We had certain people directly opposing others (D’s and S’s, I’s and C’s).More than half our team was categorized as the same “type.”.As the clusters began to form around these attributes, the discussion we were about to have about our team dynamics took shape.Įxperiencing this categorization in physical form made a few things very apparent: She then asked that we stand up and head to our corner, whether it was D, i, S, or C. Instead, the facilitator taped a piece of paper with each letter on the wall at each corner of the room. Some dots were closer together, even categorized as iD or CS, while others, such as D and S are opposed as based on the circular grid structure.īut we didn’t know the results right away! With each person’s profile represented as a dot placed in related to the “D”, “i", “S”, and “C” poles, it essentially created a personality map of our team. C’s are precise and analytical, appearing reserved while taking time to consider all facets of an issue. Conscientiousness: A thoughtful, questioning style.S’s are patient and supportive of others, which can be perceived as supportive and accommodating.
Steadiness: A thoughtful and accepting style.I’s are idealistic and outgoing, which can be perceived as lively or enthusiastic. Influence: An active and accepting style.D’s are unafraid to express their opinions, which can be perceived as direct and strong. Dominance: An active and questioning style.
We chose the DiSC® assessment published by Wiley, which is described by one distributor as “a non-judgmental tool used for discussion of people's behavioral differences.” Based on a series of questions around behaviors and emotions that relate to collaboration and workstyles, we were individually plotted onto a circular grid with four sections of “common” personality types: With four hours of training ahead of us, we also brought a lot of snacks. We took the test in advance, and arrived to the workshop with a printout of our profiles, top traits, and behavioral inclinations. Having an independent third-party to administer and interpret the results based on our goal to learn more about each other as a team helped us make the time productive and valuable.
Hiring a professional was extremely helpful. We’re a remote team so, at a recent offsite, we set aside a half day to go through a facilitated teamwork workshop built around the personality test. Putting Our Team’s Personalities On The Table Here’s what we learned from getting started to running a successful personality assessment workshop.
What about iD, DC, or Si? No, they’re not elements on the periodic table-all of these acronyms are actually personality test results.
ENFJ, INFP, ISFP, ENTJ… Unless you’ve got your MBTI on your Twitter profile, you might not be overly familiar with these code names.