Everything DiSC, Stress, and Adaptation
Everyone has a story about a stressful work situation, right? Stressful situations are often unavoidable in workplace environments. Learning to adapt to the stress can result in more successful interactions, and a more effective workplace. For years, consultants, coaches, and facilitators have used DiSC® to help people recognize the occasional need to adapt their DiSC style to people or situations around them.
As mentioned in last Friday’s post, the map in the Everything DiSC® profiles uses shading to help people understand the areas where they might have difficulty stretching.
For example, the map to the right shows a manager who tends heavily toward the C style. Using the map, she can quickly
see how certain situations require her to stretch beyond her natural tendencies. She can visually understand that when she needs to comfort a direct report who is upset or frustrated, she’ll probably need to project more acceptance and warmth than is naturally her style. Using the shading, she can also see that this is most likely out of her comfort zone, and she will find it stressful if she has to do this kind of activity on a regular basis.
If, on the other hand, when this same manager is giving a board presentation to a group of direct, results-oriented executives, she can see that a different type of adaptation is necessary. It’s clear that she needs to pick up her pace and be much more outspoken with her ideas. If she’s a mature manager, she can probably make the stretch, but the map helps her understand why it’s so draining.
Although a facilitator can certainly discuss the concepts of adaptation and stress using the line graph representation of DiSC, the visual, integrated nature of the circular map makes this process simple and intuitive.
What have you learned about you under stress? How have you stepped outside of your comfort zone to adapt to stressful situations?
Check back next Friday for more on the integration of the four DiSC styles in Everything DiSC.
