I’m excited that you are seizing this opportunity to share the power of DISC with others!
Interactive DISC workshops with large in-person groups can be a lot of fun, but without the ability to meet together, learning about things online can feel more academic than relationally transformative.
But, now you have a new option to create an interactive workshop with individuals across the globe all online using web conferencing software and this kit.
Regardless of how well you know DISC already, with the videos and notes below you can lead a DISC workshop tomorrow!
DISC is all about behaviors, and even online you can help others identify their own DISC type and help them connect with others similar to them and identify the value that different types can bring.
So go ahead and set up your next workshop. Review the information below, send out the PDF participant workbook (or optional softcover version on Amazon) and create an interactive workshop that drives transformation!
Getting Started
What is Needed Before the Workshop Starts?
- Review the training outlines and notations
- Download the PowerPoint or Keynote slide decks and the Cheat Sheet
- Download PDF of Participant Workbook or Purchase softcover physical workbooks on Amazon
- Video conferencing access (Note: Level 2 training exercises require the use of virtual rooms)
- Pre-work for participants should include cutting out shapes from back of workbook for the Geometric Times exercise.
- Optional pre-work includes completing the Expectations section and/or the DISC Mini-Assessment before the workshop. You can also choose to bypass the Mini-Assessment with a paid DISC Assessment.
Please reach out with any questions! Jason@LaunchableLeadership.com
Important Focal Points
The key truths about DISC are:
- Each of the four Primary DISC types are equally valuable and important.
- Everyone is a combination of each of the four types.
- DISC measures behavioral tendencies, and anyone can change their behavior at any time.
- Maturity doesn’t mean that someone raises their number on any or all of their DISC scores to the top, but that they understand their style, and leverage their Strengths to bring about the best results for everyone.
Your goal is for each workshop participant to leave with:
- A better understanding of themselves.
- An increased value for the different styles.
- A fun experience with a better understanding of DISC types
Sample Workshop Schedules
These sample outlines give a basic overview of the combinations you can use when presenting DISC. Feel free to move them around, add to them and even expand some of the exercises to elaborate or draw out more from each exercise.
Partial Day – 2+ Hours (Level 1)
5 min – Startup
5 min – Expectations
20 min – Geometric Times
20 min – DISC Mini-Assessment
20 min – Discovering DISC
10 min – Break
15 min – Unpacking DISC
15 min – DISC Vehicles
15 min – Action Steps
15 min – Quick Reference
2 Days – 1.5 Hours Each (Level 1)
Day 1
5 min – Startup
5 min – Expectations
20 min – Geometric Times
20 min – DISC Mini-Assessment
20 min – Discovering DISC
Day 2
15 min – Unpacking DISC
15 min – DISC Vehicles
15 min – Action Steps
15 min – Quick Reference
Partial Day – 2.5 Hours (Level 2)
15 min – Ideal Vehicle
45 min – How We Are Misunderstood
10 min – Break
45 min – Blind Spots
35 min – Compliment Face-off
Full Day – 5 Hours (Level 1&2)
5 min – Startup
5 min – Expectations
20 min – Geometric Times
20 min – DISC Mini-Assessment
20 min – Discovering DISC
15 min – Ideal Vehicle
10 min – Break
15 min – Unpacking DISC
45 min – How We Are Misunderstood
15 min – DISC Vehicles
30 min – Break
45 min – Blind Spots
15 min – Action Steps
15 min – Quick Reference
35 min – Compliment Face-off
2 Day – 2.5 Hours Each (Level 1&2)
Day 1
5 min – Startup
5 min – Expectations
20 min – Geometric Times
20 min – DISC Mini-Assessment
20 min – Discovering DISC
15 min – Ideal Vehicle
10 min – Break
15 min – Unpacking DISC
45 min – How We Are Misunderstood
Day 2
15 min – DISC Vehicles
45 min – Blind Spots
15 min – Action Steps
10 min – Break
15 min – Quick Reference
35 min – Compliment Face-off
OVERVIEW OF EACH SECTION
Expectations
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 5 minutes.
Purpose: For participants to identify what they want to get out of the workshop.
Overview: When participants set specific goals, the are more likely to achieve them. This quick exercise makes time for the participant to clearly identify the outcome they are expecting from the training. If they are stumped, there are hints at the bottom of the page they can use. You can set this exercise as an assignment to complete prior to the workshop if you would like. Time permitting, it is great to ask about met goals at the end of the workshop.
Geometric Times
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 20 minutes.
Purpose: An icebreaker meant to warm up the group and prepare them toward interacting throughout the workshop and get them thinking about behaviors.
Overview: NOTE: Ask participants to cut our shapes on page 23 prior to start of workshop. Assign a participant to be the speaker and create something out of all 15 cut out shapes from page 23. Only the speaker can talk. The participants are not allowed to ask any questions. Using only words (no visual cues or hand gestures allowed) the speaker describes where each shape goes so the participants can try to recreate a similar looking combination of shapes. When the time ends, allow the speaker to show everyone what their combination of shapes looks like and you can ask the audience to share theirs or describe how close the came or didn’t come to the original. Then ask the participants about their experience and what different behaviors helped them and which additional behaviors could have helped them more.
Tips: Some groups respond best to these types of assignments by calling it a ‘competition’ to see who can create the most accurate recreation. You can grant a reward to the winner or recognition during the call. You can select the winner or have the team vote.
Showing the page with the shapes can be hard on a webcam, an alternative is to first draw an outline around all of the shapes before lifting the page to show everyone. ALSO, some web cams may show a mirror image so it can be helpful to mark the left and right sides of the page.
Mini-Assessment
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 20 minutes. Increased by asking participants to share their results and discuss how well they feel they align with the DISC Fact Sheet description for their type.
Purpose: To identify each participant’s primary DISC type. Although not as accurate or thorough as DISC-U.org’s full online DISC Assessment, the Mini-Assessment helps each participant begin their DISC journey.
Overview: Participants will take the Mini-Assessment in the workbook. They will start by selecting the two best descriptors from each of the 24 sections. After they have completed this process, they will transfer those marks to the grading page, add up the values in each row, then move those sums to the previous page to divide the sum by two to identify the scale with the highest number which is their Primary DISC style.
Steps:
1: Complete the DISC Mini-Assessment by selecting two words from each section by filling in the box to the left of each selected word for each of the 24 sections.
2: To self-score your results, copy the marks made on page 3 to the Self-Scoring Form on page 6 that line up with the same words. Then add the numbers together next to the two boxes in each section that you just filled in.
Find the total for each row on the Self-Scoring Form by adding the numbers of the three boxes from left to right and place in the column at the far right. (i.e. add the total from Sections 1, 9 and 17 together and enter the total in the far right under ‘Z1.’)
3: To find the score for your Mini-Assessment profile, use the totals in the far right column on page 6 and enter them below in their corresponding place. Then add the two numbers together and divide the results by two. This is your number for each of the four DISC scales, D, I, S, and C.
Discovering DISC
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 20 minutes. Increased by sharing personal examples, asking participants to indicate when you will be sharing about their Primary Style and asking affirming questions.
Purpose: This section provides the foundation upon which all the remaining training is built. It introduces the four primary DISC types to the participants. Each of the four types should be presented in a positive light so that each participant feels valued and can understand the strengths the other types bring. Be careful not to bring in any personal biases when describing each of the four types. In the end, we want everyone to be thrilled to be who they are!
Overview: Start with what DISC is and is not to introduce them to each of the four types. Help them to understand that DISC measures behavioral tendencies and they can choose to behave in any way they choose. Share about each style and consider including examples they can relate to. See the video on the DISC types for an example of how to present about the DISC types. The Cheat Sheet can help highlight key aspects to help you present.
Unpacking DISC
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 15 minutes, 40 with questions to the group about their findings, allowing participants to share in small groups, or asking follow up questions about their discoveries.
Purpose: Allow participants to gain a deeper understanding of their behavioral style. They will mentally process the information from their notes and the DISC Fact sheets, write out a summary and then verbally discuss their results. This process touches on the visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning styles to help everyone better understand their DISC style.
Overview: Complete the workbook pages using information gathered from the workbook’s DISC Fact Sheets and notes taken during the Discovering DISC session. Afterwards, participants can share their information with others, either online or offline.
DISC Vehicles
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 15 minutes. Increased by the number of participants that share their analogy and discussion afterwards about comparisons and differences.
Purpose: A fun way to highlight differences of each DISC style while also helping participants identify others that behave in a similar way to them.
Overview: Have the participants use a blank page to take notes to use later to present their thoughts to the group. Their assignment is to pick either a train, plane or automobile and then create an analogy using the four DISC types as components for the vehicle. i.e. High D as engine, High I as the stereo, High S as the seatbelts, High C as the navigation system. Their response should include the reason why each type fits the analogy. Suggest reminding participants to represent each type in a positive way.
Action Steps
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 15 Minutes, 30 if sharing action plans in small groups doing the workshop or with the entire group.
Purpose: This exercise allows participants time to create a plan to implement what they have learned during the workshop.
Overview: Help the participants put what they have learned into action. Give time for them to consider what they would like to do with their workshop experiences and create plans that will keep them on the right track including accountability with others.
Quick Reference Guide
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 15 Minutes, 30 with discussion on where they can post each half page and how to share about DISC with others.
Purpose: To provide an easy to find, easy to read summary of their own style, which is also a great resource for others to be reminded of what they need for improved communication.
Overview: Participant complete the Quick Reference Guide form by graphing their DISC results and then writing in the Do’s and Don’ts of communication from the Unpacking DISC section. One half is to be put somewhere that they will frequent to remind them of their DISC style and their communication preferences and the other copy is to be share with others or placed in a separate space such as work. Teams, families and spouses are encouraged to post the results where everyone can see them to influence their understanding of other’s differences and their communication preferences.
Download the PDF Participant Workbook
Purchase the Softcover Participant Workbook
Download the PowerPoint Slide Deck
Download the Keynote Slide Deck
ADDITIONAL FORMS
Level 2 Sessions
Help your participants to go deeper with these exercises that require the use of virtual rooms for small group discussion.
Ideal Vehicle
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 35 minutes, 50 with additional group discussion
Purpose: To identify differences in thought processes and values.
Overview: Have the participants break up into their primary DISC type groups. They will work together to answer the following questions about their primary DISC type, then a selected presenter will share the group’s responses with the entire audience:
- List 3 adjectives to describe your primary DISC type
- What kind of vehicle would that type buy if money were no object and why?
- What color vehicle would that type get and why?
- What qualities of the vehicle would they like most and why?
- What would their bumper sticker say?
How We Are Misunderstood
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 45 minutes.
Purpose: To reveal the misperceptions of each type and create new paradigms for seeing the best in each type.
Overview: Have the participants break up into their primary DISC type groups. Each group prepares a presentation of the ways in which their type is misunderstood. For each area where their type is commonly misunderstood, have the team include what their intentions really are and how they would prefer to be perceived. Each group presents.
Highly recommend that each participant takes notes on how each DISC type can be misunderstood from their true intentions.
Time permitting, you can finish with discussion and highlighting points from each type.
Blind Spots
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 45 minutes.
Purpose: To get the four DISC types thinking about their own style and when a strength ceases to benefit them and can slow them down. Also helps individuals to process the steps to granting others permission to provide feedback.
Also helps identify ways other types can help them overcome those blind spots.
Overview: Have the participants break up into their primary DISC type groups. Allow them time to talk and discuss the shortcomings their type might encounter, or that have the possibility of disappointing others. The groups should also identify what they could to to give permission to others in their lives when feedback would be helpful for their relationships, team and personal growth.
A representative from each team can share the group’s results with the rest of the participants.
Compliment Faceoff
CLICK TO READ OVERVIEW
Time: 35 minutes.
Purpose: Reinforce the value that different types brings and how to highlight those differences as strengths.
Overview: Have the participants break up into their primary DISC type groups.
Each group creates a list of the benefits the other type brings and a selected representative shares the results with the entire audience. It is recommended that you have High D’s highlight S’s and the reverse, and High I’s highlight C’s and the reverse.
Q&A
Check out the resource Training with DISC for other Level 2 exercises to help spice up your future DISC workshops!
