This test is called "DISC" (Dominance-Influence-Stability-Compliance). DISC is a classification of psychotypes: "dominance", "influence", "stability", "compliance".
More details about the DISC typology, as well as its origins and application of this popular model of individual differences can be found in our article "DISC Typology: The Leading Tool for Personality Behavior Assessment".
The DISC personality type test is used to help a manager correctly determine the psychological compatibility of employees' personality types. It is important for company management to know the ways to form psychological compatibility in a team, and to apply this knowledge in preparation, training, and staffing for the successful operation of the company. The DISC methodology helps to form an optimal team or a "boss – subordinate" link. Moreover, compatibility of personality types does not mean a match or complete similarity of skills and abilities of employees, here the principle of complementarity of professional qualities and knowledge works. Furthermore, the DISC typology helps an employee understand their behavioral traits and potential.
The DISC test will help determine a person's belonging to a certain personality type, provide an opportunity to study the strengths and weaknesses of each psychotype, its typical behavior markers, and receive corresponding recommendations for improving communication skills. You can take the DISC personality type test for free online, and the key to the DISC test is automatically generated in the test decryption.
DISC Test
DISC Test Decryption
The DISC profile system is primarily of interest to HR specialists who are involved in creating a personnel assessment system, hiring and training employees, as well as further personnel development. Often among HRs, you can hear such remarks: "No wonder, he is blue", "He is red, so he presses on the opponent", "Working with our green secretary is very comfortable", "We need a yellow designer". What do these colors mean? Decoding the DISC test will reveal the main characteristics of each behavioral type.
Red — Dominant (D)
D are leaders, managers, quite authoritarian people who know what they want and are not very used to listening to others' opinions. They are impatient, risky, prone to quick, not always thoughtful decisions. They highly value their time, are not inclined to trust and sympathy.
The motto of D: "came, saw, conquered". Statements: "stop thinking, let's do"; "we'll figure it out along the way". People with a high D factor tend to make decisions quickly. They have a rough form of communication, are straightforward, tough, and self-confident. They like to tell others what to do, give commands. They are very goal-oriented, ready to achieve their goal, whatever it costs them. They strive to overfulfill the task to prove themselves. They try not to stand still, they need results and progress.
- Strengths of D: result-oriented work, quick reaction, active life position. They always defend their point of view. They are comfortable in changing conditions, in challenging situations.
- Weaknesses of D: find it hard to approach people, too straightforward, lack diplomacy. In pursuit of the result, they forget details, do not pay attention to important nuances. In a state of stress, they tend to show aggression.
At an interview with "reds", it is important not to let them take the initiative, not to succumb to their pressure, to speak confidently, to show your professionalism and competence in the discussed issue. For D, status is important. Show the strong sides of your company, the importance of the position, the challenge in the tasks set. Also, a decent reward for the result is of great importance, emphasize this.
D can be good leaders, formal leaders. Their value to the company: profit-oriented, good organizers, easily accept the challenge.
Behavior markers of this type:
- Need: result
- General impression: extrovert, goal-oriented
- Communication style: direct
- Extreme degree: irritability, hot-temperedness
- Gesticulation: active, wide gestures
- Gait: fast, purposeful
Yellow — Influential (I)
I — people who are excellent at making new acquaintances, their profession is communication. They make excellent public relations specialists, they fit in everywhere, able to blend into any company. Charismatic, talkative, trusting, impulsive, inattentive, not punctual.
People with high I are cheerful and full of optimism. They love meeting new people, approach any task creatively. During a conversation, they may jump from one subject to another without apparent logical connection, giving the impression of being superficial. They are described by the following words: persuasive, magnetic, political, enthusiastic, convincing, warm, demonstrative, trusting, optimistic.
- Strengths of I: unconventional thinking, creativity, love for everything new, friendliness, ability to see partners in others, not competitors.
- Weaknesses of I: impulsiveness, dislike for details and numbers, unpunctuality. Often become intrusive in a state of stress.
During an interview with "yellows", do not forget about the goal of the interview. After all, in communication with them, it is very easy to succumb to their charm. Control the timing of the interview, steer the conversation in the right direction. For "yellows", attention to themselves is important. In presenting the vacancy, emphasize the exclusivity of the offer, emphasize that you see such a creative person as your interlocutor for this position. If only routine tasks are expected, think about how appropriate it is to invite a "yellow" to this position. Monotonous work will quickly bore them, and as a result, you will get a demotivated employee.
Workers with high I will be most effective in performing work that requires a creative approach, development of ideas. Often "yellows" in the company become informal leaders. Their value to the company: creativity, motivation of others for results, ability to resolve conflicts. They are good team players.
Behavior markers of this type:
- Need: new impressions
- General impression: extrovert, life of the party
- Communication style: flexible, evasive, vague
- Extreme degree: disorganization, irresponsibility
- Gesticulation: active, expressive, with rich facial expressions
- Gait: smooth, confident
Green — Steady (S)
S — team players. Together they are capable of everything, but absolutely cannot work alone. They are manageable, good workers, however, they are practically unable to come up with or invent something on their own. Their biggest plus is the inability to betray, you can rely on them in everything. It can be difficult to identify them because they tend to adapt to the interlocutor. With such people-leaders (usually a family business) there is often a "grey cardinal" who actually makes the decision.
People with high S need reliability, stability, and do not like sudden changes. At the same time, they pay great attention to relationships between people, showing tact, attention, and warmth to others. People with high S are calm, soft, patient, attractive, predictable, deliberate, stable, consistent, and tend to be impartial.
- Strengths of S: attentiveness to others, maintaining perfect order in affairs and things, reliability, stability.
- Weaknesses of S: compliance, they find it very difficult to say "no", dependence, fear of change, reluctance to talk about problems. In stress, they tend to agree. They also tend to take offense but prefer not to talk about their feelings, which often leads to psychosomatics.
During an interview with "greens", it is very important to create a warm atmosphere. Make sure the candidate is comfortable. In presenting the vacancy, emphasize the description of the team: friendly relations, support in training and work, a favorable socio-psychological climate. Initially, it is important for such an employee to have a mentor at the company.
S will prove themselves excellently in work related to team building, uniting people, with an individual approach to employees. Their value to the company: good team players, work to achieve a common goal, patient, high level of empathy, loyal to the company.
Behavior markers of this type:
- Need: reliability
- General impression: introvert, calm
- Communication style: evasive
- Extreme degree: possessiveness, painful attachment
- Gesticulation: moderate gestures
- Gait: even, not fast
Blue — Conscientious (C)
C — analysts. People of this type work well with papers, they make good accountants, economists, and lawyers. For them, the letter of the law and instructions are above all. Emotionally closed, collected, organized. They plan everything in advance, not prone to unthought decisions.
People with high C adhere to rules and instructions. They carefully analyze every detail before making a decision. Often such people do not seek personal contact, so they may seem unemotional, cold. People with high C are described by the words: cautious, demanding, systematizing, neat, diplomatic, accurate, tactful.
- Strengths of C: the ability to notice the smallest details and facts, systematicity, accuracy, order in everything, neatness.
- Weaknesses of C: excessive scrupulousness, tendency to judge, lack of flexibility. They react to stress by withdrawing into themselves, closing off.
During an interview with "blues", it is important not to show too much emotion, as this alarms them. In the conversation, it is better to use facts, statistics, numbers, structure information, speak specifically, "without water". Be prepared for the candidate to write down many moments of your conversation in their notebook.
They will perform well in positions requiring attention, systematicity, diligence, for example, HR inspector, proofreader, accountant. Their value to the company: development and support of high standards, thoroughness in work, testing information, systematization of material.
Behavior markers of this type:
- Need: information
- General impression: introvert, goal-oriented
- Communication style: direct
- Extreme degree: critic, skeptic
- Gesticulation: inactive, few gestures
- Gait: even, not fast
To understand how each behavioral type manifests in the workplace, let's consider a situation where the company plans to transition to a new program.
- Thoughts D: "Great, we'll be able to work faster, handle more clients, and generate more profit."
- Thoughts I: "Almost all major companies use this program. We need to maintain our brand and also use modern technology."
- Thoughts S: "The program is straightforward and understandable. I think we and our colleagues will quickly adapt to working in it."
- Thoughts C: "The cost of purchasing the program is X dollars. So, if employee productivity increases by 15%, it will pay off in six months. But there's a risk that employees might find it unfamiliar to work in it, and productivity could decrease."
In other words, for Reds, results matter; for Yellows, it's about coolness and external ambiance; for Greens, it's about satisfaction and convenience for everyone; and for Blues, it's facts and figures.
Applying DISC Typology in Sales and Business
Knowing what matters to each DISC personality type and what they pay maximum attention to will help you build effective "buyer-seller" communication.
Buyer D
- Be specific and straightforward
- Offer alternative options
- Don't dictate terms; allow choices
- Engage in reasoned discussions and remain confident
- Present facts without overwhelming with information
Buyer I
- Be friendly, smile, and use humor
- Build friendly relationships
- Let them express themselves
- Listen attentively and show interest; acknowledge them
- Use emotionally charged words when describing the product
- Exchange contact information and maintain contact after the deal
Buyer S
- Don't rush; give time for decision-making
- Provide necessary guarantees
- Present information logically and sequentially
- Be sincere and earn their trust
- Gently guide toward the desired decision
Buyer C
- Provide more precise product data: facts, figures, and evidence
- Consistently answer all questions without using generic phrases
- Don't pressure or rush; be patient
- Respect personal space and maintain distance
- Retain control; don't fall for skepticism
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