DISC personality testing or DISC assessment is big in human resources administration for a reason. The adaptive technologies of this ground-breaking system allow insight into how individuals behave and how they view their environment. A free DISC personality test online can help a worker realize their own attributes, and office DISC testing can show HR reps a lot about new hires.

For all of this and more, check out news sources, whether small blog spots or larger HR publications, that talk about the contributions of DISC testing to the vibrant field of today's high-tech HR. Readers might look for:

1. Ways a DISC personality test or DISC profile test can shed light on human nature.

2. Ways to use a DISC test for team building or sales boosting.

3. More on general trends with DISC testing across the industry.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find DISC personality testing news for pre-employment screening

One of the most common applications of a DISC personality test is for screening and evaluating new people in an 'intake' scenario. DISC profile tests are so useful that the process has become common HR fodder, and you can get the latest from mainstream HR sites and news sources that reflect on what DISC has done for human resources.

I recommend: Super Performance Solutions gives case studies and other information about DISC personality testing in HR use situations. You can find more at Assessments Today's news site with ongoing stories about the newest in HR.

Get DISC personality news and trends for sales

The sales industry is another place DISC personality assessment is making huge inroads. Find out about how sales teams leverage DISC and how employers find quality for the buying and selling that goes on every day in today's marketplace.

I recommend: Get news on how Realtors use the DISC for selling at the National Association fo Realtors website. At ACareerInSales.com, stories about DISC talk about how it is used in sales industries and whether individuals should self-test for good results with applying for jobs.

Look for DISC personality testing news resources for leadership qualities and general use

Other sites focus on how all kinds of business people from all walks of life can get the most out of DISC personality tests through self-application or in-depth analysis with the tools now on the market.

I recommend: At Leadership-Tools.com, readers can get more on how the DISC evolved from Myers-Briggs (a former standard) and how business leaders can use it to recognize great attributes in themselves and others. Get more on the general use of DISC to promote and find leadership qualities at the Manage Smarter site.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use your news sources to get your own thoughts on how DISC works. Having a working knowledge of this psychological tool helps if you ever have to describe or explain it to others.

If you are concerned about your performance as a communicator, take a DISC (or DiSC) Personality Testing profile. The DISC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness) profile is not a personality assessment; it is a sociological assessment of your preferred communication style. The only way that you can fail DISC testing is not to take one; you’ll never know or experience what so many others have learned about communication unless you learn about DISC profiles.

We are social creatures and as such, there are times when we need to analyze our social graces and communication skills. Effective communicators make the best leaders, the best teachers, the best parents, the best spouses, the best doctors and the best friends. Whatever you do for a living, or whatever you do in life, you communicate.

When you take a DISC profile test, be prepared to:

1. Identify your preferred methods of communication.
2. Recognize and categorize the communication styles of others.
3. Maximize your effectiveness when communicating with others.

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The DISC profile provides a focus on behavior, not personality

Although you will find DISC referred to as DISC personality testing, or the DISC personality test, it's not actually a personality test. Tests such as Myers-Briggs assess personality; the focus of the DiSC profile is on your communication behavior -- how you communicate and why.

I recommend: Consult sites like Leadership Benefits & Consulting and Professional Change to understand the benefits and rationales for DISC profile testing. Some sites, like PersonalityStyle also provide limited a free DISC personality test; obviously the free DISC personality test isn't as extensive as pay courses, but it's a good way to get a feel for DISC personality testing.

Use the DISC profile to improve your communications skills and reduce conflict

If you've ever been misunderstood and you could not bridge the communication gap, understanding your personal DiSC profile may help you improve communication and avoid conflicts. It feels so nice when someone understands you and you understand them.

I recommend: People who want to improve their communication style -- especially managers, supervisors, presidents of corporations, moms and dads -- should consider taking the DISC profile test through sites like Online DISC Profile or DISC Profile.com.

Take the DISC profile test and attend training

You can take an online DISC test and receive your assessment, but having the results in a vacuum will not help you improve your communications skills. Continue your DISC journey by practicing and talking with others who have taken the profile test and take the time to attend a training class.

I recommend: Look for post-DISC classes at sites like OnlineDISC.com or Inscape Publishing.

Hire people who have completed the DISC training

If you're a human resources representative or manager, look for candidates who have invested time and resources to get a DISC assessment to improve their communications skills. Make sure that you have taken the DISC profile as well.

I recommend: Use consulting firms like P.J. Reda & Associates or Effective Resources that specialize in finding DISC-certified candidates for your business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  After you try a free online DISC test with other managers, determine if you think a larger program is appropriate for your company. If DISC assessment leaves you cold, you're not out anything but a little time.

Lots of HR veterans rave about the power of DISC personality testing to prevent workplace tension and even violence, while letting employees and leaders learn more about themselves and their team. But to some administrators, DISC personality testing might seem like a confusing maze. Getting some resources on your side for implementing this novel testing tool can get better results for your office.

Online sites give insight into how the DISC personality test is used, how it is meant to be used, and how to best administer tests and evaluate results. Without guidance like this, DISC personality testing can be just another thing HR administrators muddle through. Don't let that happen. Online resources include:

1. Detailed descriptions of just what a DISC profile test measures and why, for a DISC product someone has bought or a free DISC personality test offered online.

2. History and case studies showing how DISC assessment works and what results it has produces across different industry sectors.

3. Helpful resource packages to be sure administrators can access the product and easily figure out how to walk employees through testing or explain to them why they are participating in DISC.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find great illustrative DISC personality testing resources

One of the main things you'll want to check up on if you're involved in getting this tool in-house is a basic explanation of what DISC testing is. You can read up on this fairly easily online.

I recommend: At IntesiResources, DISC pages provide helpful diagrams, modules and criteria to help you understand just what a DISC test does. Success Performance Solutions explains DISC through a metaphor lots of Americans can appreciate: Thanksgiving dinner.

Get testimonial case studies for evaluation of the DISC personality testing methodology

Some companies use DISC personality testing to screen employees, other build sales force teams, and others use DISC personality testing to find leadership qualities. Learn from their efforts to see what a DISC product or DISC profile online can do for you.

I recommend: TalentSmart offers a web accessible list of case studies for DISC to show how this resource is used in HR. Get more from Jerry Wengert at GEW Enterprises.

Consider DISC personality testing kits to help HR administer the tests

Comprehensive DISC personality testing kits and packages include tools for helping HR staff figure out just how to implement this 'on the ground' during intake or staff evaluations. Use these resources as a road map to make sure your HR administrative people aren't walking in the dark.

I recommend: Find trainer/admin kits and resources like DVDs at Disc Profile. Find more for optimal use of this powerful behavioral tool in human resources at Inscape Publishing Products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For making the most of DISC personality testing, it's often necessary to know how to explain the test to others. Doing a quick comprehension check with HR leaders can reap benefits when your firm starts to use DISC.

The DISC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness) "personality test" is a somewhat new tool used to examine the general psychology and behavioral cues of an individual. Many HR departments find this handy for analyzing potential new hires: some companies also use it as a means to determine potential for leadership. Businesses looking into using the DISC test for any "personnel metrics" can find some of these key terms helpful in figuring out how the whole thing works and how it can best benefit a business, as potential users evaluate just how this data will be utilized in-house.

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DISC behavioral profile

The behavioral profile is what the DISC test gives the user, since it is more a measurement of behavior than of 'personality' per se. The behavioral profile represents the end result that can be used for a number of HR decisions.

I recommend: Find out more about the DISC behavioral profile and its benefits at the Business Assessment Center.

High D, I, S or C

The phenomenon of having a 'high' component of one of the four DISC types indicates certain over-riding behavioral/personality traits. These can be useful in helping to team up workers to avoid conflict, or in evaluating existing setups.

I recommend: Take a look at what a "high D, I ,S or C" means at Success Performance Solutions.

DISC language

Some DISC testing curriculum providers talk about a 'DISC language' for accelerating workplace harmony and leadership potential.

I recommend: Find more on the DISC language as well as links to resources at the DISC Assessment Reference Manual page at Chart Your Course International.

Psychometric test

Other providers refer to the DISC as a 'psychometric' test because, again, it has a broader application than others that target a specific psychology component. Other tests, like the Meyers-Briggs, are more of what purists would call 'psychological' testing.

I recommend: Find out more at the Career Test Guide online.

Online DISC

One alternative for businesses and HR departments is an online DISC system. The online application of DISC makes it more accessible to some businesses with an online network.

I recommend: Find out more about DISC online or on paper at OnlineDISC.com.

DISC research reports

Some HR related consulting companies go beyond a single DISC profile to offer more in-depth results from DISC testing, including team profiles, projections and other DISC research reports. Businesses may find these to be powerful tools for helping to chart the future of a team or for optimal hiring.

I recommend: Find out more about some DISC research reports available at Internal Change.