In what is certainly a very uncertain and new time for all of us, we are now facing an instance where our workforces are largely remote. However, this does not have to mean the end of teamwork, communication and culture!

Meetings. They’re a pretty polarising subject. Some people (and most businesses) place a lot of value in conducting and attending thorough meetings that occur regularly. Other people would gleefully drink burnt coffee for a year if it meant not having to set foot in another meeting. They’re too long, they’re disorganised, they’re boring, the information covered could’ve easily been an email…these are all common (and valid) complaints. The reality is, meetings are an essential part of almost any organisations—but they do have a tendency to go really, really wrong. Luckily, there are ample online resources to transform meetings from dysfunctional to optimal.

“To be, or not to be? That is the question—” okay, so that isn’t the question we’re asking in this blog post. But we are discussing drama, although the type of drama we’re referring to happens in the workplace, not the theater. According to a recent Wiley study that asked 12,000 people, “What is the first word or phrase that comes to mind when you think of ‘interpersonal conflict in the workplace’?” one answer was exceedingly prominent. Any guesses? (Spoiler alert!) It’s “drama.”

Here’s a hard business truth: No workplace is free of the ravages of distrust. Anyone who’s ever held a job knows the frustrations that emerge when coworkers don’t trust each other – the miscommunications, rivalries, inefficiencies, morale problems, and turnover that, in the end, distract people from their work and make life stressful. And ultimately, research shows, cost money.

Every day, we are inundated with ideas on how to reframe our perspectives around different issues. A new diet to help reframe our relationship with food, a digital course on how to change the way we manage finances, a self-help book on how to better understand where your spouse is coming from during an argument. All of these are great solutions for certain people in certain situations. But what about an actionable way to reframe something that affects all of us?

Did you know that for the first time ever, we have five generations in the workplace? Five! In a time where diversity and inclusion are (thankfully!) a top priority for organisations, generational diversity can be easy to overlook. Yet, each generation brings diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and behavioural norms to work that, when effectively connected, can improve organisational culture and performance.

Now that you’ve got the basics and theory of DiSC® down pat (see our back to basics post, as a refresher!), we’re going to dig into something crucial to Everything DiSC®: our research. We’re often asked how accurate and/or legitimate the Everything DiSC assessment is, and those are great questions. In short, our answer is this: we’ve built the Everything DiSC Application Suite on a foundation of research and rigour to ensure high-quality, transformational learning experience—every time.

When it comes to dealing with the uncomfortable things in life—fears, threats, stressors—our “fight-or-flight response” is often triggered. We hear this phrase a lot, but it is indeed a real physiological phenomena; something deep in our nervous system that urges us to either prepare for battle (fight) or flee the sticky situation (flight).

What’s the first word or phrase that comes to mind when you think of “workplace conflict”? We’re guessing that super fun or awesome or beneficial aren’t exactly at the top of the list. In a recent study, Wiley asked 12,000 Everything DiSC® participants (from executives to individual contributors) this same question, and their responses were pretty much what you’d expect:

“Stability is a shut off switch for your brain.”

This is the central idea of Inc.’s article, “Science Has Just Confirmed That If You’re Not Outside Your Comfort Zone, You’re Not Learning” written by Jessica Stillman. Her statement is backed by research from Yale University that says brain regions associated with learning basically shut down when we are operating within a predictable pattern. When uncertainty comes into play, our brains snap into learning mode.

You’re hearing a lot about DiSC and seeing some great infographics coming out from us, but what does it all mean. Let’s get a great understanding of DiSC® from the ground up: the theory, the research, the power of the circumplex, and the dos and don’ts of DiSC.

This Rat has exceptional taste and knows how to be thankful for the finer things in life. Their home is relaxed and nicely decorated and they like to entertain and mix in stylish groups. They have substantial financial insight and are very good at investing their money. DiSC-OURSE is the perfect tool to help you and your team to discover their DiSC Personalities.