Welcome!
It's great to have you joining me for a journey to better understanding what makes each of us act and behave in the ways that we do. Why is it that some people are quick to make decisions why others hesitate, wait, and agonize over details before making a choice?
Or, perhaps you've noticed how some people are so concerned for the welfare of others and they will go out of their way to help them, include them, and encourage them. Still others, you might have observed, love to laugh, are always in the middle of any group of people, and it just seems like everyone knows them.
All of these attributes and characteristics are created by a seemingly infinite number of variables and differences. Yet, we can't help but see patterns and similarities, too. This course is all about becoming aware of those patterns and learning how these patterns can become useful tools for us to make stronger connections and develop better relationships as we interact with others.
Course Overview
As we navigate through the different roads and paths that make up the unique aspects of our personalities, we'll find ourselves crossing through each of the landmarks shown in the diagram below.
Each module will have two or three short lessons, Many of them offer text-based content, with a few images and graphics, like this "Welcome & Course Overview" lesson. Each lesson will take you about 3-4 minutes to complete, with each lesson being a pre-requisite to complete before you can move on to the next one. You can sit down and complete the entire course in one sitting. Or, you can take it in small, bite-size chunks, a little bit at a time.
Often, at the end of each lesson there will be a short quiz with one or two questions to emphasize a key point, or invite you to personally apply the content to your own experience. None of them are intended to be demanding, intellectually challenging, or any kind of "gotcha trap" to prevent you from moving on.
Overview of Each Module
WELCOME
Course Overview
This lesson probably doesn't need any explanation as you're reading it right now. The diagram above and the short explanations below provide a quick reference for each aspect of the course.
DISC Beginnings
Learn a little about where DISC comes from, how it has morphed and changed over the years, and why I choose to use this particular version of DISC. (This will be one of the shortest lessons and isn't really as boring as it sounds!)
DISC BASICS
The Motor
Everyone operates at their own pace. You will get a better understanding of how this is a fundamental part of our personality as you move through all of the lessons, but the foundational understanding of this concept starts with this lesson.
The Compass
Working through this lesson will give you insights into the way people orient themselves and their typical, natural, default style of interacting with the world around them. Just like a magnetic compass can be a tool to help us orient ourselves to the world around us, the compass of our personalities is a fundamental tool that we naturally use to orient the way we interact with the people, the tasks, and all that goes on around us.
THE REAL YOU
Deeper DISC Dive
The key concept in this lesson will help you get a better understanding of the DISC Model of Human Behavior. Your understanding will be enhanced and strengthened by the in-depth explanations. But don't worry - it won't be complicated, long, or boring!
Two Critical Keys
When learning about DISC there are two critical keys you need to always keep in mind. Remembering these two keys and applying them will make a significant difference in you being able to effectively use what you are learning about DISC.
ENGAGING OTHERS
Their Actions
Throughout this lesson you will focus your attention on others and use what you have learned about DISC to better connect with people. You will be introduced to knowing how to use their actions and behaviors as a guide for how you can better relate to them.
Their Reactions
When you stop thinking about your own reactions and start focusing on what other people's reactions are telling you about them, you will find yourself discovering more effective ways to build relationships with people. This lesson will introduce you to how this can be done.
Your Interactions
Finally you get to switch your attention to yourself. This lesson will show you how to take what you have learned about others' actions and reactions and use them to improve your own interactions with them. This is a powerful tool in you toolbox of knowing how to more effectively interact with others.
COMMUNICATION
Strengths
Understanding your personality style through the DISC Model of Human Behavior will give you better insight into the strengths you bring into your communication style. You'll see some of those strengths as you go through this lesson.
Struggles
Of course, our personalities also contribute to our communication struggles, too. Time spent in this lesson will help you see some of those struggles and become more aware of them.
Strategies
Being aware of your struggles leads you to seek out better communication strategies. The effort you spend learning in this lesson will yield some valuable strategies you can immediately use in your interactions with other people.
ASSESSMENT
Instructions
CONGRATULATIONS! When you get to this point in the course you will be ready to complete the DISC Personality Profile Assessment. You'll get the instructions for how to obtain an access code, how to take the assessment, and what to do next.
It's Time To Get Started!
Well, that's all I've got for you right now. It's time for you to take the next step and dive in to the lessons. I will mention one last thing.
At the end of each lesson you will see a button that looks like this:
Be sure you ALWAYS click that button when you are done with the current lesson. Clicking the button will unlock the next lesson.
Unlike most all of the other lessons, this lesson does not have a quiz at the end. So, just click the "Mark lesson complete" button below and get going!
