I'm Stumped!!

Last week I had a great question about the DiSC Profile, specifically the word version. Here is the question I received:

When looking at the report on the page with the graph that shows the tally box scoring, what does the column “N” mean? Here is an example of what I am asking to learn more about:

			D	I	S	C	N
Tally Box		Most	12	6	4	5	1
		Least	2	5	12	9	0
		Different	10	1	-8	-4

This question stumped me! I had never heard it before in my 5 ½ years with Resources Unlimited! After some research and a conversation with the publisher, I had an answer. I decided that it is definitely one to be shared. Here is the response I sent:

In all psychological assessments, the null value is used to “level the playing field” for all of the scales. The values that are null (N) do not get measured by any of the scales. An example of this could be the word “happy.” Let’s say that happy would be an “i” word. Well, just because “unhappy” is the opposite, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a characteristic of a high “C.” In other words, the word might fit in a “most” category, but not in a “least.” They recommended that you review the research report below. Page 13 was specifically noted…

http://www.resourcesunlimited.com/images/DiSC_Validation_Research_Report.pdf

Has anyone else ever received this question? If so, how did you respond?

Bring DiSC to a Broader Range of Learners

Did you know there are two response style options for the Online DiSC Classic 2.0 Profile for those who have an EPIC Account?

1. DiSC Word Version—The respondent is presented with four words from which he/she chooses one that is "Most Like Me" and one that is "Least Like Me."

2. DiSC Phrase Version—The respondent is presented with four phrases from which he/she chooses one that is "Most Like Me" and one that is "Least Like Me."

The phrase option allows you to bring DiSC to a broader range of learners as the responses are written at a sixth-grade reading level. It's a great option to use with learners who speak English as a second language.

Both the word and phrase response versions produce the same DiSC Classic 2.0 Report and both response style reports may be used when generating DiSC Group Culture Reports.

Visit the EPIC Account Help section or call 800.278.1292 to learn how to select the DiSC Phrase response style for your Online DiSC Classic 2.0 Profiles.

Note: The Phrase Response version is also available for the DiSC General Characteristics Report.

Everything DiSC Sales

One of the first things I learned when I started working at Resources Unlimited is that not everyone responds the same way to a sales pitch. While it was very enlightening and extremely helpful to learn the processes of selling to our customers, I had a personal experience, where I was the customer, that made me have one of those, “a-ha!” moments. It was then that I truly realized how different each person is and how every sales person needs DiSC training!

Recently, a new sales assessment was released called the Everything DiSC Sales Profile. This new profile is a 22-page report that uses a circular graph to show your location within the DiSC model. It was designed to help salespeople learn to communicate more effectively and improve their sales relationships by covering three main objectives:

1. Understanding their own DiSC Sales Style
2. Identifying and understanding their customer’s DiSC buying styles
3. Adapting their DiSC Sales Style to meet their customer’s needs

Additionally, the Everything DiSC Sales Profile also includes post-training reinforcement with five personalized Customer Interaction Maps.

To enhance the assessment, an entire sales training program was developed. The Everything DiSC Sales Program provides everything necessary to deliver valuable DiSC Sales Training using the Everything DiSC Sales Profile.

Have YOU tried the new Everything DiSC Sales Report and/or Sales Program? If so, we would love to hear about your success stories. Please comment below or contact us at 515/278.1292 or info@ResourcesUnlimited.com.

DiSC Action Planners

Would you like a unique DiSC-based tool to keep DiSC alive in your organization? If so, use the DiSC Action Planners to Extend the Power of DiSC.

All of the action planners are available in a paper format or an online format. If you choose to use the online action planners, you can send them electronically through your EPIC Account!

DiSC Action Planners help people take the insights gained from DiSC and apply them to specific business applications. These concise, four- to six-page action planners provide a simple, cost-effective way to help employees focus on DiSC behaviors to learn how to interact more effectively with others and develop plans for achieving their goals. Choose from any of the following action planners:

DiSC Sales Action Planners are used to help sales people recognize potential customers' styles and choose the right selling strategy. They can also be used as a guide when preparing for a sales presentation.

DiSC Management Action Planners can be used to help managers recognize the styles of the people they manage and choose the right management strategy. They help managers plan actions to direct and support others. Additionally, they can be used whenever a manager prepares for interacting with an employee.

DiSC Customer Service Action Planners can be used to help customer service professionals recognize their customers' styles, choose the right servicing strategy, and adapt to the customer's style. They include tips on how to plan, initiate, and interact with the customer.

DiSC Managing Performance Action Planners are used to help managers recognize others' styles and choose the right management approach for managing performance. They help managers plan actions to direct and support another's performance. Additionally, they can be used whenever a manager prepares for interacting with a subordinate about his or her performance.

Top 5 Things to Ask When Choosing a DiSC Profile

It’s common for people to have lots of questions when choosing an assessment to use. Below you will find a short list of some of the most important questions to ask.

1. Is it an Inscape Publishing assessment? – Inscape Publishing is the pioneer and leading provider of assessment-driven classroom learning solutions that develop interpersonal skills such as:

• Communication
• Teambuilding
• Time Management
• Conflict management
• Sales
• Leadership

Every year, more than a million people worldwide learn how to work more effectively with others by using Inscape products. Their solution-focused programs, based on DiSC® and other recognized learning models, are used in thousands of organizations, large and small, including major government agencies and more than 135 of the Fortune 500. Our products have been translated into 24 different languages and are used in 50 countries.

2. Is it valid & reliable? – Resources Unlimited and Inscape Publishing are committed to maintaining the highest standards of instrument development and application through careful research and development processes. We ensure all of our DiSC® instruments offer valid scores and accurate feedback to the respondent. Each DiSC instrument is designed to provide reasonably accurate interpretations or feedback based on your scores. We have numerous research reports available for your review.

3. Is it backed by the power of EPIC? - EPIC is your virtual warehouse of over 40 online learning assessments including our best-seller, the Online DiSC Classic 2.0 Profile from Inscape Publishing! EPIC is an easy-to-use, password-protected, secure, web-based platform that allows you to assign access codes anytime of day or night to your participants for Inscape Publishing's online learning assessments.

4. Is customer service & staff readily available? – Our Customer Service Team is committed to helping you align training with your organization's strategy. We are eager to provide highly-qualified advice and support about our paper and online learning and training assessments, customized training and facilitation services, and certification programs. You'll feel relieved to hear our friendly voices each time you call. Our representatives are available from 8:00 am - 5:30 pm Central Time, Monday - Friday. Call us at 515.278.1292 or toll-free at 800.278.1292.

5. Does it come in different formats & offer other report options? – Most all of our assessments are available in both a paper and an online format. Additionally, many assessments have group and/or facilitator’s reports available, along with supplemental reports for advanced learning.

DiSC Exercises

I had an interesting call with a client a couple of weeks ago about DiSC exercises and training tools. She was preparing to do a teambuilding session with a group of high level managers in a well-known construction company. She explained to me that she had been struggling with this group because collectively, they could not come up with a single idea that everyone agreed on. Each individual believed that his or her idea was best and no one was interested in compromise. While I was 99% sure that I already knew the answer, I asked her what the group culture was. Not surprisingly, she told me the 100% of the group had a primary or secondary D. We started to discuss some options for exercises that this group would open communication lines. We settled on two main exercises and I have attached instructions for each of them.

• QuikDiSC Exercise
• DiSC Sales Action Planner Exercise

One of my favorite things about DiSC is its versatility. You can create your own exercises or mold existing ones to suit your needs, and it’s helpful in essentially any situation.

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.resourcesunlimited.com/ or call us at 515.278.1292.

How Can The Online DiSC Classic 2.0 Profile Save You Time?

Have your DiSC participants complete the Online DiSC 2.0 Profile BEFORE your DiSC training or coaching sessions to save valuable time. The DiSC Classic 2.0 is sent out and scored electronically, so you won't need to administer and score a paper assessment during your DiSC session.

Right after you place your DiSC 2.0 order with Resources Unlimited, we'll send you an email(s) containing your access code(s) and link to the DiSC 2.0 response form.

You'll just need to forward one email to each participant. They'll click the link and complete the 28-response profile online in about 10 minutes. The DiSC 2.0 Profile is generated instantly so participants can print out their DiSC Profile, save it on their computer, or forward their DiSC 2.0 to someone else.

If you don't want participants to view their DiSC 2.0 before your DiSC session, you'll want to order an EPIC Account, which lets you print DiSC reports to hand out. EPIC Accounts are so popular with our clients because EPIC is easy to use and gives administrators more control.

Customize Your DiSC Training With Six Supplemental Reports

Make your DiSC initiatives even more effective by using one or more of the six supplemental DiSC Classic 2 Plus Reports with the tried-and-true Online DiSC Classic 2.0.

The 6 supplemental reports include:

1. Strategies for Creating a Positive Relationship - This report describes how to establish a relationship with the respondent that is based upon trust and mutual respect.
2. Relating to People and the Environment - This report explains how the respondent interacts with peers and interprets his or her environment.
3. Strategies for Managing - This report looks at ways in which people can most effectively manage the respondent.
4. Approach to Managing Others - This report analyzes the respondent's management style and behavior toward subordinates.
5. Strategies for Sales Management - This report examines the methods that people can best use to manage the respondent in a sales environment.
6. Approach to Selling - This report describes how the respondent performs essential steps in the sales process.

These reports can be used a la carte based on your particular needs. Simply select one or more of the supplemental reports within your EPIC Account while assigning Online DiSC Classic 2.0 access codes. Resources Unlimited can also add these supplemental reports to any Online DiSC Classic 2.0 Profiles we generate for you. Questions? Call 515.278.1292 for more information.

How Can DiSC Help Your Organization?

With 30 years of proven reliability and over 40 million users worldwide, the original DiSC Classic Profile is the most trusted learning assessment in the industry. Designed to complement and supplement existing training programs, DiSC Classic can help you bring out the best in your employees.

DiSC Solutions help employees at all levels:

• Understand their own behavior and learn how and when to adapt their behavior
• Improve communication and reduce conflict
• Promote appreciation of differences
• Enhance individual and team performances

Our interactive two-day DiSC Certification, December 5-6 in San Diego, will immerse you in the newest DiSC research and provides a way for you to demonstrate your commitment to employee performance and productivity.

DiSC Trainers will receive over $1,900 in DiSC training materials including ready-to-use, fully-scripted course outlines to create solutions for teambuilding, communication, conflict, interpersonal effectiveness, management, and sales.

You’ll also learn how to customize your own training, coaching, and consulting solutions based on the unique needs of your organization or clients.

Visit the Resources Unlimited website to learn more about DiSC Certification and checkout all of our upcoming dates and locations.