How DISC Training Can Make Your 1:1 Meetings More Productive
If you’re managing a team, you know that one-on-one meetings can swing from energizing to draining in just a few minutes. Maybe you sometimes leave a 1:1 wishing you’d gotten through to your employee, or you find yourself repeating the same feedback with little progress. Here’s the good news: using DISC training, you can make small adjustments that have a big impact on your conversations. These tweaks don’t require a full overhaul-just a bit of awareness about how different people communicate and respond.
DISC Basics: What Managers Need to Know
DISC is a simple, proven model that helps you understand personality styles-yours and your team’s. In a nutshell, DISC stands for:
- D: Dominance-direct, results-focused, likes efficiency
- I: Influence-enthusiastic, people-oriented, likes collaboration
- S: Steadiness-calm, supportive, values stability
- C: Conscientiousness-detail-oriented, analytical, values accuracy
When you know your team’s DISC profiles, you can tailor your approach for each person. It’s like knowing whether someone prefers their coffee black or with cream and sugar-it just makes the interaction smoother.
Takeaway: Start with a quick DISC assessment for yourself and your team to spot these preferences.
Small Changes That Make 1:1s Better
Once you know the DISC profiles, you can make tiny tweaks to your 1:1 meetings. These changes don’t require extra time-just a shift in how you communicate and listen. Here are a few practical ways to adjust your style:
- For D-styles: Get to the point quickly. Focus on goals and results. Avoid too many details or small talk.
- For I-styles: Start with a personal check-in. Be enthusiastic and open to new ideas. Recognize their contributions out loud.
- For S-styles: Give them time to process. Ask open-ended questions and provide reassurance when discussing changes.
- For C-styles: Share data and context. Be clear and specific about expectations. Give them time to ask questions and think things over.
Tip: Bring a cheat sheet to your next 1:1 with a few reminders about your employee’s DISC style.
Real Results: What You’ll Notice After Tweaking Your Approach
When you tweak your approach using DISC, you’ll see changes right away:
- Conversations become less tense, even when discussing tough topics.
- Your team feels more seen and understood-which leads to more honest feedback.
- Progress feels smoother, because you’re speaking everyone’s language.
- Meetings are shorter and more focused, because you’re not missing each other’s signals.
Next step: After your next 1:1, jot down what went differently and how your team member responded.
DISC in Action: A Simple Role Play
You can try a quick role play with another manager or team lead. For example, pretend you’re having a check-in with someone who has a different DISC style than you. Notice how your questions or tone change when you shift your approach. This exercise helps the differences feel real-not just theory from a training session.
- Switch roles to get both perspectives.
- Debrief after: What felt natural? What felt forced?
Suggestion: If you’re new to DISC, start role playing with a peer before trying it in a formal 1:1.
Practical Tips for Managers Using DISC
- Review your team’s DISC profiles before regular 1:1s.
- Ask your team how they prefer to receive feedback.
- Set the tone: If you know someone dreads confrontation, start with positives before giving corrective feedback.
- Be patient-small changes add up over time.
Takeaway: Keep your DISC notes handy for quick reference, especially as you build new habits.
Serving Managers Near and Far
If you’re working in Millbrae or nearby spots like Burlingame, San Bruno, Daly City, Belmont, or Foster City, you know how fast-paced Bay Area workplaces can be. With so many different personalities and cultures mixing together, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t cut it. Using DISC training for managers, you can adapt quickly-whether you’re leading sales teams in Daly City, running operations in Belmont, or coaching new hires in Foster City.
And if you’re bouncing between offices, coffee shops, or commuter trains, these DISC tweaks make your meetings more effective no matter where you are. Even if you only have 30 minutes between Caltrain stops, you’ll be able to get real results from every conversation.
Tip: Try using a DISC reminder on your phone before each 1:1, especially on busy days.