Assessment 101
by Glenn Stevenson
In the October issue of Insights, we began a series on assessments that coaches use to understand their clients better and to help their clients understand themselves. This article is the second in the series. Each month we will examine another assessment, what it measures, what it costs, and what training and certification are available.
Last month, we began with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This month, we will review the DiSC, another widely used assessment tool, especially in business settings.
In future months, Insights will provide an “assessment of the month” on the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II, Enneagram, Birkman Method, Personal Style Indicator, Peoplemap, Real Colors, MAPP, OSI Polaris 360, Cerny Smith Adjustment Index, and Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument.
So let’s get going with the assessment of the month, the DiSC!
Assessment: DiSC
Description: The DiSC types people into four primary dimensions. It provides nonjudgmental language for exploring behavioral issues across these four dimensions:
Dominance: Direct and Decisive. D’s are strong-willed, strong-minded people who like accepting challenges, taking action, and getting immediate results.
Influence: Optimistic and Outgoing. I’s are “people people” who like participating on teams, sharing ideas, and energizing and entertaining others.
Steadiness: Sympathetic and Cooperative. S’s are helpful people who like working behind the scenes, performing in consistent and predictable ways, and being good listeners.
Conscientiousness: Concerned and Correct. C’s are sticklers for quality and like planning ahead, employing systematic approaches, and checking and re-checking for accuracy.
The DiSC was developed in the late 1920s and 1930s. Today no one holds an exclusive copyright. Contacts for two publishers of the DiSC are:
Inscape Publishing www.inscapepublishing.com
Target Training International www.ttiltd.com.
Target Training International provides three different reports, depending on who the subject of the assessment is: Executive Version (for CEOs), Employee/Manager Version, and Sales Version (for sales people). The DiSC questions are the same for each version.
Certification: Not required to purchase the instrument. However, training is available from distributors of the companies that sell the DiSC:
- Ted Cragar (distributor for Inscape Publishing)
Cragar Odet Co.
31 Pemberton Place
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-4753
(800) 779-8079
ted@cragarodet.com
http://cragarodet.com/
- Target Training International, Ltd. (contact TTI to get the name of a local distributor)
16020 North 77th Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(800) 869-6908 or 480-443-1077
Info@ttiltd.com
http://www.ttiltd.com/
- Angelica Angel
(certified Human Behavior Specialist through Personality Insights)
angeltimemanagement@yahoo.com
http://www.personality-insights.com/
Cost of Training/Certification: Training with Ted Cragar costs $165 for a full-day workshop. This training comes with a Certificate. See his web site for his training schedule. He will also do 2-3 hours of training with individuals to enable them to use the instrument for $95.
Target Training International also offers training directly, through its distributors, through CDs, e-learning, or teleconference. Contact them for costs.
Cost of Instrument Once Trained:
Through Ted Cragar:
- Online assessments: $25
- Paper & pencil assessments: $15
If you become a distributor for Target Training International:
- Online assessments: approximately $10
 Glenn Stevenson. Ph.D., is a life coach and career transition coach who specializes in self-confidence, relationships coaching, and helping people find the work that they love. He specializes in people’s sense of self and their finding satisfaction in who they are and what they do. He may be contacted at glenn@myselfsense.com, 714-468-9963, www.myselfsense.com
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