Misuse of DISC Personal Profile System

We were very excited about the DISC Personal Profile System ... discovering about ourselves and the personality differences of various staff members but misuse crept in when some used the profiles ...

To label and "pigeon-hole" others
"Oh, our leader is a high D; he just walks over people to reach his goal!"
As an excuse for their behaviour
"I didn't do it because I'm not good with details; I'm a high I."

The above do not take into consideration that we are not slaves to our natural tendencies; that we should live by the Word of God; and that God can change us ... you and me.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ,

he is a new creature;

the old things passed away;

behold, new things have come. 1 Cor 5:17

... that He who began a good work in you

will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus Phil 1:6

"It is written,

'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE,

BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" Matt 4:4

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine

and acts on them,

may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock."

"And the rain fell, and the floods came,

and the winds blew and slammed against that house;

and yet it did not fall,

for it had been founded on the rock." Matt 7:24-25

Let me respond to the above examples of misuse.

"Oh, our leader is a high D; he just walks over people to reach his goal!"

Don't seat in judgment; focus on your responsibilities ... if indeed your leader is a high D and has a tendency to walk over people, what have you done? Have you prayed for him? Have you spoken to him in private?

"I didn't do it because I'm not good with details; I'm a high I."

Now if you have been assigned a job to do then carry it out faithfully and do it to the best of your ability. Do not use your weakness as an excuse for laziness!

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him. Prov 10:26

If you are the leader who had assigned work requiring details to a high I, here's a couple of questions for you ... Do you know your staff ... their strengths and weaknesses? If you do then why did you delegate work that does not correspond to their strengths?

Don't just delegate and forget; focus on your responsibilities ... How have you supported your staff in carrying out their responsibilities? How have you equipped them to carry out the assigned tasks?

Next, we will consider how the various profiles respond when there is conflict ...

Natural tendency under tension ...

High D

Autocratic

High I

Attacks

High S

Agrees (gives in)

High C

Avoids

For the high D and I, listen to what the Word of God says ...

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth,
but only such a word as is good for edification
according to the need of the moment,
so that it will give grace to those who hear.
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander
be put away from you,
along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted,
forgiving each other,
just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Eph 4:29-32

For the high S,

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood,
SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR,
for we are members of one another.
26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN;
do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. Eph 4:25-27

For ALL, especially the high C,

22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother
shall be guilty before the court;
and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,'
shall be guilty before the supreme court;
and whoever says, 'You fool,'
shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
23 "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar,
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar and go;
first be reconciled to your brother,
and then come and present your offering. Matt 5:22-24