The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.
~ Pema Chodron ~
Information without Action is Entertainment
Years ago, I took the DISC Profile Assessment as part of a leadership course offered through my former company. It was a valuable course, I learned a lot, and I thought the DISC Profile Assessment was helpful.
I enjoyed the course. But, like many of us do after finishing a course, I returned to my job, filed the information away in a drawer and hardly ever gave it another thought.
Fast forward to 2005. I had the opportunity to take the DISC Profile Assessment again as part of a coaching program I enrolled in.
I wasn’t too excited about re-taking it. By the time I enrolled in this program, I’d done a ton of personal development work. I’d grown immeasurably in self-awareness and I didn’t think I would get much from taking it again.
Information within Context is Powerful
I had no idea how much of an impact re-doing the DISC Profile Assessment would have on my career. If I hadn’t repeated it, I would have missed out on important, life changing insights.
My results confirmed that coaching was a great “Sexy Second Act” direction to pursue. It gave me the confidence to keep going.
I also learned a good lesson in how far thinking too much will take you. Not far.
There’s a certain level of arrogance that accompanies thinking you “know” stuff. Engaging your brain too soon can be problematic. You are generally better off keeping an open mind and going with the flow.
What I didn’t know that made the DISC Profile Assessment valuable this time around was that it was one part of a three-part profile. It was the other two parts combined with the DISC Profile Assessment that gave me a deeper personal view and a new context for designing my future.
You Are More than Who You Think You Are
The DISC Profile Assessment by itself is a wonderful tool to have in your tool kit to help you gain clarity on HOW you behave, which is what it measures. It shows both your “natural” and “adaptive” styles. A significant gap between the two may be an indication of stress or that you are operating in an environment that is new or uncomfortable.
The second of the three parts focuses on values, which measures the WHY of your behavior style. It helps you see what compels your decision-making whether you are consciously aware of it or not.
It was this part that provided my “aha” moment that changed everything. It helped me see my career in a new and empowering context and perspective that escalated my excitement about my direction and future.
Part Three of the Personal Insights Profile measures the WHAT of your behavior. It takes a look at your world view – how clearly you see yourself and others.
Combined, the three parts offer a well-rounded perspective. They operate like a “map” that helps you see clearly where you are now so you can choose the best direction to take to design your future.
Most of us can talk all day about all the things we are “not”. It’s harder to talk about all the amazing and incredible things we are. Personal Insights Profiles are great tools for helping shift your perspective away from who you think you are “not” to focus on the gift that you are.
Power plus Clarity Equals Freedom
Years of using Personal Insights Profiles with my clients has demonstrated to me that they are a powerful tool for helping to “look at ourselves honestly and gently.” There’s power in that. And freedom. Especially when you take what you see and apply it to remodeling your life into something that feels “sexy”, vibrant, alive, juicy, and fun!
Who the heck doesn’t want more of that?
Want to learn more about Personal Insights Profiles? Download your complimentary ebook here!