working from home might unsettle you. You’ll need to practice with them with someone you trust.
- Others in your home, including children and pets, might want to demand your time during work hours and you’ll have to say “no” or shut them out of your room.
C Style
Lastly, let’s take a look at the Conscientiousness personality type. Conscientious personality types are private, analytical, and logical. You enjoy your independence and the space to think things through thoroughly. You might not understand the frustrations others feel about not seeing each other at your workplace.
Strengths
- You probably have the discipline and focus to make working remotely easy.
- Your attention to detail will help you evaluate the resource needs of the team and to select the most reliable technologies.
- You don’t require a lot of face time or feedback to know you’re doing a good job.
Challenges
- Your quick-and-dirty or to-the-point communication may make others feel alienated from you.
- You might be tempted to just do a task yourself, rather than delegate it or collaborate on it.
- Maintaining warm personal relationships with colleagues could be challenging and you’ll need to find new strategies for doing so.
In conclusion, working from home is no easy task. We had to learn how to work and communicate in a brand new way. We had to ensure our creative work was completed each day and deadlines were met even in this new way of living. By relying on each other and taking our DiSC types into consideration, our team was able to implement a new system that supported our team’s needs. As we approach the phases of Nashville’s reopening, we strongly recommend taking the time to learn about your DiSC types and how your office can benefit from learning the ways of your teammates!
Sources:
https://www.discprofiles.com/blog/2020/03/disc-working-from-home/
