How to Make DISC Stick After the Workshop
You’ve just wrapped up a DISC training session. There was real energy in the room-colleagues buzzing with self-awareness, leaders eager to put new communication strategies to work. But as you return to your daily routine, it’s easy for that momentum to slip away. How do you make sure those valuable DISC insights stay part of your day-to-day, not just a one-time event?
Simple Daily Habits to Keep DISC Alive
Staying consistent with DISC doesn’t require a full overhaul of your workflow. Small habits, practiced regularly, keep you and your team communicating and collaborating better long after the workshop ends. Here are ways to make DISC part of your professional life:
- Check Your DISC Cheat Sheet: Keep a quick reference card of the four DISC types at your desk or in your digital notes. Before meetings, glance at it to remind yourself of colleagues’ styles and tailor your approach.
- Start Meetings With a “DISC Lens”: At the beginning of team meetings, take a moment to consider who’s in the room and how each person prefers to communicate. This helps you set the right tone and pace.
- Pause Before You Respond: When you feel tension rising or a conversation taking a wrong turn, take a breath and think about the DISC style of the person you’re talking to. Adjust your tone or message to match their needs.
- Use “DISC Language” Regularly: Incorporate phrases like, “I know you prefer details-here’s the data,” or “I want to check in and make sure we’re all on the same page.” This reinforces comfort with discussing personality styles.
- Ask for Feedback: Every week, ask a colleague, “How did my communication style work for you this week?” This keeps DISC top-of-mind and shows you’re committed to growth.
Quick Tip: Pair up with a colleague as “DISC buddies.” Hold each other accountable for practicing at least one DISC habit each week.
Real-World Moments to Practice DISC
The best way to keep DISC alive is to use it in real-life situations. Here are everyday opportunities to put DISC into action:
- One-on-One Conversations: Before a check-in, jot down what you know about the other person’s DISC profile. Adjust your approach-maybe you slow down for someone who likes details, or get right to the point for a more direct style.
- Email and Chat: Notice how you phrase requests or feedback. Is your message clear to all personality types? Try adding a sentence for context or a gentle nudge if someone prefers encouragement.
- Collaborative Projects: When you team up, talk openly about everyone’s working preferences. Assign roles based on strengths-let the detail-oriented folks handle planning, while big-picture thinkers drive brainstorming.
- Conflict Resolution: When disagreements pop up, remind yourself: “Different styles, not personal slights.” Use DISC as a way to reframe the conversation and find common ground.
Next Step: Choose just one interaction each day to approach with a DISC mindset. Reflect on what changed and what worked better.
Keep DISC Visible for Your Team
Out of sight, out of mind. Keep DISC principles front and center to encourage daily use:
- Display DISC Reminders: Post a simple chart or visual near common areas or in your digital workspace that outlines the four DISC types.
- Start Meetings With DISC “Wins”: Kick off team huddles by celebrating a moment when someone used their DISC knowledge to connect or solve a challenge.
- Rotate DISC Roles: Let different team members lead meetings or discussions, using their natural style. This helps everyone see the strengths each style brings.
- Monthly DISC Check-Ins: Schedule a short team review to share what’s working and where to improve. Keep it light and practical-think coffee break, not another lecture.
Takeaway: The more you see and hear about DISC, the more likely you are to use it naturally.
Traveling for Work? Keep DISC With You
Whether you’re heading down the Peninsula for a client meeting or visiting teams in nearby areas like San Mateo, Millbrae, Belmont, Foster City, or Daly City, DISC is a tool you can use on the go. Before you jump in the car or hop on Caltrain, review your notes on the folks you’ll meet-what motivates them, how they prefer to communicate, and what helps them feel heard.
- Meeting new teams? Quickly identify communication styles to build rapport faster.
- Presenting to a group? Use a mix of visuals, stories, and facts to appeal to all DISC types in the room.
Tip: Keep a digital “DISC snapshot” for key contacts in your phone or laptop. Review before important meetings-whether you’re in Burlingame or working with folks from the next town over.
Make DISC a Habit, Not a One-Time Thing
You don’t need to overhaul your workflow or reinvent the wheel. By adding a few simple DISC practices to your routine, you’ll keep communication smoother, teamwork stronger, and conflicts easier to resolve. Whether you’re working locally or traveling between teams, DISC becomes second nature when you practice these habits every day.
Start now: Pick one habit from this list to try today. Share your experience with a colleague, and keep the DISC conversation going.