RUNNING HEAD: DISC Assignment
Week 2: Achieving Academic Success Assignment
CARD-548 Career Success Strategies
Professor Darby
Tammy Dalton
RUNNING HEAD: DISC Assignment
My Personal Styles:
After completing the AMA DISC Survey™, two different styles had the same percentage
for what was most descriptive of me. They were Supportive and Contemplative with scores of
94% each. Even though both scores were the same, Supportive style was given as my most
descriptive style. The weakest style that describes me would be directing in which I scored 30%.
The supportive style refers more to how a person interacts with groups of people.
According to the AMA DISC Survey™, the supportive style “reflects behaviors and activities
directed toward accepting and understanding the people around you.” Since I am an instructor, it
is essential for me to have the ability to work with differing individuals on a daily basis. Not all
my students think and act the same, so it would be beneficial to withhold the assets of
cooperation, encouragement, conflict management, and sympathy.
The directing style describes how a person takes on responsibilities with more thought
towards results and outcomes. This style, according to the AMA DISC Survey™, “people are
oriented toward changing their task environment.” This is my weakest point; however, I do have
to use directing as a tool to complete program tasks and regulation management for my program.
Although true, I do depend more on my group interaction assets more than that of directing.
Development of my styles:
Growing up, I was always more of a loner individual. This was because I was an only
child for sixteen years and had to depend on myself for most things such as play-time or school. I
became more self-oriented toward achieving more things on a personal level. It was until college
that I began to work with more groups and activities. I was admitted into the Radiologic Sciences
program and a lot of our program work depended on working with our classmates. This is when I
realized that I worked very well with others and found it easier to understand and accomplish
tasks better when I discussed and managed them with a group. From then on, I enjoyed working
RUNNING HEAD: DISC Assignment
with people and became fond of leading study sessions. This was my breakthrough in
discovering my love for teaching.
Impact of my style on my effectiveness:
Group Activities
When I realized that I was a better leader due to my “people skills,” I began organizing
functions. These functions included study groups, mission trips, and volunteering at local venues.
I began to organize and manage more than ever. My effectiveness was increased by my
capability to work with others and accomplish goals.
Interpersonal Relations
Aside from work and school, my social life began to soar. I felt more belongingness with
others and knew that they enjoyed my company. I obtained many great friends and became a
friend that people knew they could come to for advice or direction. By being more of a “social
butterfly,” I was able to intermingle with people and achieve better listening and understanding
expertise of people’s thoughts and feelings.
Managerial Performance
After obtaining a job as the Imaging Sciences Program Coordinator, I had a lot of work to
do. This program was brand new and needed to be built from the bottom up. In order to make
this new program progress and become whole, I needed to take on more personal responsibility
as well as increase correlation with my supervisor on school policy and standards. As any new
project, the program had and still has its mistakes and complication sometimes. It took my
sagacity as a team player to make the program become effective. Being able to work with my
management team and communicate concerns really helped me accomplish program objectives.
RUNNING HEAD: DISC Assignment
Target for Change and Specific Change Strategy
After assessing my strengths and weaknesses, I feel that a target should be to become
more independent and influential. Since I use the supportive style more than others, I tend to be
driven toward team work and acceptance of others. I feel that I need to be able to accomplish
things alone and objectives that are personal-oriented. I need to start depending more toward my
intuition and bring about change that I alone feel is necessary or when my job requires new
innovative ideas.
This change is possible and can be a realistic goal for me personally. In order for me to
progress as an influential leader, I need to adjust to the appropriate changes in my environment.
My specific change strategy would be to “take hold of the reigns” in my career. Instead of
depending on others, I should first evaluate my responsibilities, changes, or complications alone.
I believe that utilizing decision-making strategies would allow for more breakdowns of my
problems. Then, I could make the decision based on the best solution route; if the solution is
better made alone or with others.
RUNNING HEAD: DISC Assignment
References
AMA DISC Survey™. (2013). Internet Edition. Personalized Style(s) Analysis Booklet.
American Management Association. Center for Applied Research, Inc.