Exploring self-awareness and communication through Everything DiSC®

Day 2 of the Mortenson Associates Program deepened our focus on self-awareness, collaboration, and interpersonal dynamics through an insightful Everything DiSC® Workplace workshop, facilitated by Shirley N. Smith-Crews. This session built upon the foundational introduction from Day 1, offering a more practical and personalized understanding of behavioral styles in the workplace.

The DiSC assessment process

Prior to the workshop, each associate was invited to complete the Everything DiSC® online assessment, a research-validated, personality-based questionnaire designed to reveal individual behaviour patterns. The process took approximately 15–20 minutes and asked participants to respond to a series of statements about their preferences and tendencies in work-related scenarios.

Once completed, each of us received a personalized Everything DiSC® Workplace Profile. This detailed report provided insight into our primary DiSC style: Dominance (D), Influence (i), Steadiness (S), or Conscientiousness (C), and how this style shapes our communication, decision-making, and interactions with others.

Workshop highlights

Shirley Smith-Crews led a highly engaging and interactive session, guiding us through the key elements of the Everything DiSC Workplace model, which is designed to help individuals:

• Understand themselves and others better
• Build more effective working relationships
• Improve collaboration across diverse teams

The workshop focused on recognizing behavioral strengths, identifying potential challenges, and developing strategies for adapting communication styles in order to foster healthier, more productive work environments.

We explored practical applications of the tool, including:

• How to work more effectively with colleagues whose DiSC styles differ from our own
• How to build trust and reduce conflict through intentional communication
• How to leverage our DiSC strengths in professional collaboration

Personal and professional growth

One of the key takeaways from today was the importance of adaptability, learning how to flex our natural communication preferences to better connect with others. As librarians and information professionals working across cultures and disciplines, this skill is particularly valuable.

The DiSC tool gave us not only a clearer understanding of ourselves but also a framework to enhance teamwork, empathy, and leadership—qualities essential for the collaborative nature of the Mortenson program and our broader professional roles.