The DISC Advantage: Enhancing Your Coaching Practice Through Behavioural Insights

As a life coach, I believe in the power of giving my clients a safe and supportive space to explore who they are and get to know themselves in a way that supports them in raising their self-awareness of what I call their “personal power”.   

Personal Power is the emotional strength or ability that we have to make choices in our lives and get our needs met.   I always find this an incredibly empowering place to work with clients in achieving their full potential.   For me this means that we ultimately all have the ability to choose how we respond to any situation and the impact that this can have on how we engage with others and live our lives. 

I’ve always found human behaviour fascinating, I love to people watch, and when I engage and interact with others, I like to view people’s actions and interactions through the lens of positive intent by asking myself “What is the goal behind the behaviour?”

The DISC Model of Human Behaviour

That is why what is below the surface level of what we see and experience in others is truly intriguing for me.  To do this effectively, it’s essential that we understand the unique behaviours, motivations, and communication styles of each client. This is where the DISC model of human behaviour comes in—it’s a powerful tool which can elevate your coaching practice and your interactions with anyone, by providing deep behavioural insights that lead to more personalised insight and impactful coaching as well as better all-round relationships.

Understanding your clients through the lens of DISC profiling and supporting your client’s self-awareness of why they, and others, do, say and communicate in a particular way, means that you are able to tailor your coaching approach accordingly, leading to quicker rapport building, fast tracking your client’s goals and outcomes as well as supporting you with revealing the unique strengths and natural preferences of each client you work with.

What is the DISC Model?  

Based on the original research of Dr William Marston who explored the connection between our emotions as humans and our behaviour, and the collective development of those theories by Walter V. Clark and Peter Merenda, the DISC model is a behavioural assessment tool that categorises human behavioural preferences into four primary styles depending on their view of their environment: 

• Dominance (D): These individuals are results-oriented, assertive, and motivated by challenges and finding solutions to problems. They thrive in environments where they can take control and achieve goals.
• Influence (I): Individuals with this preference are outgoing, persuasive, and thrive on social interactions. They are motivated by recognition and enjoy environments that are lively and collaborative.
• Steadiness (S):  This preference shows up as individuals who are calm, patient, kind and supportive. They prefer stability and consistency and are motivated by sincere, supportive relationships.
• Compliance (C): These individuals are detail-oriented, analytical, and methodical. They value accuracy and precision and are motivated by opportunities to apply their expertise, and skill in handling data to maintain high standards.  

Each style or preference has its own strengths, growth areas, communication preferences, and motivational drivers. By understanding these, you can better tailor your coaching approach to meet the specific needs of your clients.  It is important to note however, that we have a bit of all of these preferences in all of us, it’s about the intensity of each.  This is what we call our personal DISC blend.

The DISC Advantage in Coaching  

As coaches we need to ensure that what we are communicating actually lands so our client can reflect and process any key insights.  One of the key pillars of coaching is raising our client’s self-awareness.   By incorporating the DISC model into our coaching practice, we gain a distinct advantage in several key areas:  

1. Deeper Understanding of Clients:  The DISC model allows you to quickly assess a client’s behavioural style, giving insights into how they like to process information, what motivates them, and how they prefer to communicate. This understanding helps you tailor your sessions to align with their natural tendencies, ensuring that your coaching resonates more deeply.  
2. Enhanced Communication:  Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful coaching. By recognising your client’s DISC style, you can adapt your language, tone, and approach to match their preferences. For instance, with a Dominance (D) preference client, you might focus on direct, results-oriented communication, while a Steadiness (S) preference client might appreciate a more supportive and reassuring approach.  
3. Personalised Goal Setting:  Each DISC style has different motivators and fears. Understanding these can help you set goals that are both challenging and achievable for your clients. For example, a Compliance (C) preference client might respond well to goals that require detailed planning and accuracy, whereas an Influence (I) preference client might be more motivated by goals that involve social recognition or creative expression.  
4. Improved Conflict Resolution:  Conflict is a natural part of life, and your clients may face challenges in their personal or professional relationships. The DISC model provides insights into how different behavioural styles approach conflict, allowing you to guide your clients in resolving disputes more effectively. For instance, a Dominance (D) preference client might need help in softening their approach, while a Steadiness (S) preference client might benefit from strategies to assert themselves more confidently.  
5. Strengthened Client-Coach Relationship:  Trust and rapport are essential in coaching. When clients feel understood and supported, they are more likely to open up and engage in the process. The DISC model helps you build this trust by showing clients that you understand their unique personality and are committed to helping them achieve their goals in a way that suits them best. 
6. Increased client self-awareness:  Sharing the DISC model of human behaviour using the DISC assessment increases your client’s self-awareness and supports reflection on how their unique DISC blend impacts on their decision-making, approach to work, colleagues and also the impact of their behavioural and communication preferences on those around them.  

Practical Steps to Integrate DISC into Your Practice

1. Get DISC Certified: The Coaching Academy offer various levels of DISC training starting at DISC Certification, through to advanced level licensed trainer status.   Whether you are a coach or a coach in training, (or anyone who leads or works with people), our DISC Certification level training is the right starting point.  It will give you an opportunity to really understand the why behind people’s behaviour.  As someone who has used DISC with their clients since 2011, I also fundamentally believe it adds to your credibility as a professional coach and gives you a competitive advantage over other coaches who are not certified or who choose not to incorporate DISC into their coaching practice.
2. Assessment: Start by incorporating a DISC assessment as part of your intake process. This will give you a clear understanding of your client’s behavioural style and preferences from the outset.   As soon as I qualified as DISC Certified, I chose to open my own DISC Assessment Portal/Online System.   The DISC team at The Coaching Academy supported me in completely personalising the assessments for my coaching business and that is still the case today, you too can arrange to open your own personalised online DISC Account System/Profile with the support of The Coaching Academy DISC team who will also support you in adding you own logo and coaching business name ensuring that all your assessments are completely personalised to you.
3. Customisation: Use the insights from the DISC assessment to customise your coaching approach. Develop personalised strategies, communication methods, and action plans that align with your client’s DISC profile.
4. Ongoing Reflection: Encourage your clients to reflect on their DISC profile regularly. This self-awareness can be a powerful tool for personal growth and can lead to more productive coaching sessions and continued growth.
5. Continuous Learning:  Embed DISC into the way you think and interact on a daily basis.  Keep updated by reading blogs and articles that focus on DISC. This will not only enhance your coaching skills but also allow you to offer your clients the most current and effective strategies.

Conclusion

For me the DISC model is more than just a tool—it’s a pathway to deeper, more effective coaching. By understanding and applying the insights it provides, you can elevate your coaching practice, helping your clients to achieve their goals with greater clarity and confidence.  

The DISC advantage is about more than just knowing your clients; it’s about empowering them to understand themselves, unlocking their potential in ways that are uniquely suited to who they are. As you continue to integrate DISC into your coaching, you’ll find that the journey becomes richer, more rewarding, and ultimately, more transformative for both you and your clients.

Ready to enhance your coaching skills with DISC profiling? 

If you're interested in training and accreditation to effectively deliver DISC in your coaching practice, then reach out to us today!  You can find out more and book your place on our DISC Certification Workshop (Introductory Level) or our DISC Accreditation Workshop (Intermediate Level) on our coach training event calendar.