Our Cleaver DISC behavioral profile is a powerful tool that I use constantly with the leaders I'm coaching. The DISC profile helps leaders understand their behavior and that of their co-workers. A common mistake with DISC profile interpretation is not taking into account the individual's values.
Motivating values
are the primary influences in a person's life
which initiate and stimulate behavior.
Values are fundamental incentives to motivation. An individual's primary values will cause the "where" and "why" a person behaves, but not the "how." When an executive sights a "poor attitude" of an employee, generally it means the employee has a different value orientation from the executive. When a person expresses something with emotional force, it means that whatever he is expressing is one of his priority values and can influence a flare in his behavior.
Values are Independent of Behavior
You can't look at a person's behavioral pattern and expect or assume certain values to be of priority. However, when the job values match the person's values, the person tends to do the job more naturally and enthusiastically. For example, someone who is a social worker in a nursing home would work best if they had high social values and lower economic values since most social work positions are advocating for the well being of others and are not highly paid.
It is also possible to look at it from the other direction. Take a person, for example, with a classic "High I" sales pattern. Will they be a successful salesperson and build a strong relationship with your customers? What if I told you they have low economic and social values? Can you see how that would impact their DISC profile? They may be successful, but it would be a very difficult job for them and probably would not succeed as well as they should.
Coaching and helping people with their leadership development is one of the most rewarding things I do. Make sure that if you are using DISC as one of your leadership tools that you're looking at their values as well.
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