As a small business owner, you wear many hats and juggle countless responsibilities every single day. From managing employees to handling finances to keeping customers happy, strong leadership is critical to your company’s success. But what makes a truly effective leader? Having an in-depth understanding of your own strengths, weaknesses, communication styles and natural tendencies can help you maximize your potential and unlock your ability to inspire and motivate others.
Understanding Your Communication Style Using the DISC Assessment
Based off the styles categorized by psychologist William Marston, DISC stands for: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. The assessment is typically done online and consists of a series of questions that ask you to choose statements that best describe your behaviors in various situations. The DISC assessment categorizes you into one or more of the four styles and highlights your strengths, communication style, and potential areas for development. This information is invaluable for understanding how your behavior impacts your connection with others.
Let’s break down those categories:
Dominance: High scores in this dimension mean you are likely direct, results-oriented, and willing to challenge the status quo. As a leader, this can help you stay focused on goals and drive your team to achieve them. In this realm, you may need to work on being patient and considering others’ perspectives.
Influence: A high score in this dimension shows that you tend to be persuasive, enthusiastic, and socially confident. You likely inspire and motivate your team but be aware that you may come across as overly talkative or lacking focus on your big goals.
Steadiness: If Steadiness is your primary dimension, you are likely patient, calm, and excellent at building relationships. These qualities can foster loyalty and help you provide support for your team. However, as a leader, you may need to push yourself to be more accepting of change.
Conscientiousness: Those who score high in Conscientiousness tend to be detail-oriented, analytical, and good at following rules and procedures. This attention to detail is crucial but be careful not to get bogged down by minutiae and remain open to new ideas.
As a business owner and leader, gaining deeper self-awareness is one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself and your company. When you commit to truly understanding your own behaviors, communication styles, instincts, and innate abilities—as well as those of your team—you’ll have the foundation to become an exceptional leader who brings out the best in yourself and those around you.
As your trusted LIFTed Business Advisor, I know effective leadership skills not only help you build your business but also help you avoid risk of conflict. That’s why I offer a LIFT Business Breakthrough Session where together, we’ll analyze your company’s foundational systems to ensure your business is protected from risk and conflict. Then we’ll put together a plan for filling in any holes so you’re free to develop yourself as a leader, grow your business, and empower your team without worrying about what could go wrong.
Book a call here to learn more and get started today.