Why Trade Business Owners Should Master DISC Profiling
The Power of DISC: Understanding People in Business
In business, two key fundamentals determine long-term success: Maths and People. Maths is logical, binary, and predictable. People? Not so much. They are dynamic, emotional, and often unpredictable. Mastering both is essential, but understanding people is often the harder task.
This article is about learning how to understand, motivate, and persuade people, a crucial skill for any trade business owner. While no one likes being "put in a box," simplifying human behaviour into workable models is the only way we can start making sense of it. One of the most effective tools for doing this is DISC profiling.
DISC stands for Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. This quadrant-based model helps to decode behavioural tendencies, making it easier to manage and lead teams effectively in your trade business.
Here’s a breakdown:
Dominance (D): Assertive, direct, results-driven.
Influence (i): Outgoing, enthusiastic, persuasive.
Steadiness (S): Patient, reliable, supportive.
Conscientiousness (C): Analytical, detail-oriented, focused on quality.
Every person falls somewhere within this quadrant. The closer they are to the edges, the stronger their behavioural traits. Closer to the centre means more balance across types. The DISC assessment is a simple 24-question quiz, taking just 15 minutes, yet it can offer profound insight into how you operate.
Before using DISC to lead others, you must first understand yourself. Self-awareness is key in business leadership. By understanding your DISC type, you can identify your motivators, communication style, and blind spots. This is a powerful advantage for any tradie business owner looking to become a more effective leader.
As a leadership coach for tradies, I use DISC extensively with my clients to help them build better teams, communicate more effectively, and drive business growth.
Let me know in the comments: What DISC profile do you think you might be? I’m a D/i.
Kirk Neal - Trade Business Growth Coach
