What is the DiSC Model?
The DiSC Model is a Tool that helps to Categorize Professionals according to their Personality.
- To correctly assign the right Roles to the right Employees.
To do this, it proposes to use 2 variables to classify Personalities:
- Interest: can be in Things or People.
- Intensity: can be Aggressive or Moderate.
Its name is an acronym for the 4 resulting Personalities:
- Dominance.
- Influence.
- Steadiness.
- Conscientiousness.
The Four Personalities of the DiSC Model
1. Dominance: People who only Focus on Goals, Results and Performance.
- Interested in: Things.
- Intensity: Aggressive.
2. Influence: People who use their Interpersonal Skills to reach their Goals.
- Interested in: People.
- Intensity: Aggressive.
3. Steadiness: They know how to Treat People, but they don’t constantly do it.
- Interested in: People.
- Intensity: Moderate.
4. Conscientiousness: People interested in their daily Tasks and Constant work.
- Interested in: Things.
- Intensity: Moderate.

DiSC Model
In case you are wondering why is this Model Important, let’s look at the first example:
DiSC Model example
If you have ever managed people or worked in a Team, you already know that:
- Some people has very good Social Skills.
- Others, are very Ambitious (sometimes it is a “headache” to work with them).
- Some people seem calm but, when they are alone, they work very hard.
- etc.
And, the best Results are always obtained when people do what they do best.
- That is what this Tool is useful for.
You better not assign a Leadership Role to a Shy employee.
- He/she will feel miserable when telling other people what to do.
You better not promote someone to Manager if he/she is not Ambitious.
- Managers have to be driven by Goals and Results.
You better not assign Sales tasks to someone who hates people.
- Things will not end well.
This Tool must be regarded as a guide to assign employees (you included) what is best for them.
- And therefore, for the Performance of the Company.
Now, before looking at some examples, we want to give you some Tips on How to identify these traits.
Which of these categories do you belong to?
Let’s find out, by answering a few questions:
DiSC Model Test
Do you track your Milestones or Goals?.
- Using an Excel Sheet, or a Word doc, for example.
- Yes: You may be more interested in Things and Tasks than in People.
- No: Nothing can be concluded.
Do you enjoy Meeting with friends and co-workers?.
- Social Meetings where you can have fun, or Professional meetings.
- Yes: You are probably more interested in People.
- No: You almost surely are more interested in Things.
Do you use your free time thinking about improving at your Job?.
- Reading Coaching Books, Establishing Goals, Learning Skills, etc.
- Yes: You probably follow an Aggressive Approach.
- No: You probably follow a Moderate Approach.
Do you like “How it’s Made” (the Discovery Channel program)?.
- Yes: You surely are more interested in Things than in People.
- No: You surely are more interested in People than in Things.
This last one is “half a joke”…. Or maybe not…
Now, we’ll share some Real-Life examples with you:
DiSC Model examples
We have compiled examples of Tasks and Jobs that best suit each of these Personalities.
- Of course, this is just a suggestion.
- You always have to put things in Context.
Let’s see what we can learn:
Dominance - DiSC Model example
What Tasks or Job Positions are best for “Dominant” Personalities?.
- Manufacturing Managers: Managers in charge of the Manufacturing Line.
- Project Planners: People in charge of establishing Deadlines, Goals, etc.
- CEOs in Production Companies: Companies that Focus on Products.
Influence - DiSC Model example
What Tasks or Job Positions are best for “Influential” Personalities?.
- Sales Managers: Personal relations and Social Skills are very necessary.
- Marketing Manager: They know What people desire and Why.
- CEOs in Service Companies: These Companies depend on Contacts (Law firms, etc).
Steadiness - DiSC Model example
What Tasks or Job Positions are best for “Steady” Personalities?.
- Sales Tasks: Tasks that Involve frequent Social gatherings.
- Market Analyst: Take Market temperature (Polls, Interviews…).
- Customer Relations: To interact with Customers and their Preferences.
- Labor Relations: Solving Personal Issues within a Company.
- Human Resources: Evaluating People and their Skills.
Conscientiousness - DiSC Model example
What Tasks or Job Positions are best for “Conscientious” Personalities?.
- Analytical Tasks: Tasks that Involve analyzing Data.
- Design Tasks: Tasks that involve Designing and Improving products.
- Process Improvement: To improve How things are Manufactured.
- Coordinator: To Coordinate Departments to achieve common Goals.
- Quality Control: Checking Products and their Quality.
Summarizing
The DiSC Model is a Tool that helps to Categorize Professionals according to their Personality.
It proposes to use 2 variables to classify personalities:
- Interest.
- Intensity.
Its name is an acronym for the 4 resulting Personalities:
- Dominance: People who only Focus on Goals, Results and Performance.
- Interest in Things, Aggressive Approach.
- Influence: People who use their Interpersonal Skills to get what they want.
- Interest in People, Aggressive Approach.
- Steadiness: They know how to Treat People, but they don’t constantly do it.
- Interest in People, Moderate Approach.
- Conscientiousness: People interested in their daily Tasks and Constant work.
- Interest in Things, Moderate Approach.