Making Remote Work Easier With DISC: Communicate Better on Zoom and Slack
Remote work is the new normal for professionals, leaders, and teams across Oswego and nearby areas like Syracuse, Auburn, Fulton, Cortland, and Ithaca. Whether you’re logging onto Zoom from your home office or catching up on Slack from a coffee shop, it’s easy for messages to get lost, tones to get misread, and trust to slip. The DISC model offers practical tools that help you keep communication clear, meetings productive, and teamwork strong-even when your team is miles apart. Here’s how you can use DISC to make every virtual interaction count.
Get to Know DISC for Remote Teams
DISC is a simple personality assessment that helps you understand your own work style and those of your colleagues. With DISC, you’ll discover if you (or your teammates) are more direct, thoughtful, steady, or enthusiastic in your approach to work and communication. Knowing this makes it easier to connect over screens and keyboards.
- D: Direct and results-focused-likes fast answers.
- I: Social and energetic-loves chatting and brainstorming.
- S: Steady and supportive-prefers calm and consistency.
- C: Careful and detail-oriented-wants clear facts and order.
Tip: Take a quick DISC assessment online to see which style matches you best. Then, encourage your team to do the same. You’ll be surprised what you learn about each other-and how much easier it is to communicate once you know your DISC profiles.
Keep Your Tone Right on Video Calls
Tone doesn’t always come through on Zoom. Ever had a meeting where someone sounded short, or too quiet, or just not engaged? DISC can help you adjust your approach so everyone feels heard and respected, no matter their personality type.
- If you’re a fast-talking D, pause and check for questions. Your S and C teammates need time to process.
- If you’re an I, try to keep your energy upbeat but focused. Not everyone likes lots of chatter before the meeting starts.
- If you’re an S, don’t be afraid to speak up. Your calm voice helps steady the group.
- If you’re a C, clarify your points but don’t get lost in too many details-others may need you to summarize.
Try this: At your next team meeting, ask everyone to share their preferred way to give and receive feedback. Keep it posted in your Slack channel or team notes for easy reference.
Set the Right Tempo on Slack
Some people love rapid-fire Slack messages-others get overwhelmed. DISC gives you clues on how to pace your communication for each style, helping everyone stay in sync without feeling rushed or ignored.
- D and I styles like quick updates and check-ins. Keep messages short and to the point.
- S and C styles appreciate time to think and respond. Give them space before following up.
- Avoid using all-caps or too many emojis unless you know your teammate is comfortable with it. Tone can be hard to read in text.
Next step: Create a quick team guide that outlines preferred response times, message formats, and when to use public channels versus direct messages. This helps everyone feel comfortable and respected.
Build Trust From a Distance
Trust can be harder to build when you’re not bumping into colleagues in the hallway or grabbing lunch together. DISC training teaches you how to listen more, show empathy, and recognize each person’s unique contributions-even through a screen.
- Celebrate wins in your team chat or on video calls. Recognize people in the way they prefer (public shout-outs for some, private notes for others).
- Start meetings with a quick “how’s everyone doing?” check-in. It’s not just small talk-it’s a way to show you care.
- Rotate who leads virtual meetings or shares updates to give everyone a chance to shine.
Tip: Schedule regular one-on-ones to connect beyond project updates. A simple “How can I support you this week?” goes a long way in building trust and loyalty.
Bring DISC Training to Your Team
Ready to see the benefits of DISC in action? Many teams in Oswego and nearby areas like Syracuse, Auburn, Fulton, Cortland, and Ithaca now offer DISC training as part of their onboarding or professional development. A DISC workshop can help you and your colleagues:
- Understand each other’s strengths and challenges
- Develop empathy and better listening skills
- Personalize your communication for better results
- Reduce misunderstandings and improve team morale
Action step: If you’re planning a team retreat or offsite-whether you’re booking a room in downtown Oswego or traveling from nearby Syracuse or Auburn-consider adding a DISC workshop. You’ll walk away with tools you can use every day, no matter where you’re logging in from.
Start Small-See Big Changes
Whether you’re leading a project from your kitchen table or running a company-wide meeting online, DISC can make remote work smoother and more effective. Try one small adjustment this week-like asking about communication preferences or sharing your DISC style with the group. Watch how it changes the tone, tempo, and trust in your team.
Remember, even in a remote world, strong relationships and clear communication are just a DISC conversation away.