Make Meetings Work for Everyone Using DISC
If you work in Savannah, you know meetings are part of everyday life-whether you’re catching up with your team downtown, collaborating with partners in Pooler, or leading a project with folks coming in from Garden City, Richmond Hill, or Wilmington Island. Sometimes, meetings flow and everyone’s on the same page. Other times, things stall out, people talk past each other, or decisions drag on. With a few DISC-based adjustments, you can make meetings smoother and more productive, no matter who’s around the table.
Why DISC Helps Your Meetings Run Better
DISC is a simple, practical personality assessment that helps you understand how you and your colleagues communicate and work. Everyone falls into one or more of four main styles:
- D (Dominance): Direct, decisive, and results-focused
- I (Influence): Social, enthusiastic, and people-oriented
- S (Steadiness): Calm, patient, and supportive
- C (Conscientiousness): Detail-oriented, careful, and analytical
When you know your team’s DISC profiles, you can tweak your meetings to play to everyone’s strengths, keep things moving, and avoid common communication pitfalls.
Try this: Think about your last team meeting. Did someone want to get right to the point? Did someone else keep asking for more details? With DISC, you can spot these patterns and adjust your approach.
Simple DISC Tweaks for Smoother Meetings
- Set clear agendas: D-types want to see results fast. Share the meeting plan up front so they know what’s expected and can stay on track.
- Make space for input: I-types love to share ideas. Build in time for open discussion or brainstorming before you move on to decisions.
- Check in with quieter voices: S-types might hold back if the group gets loud. Pause and ask for their thoughts directly-they often have practical insights.
- Provide data and next steps: C-types want details before making decisions. Give them supporting info in advance and recap next steps at the end.
Action step: Before your next meeting, identify at least one person from each DISC style and plan a question or agenda item that plays to their strengths.
DISC in Real-World Meeting Scenarios
Teams all around the Savannah area-whether you’re based near the riverfront, traveling in from Pooler, handling logistics in Garden City, or coming from Richmond Hill or Wilmington Island-deal with the same challenges: keeping meetings focused, making sure everyone is heard, and getting things done.
- When decisions stall: If discussions keep circling, ask D-types to outline the decision criteria, then invite C-types to share key data. This can help the group move forward.
- If meetings run long: Use time limits for each topic, and ask I-types to help build energy and keep things moving.
- When conflict shows up: S-types may spot tension before others. Privately check in with them, then use their feedback to address issues openly in the group.
Try this: At your next team huddle, ask everyone which part of the agenda excites them most. You’ll quickly see who’s results-driven, who loves discussion, and who values process.
Easy Wins for Your Next Meeting
- Print out the agenda and send it in advance. D- and C-types will thank you.
- Start the meeting by asking for quick wins or good news. I-types light up and set a positive tone.
- Build in moments to check for understanding or ask for quieter team members’ opinions-especially if you’re meeting with people from different departments or backgrounds.
- End with clear action items, owners, and deadlines. Everyone leaves knowing what’s next.
Action step: At your next meeting, try shifting the order of the agenda-start with an open question for ideas, then move into details, and finish with clear next steps. See how the energy changes.
Using DISC Beyond the Office
DISC tweaks aren’t just for boardrooms or conference calls. Maybe your project team meets at a coffee shop before heading to a Savannah Tech event, or your committee gathers in Pooler for planning. Wherever you meet-whether folks are driving in from Garden City, Richmond Hill, or Wilmington Island-these small changes help everyone feel included and keep things on track.
Next step: Try a DISC assessment with your team or at your next workshop. Even a short conversation about communication styles can make your meetings better right away.