Oct 234 min read

The Power of Personality Assessments: The Secret to Team Success

With such generational diversity in the workplace and growing global teams, communication is one of the most important things a company can invest in. We have Gen Z all the way to Boomers working side-by-side, and that presents the potential for friction as differing work styles and expectations clash.

Every job can be done in a variety of ways, but some methods are inherently more effective. This is especially true for communication, where differing styles and personality types can lead to friction and misunderstandings. Personality assessments can be invaluable in identifying these differences and promoting smoother, more productive collaboration.

There are a lot of personality assessments available these days, from newer tools like Gallup’s CliftonStrengths, to those like Myers-Briggs and DISC that have been influencing team dynamics for over 70 years. And they have only gotten more accurate and affordable over the years.

These tools are only valuable when those taking the assessments truly understand the results and what to do with them. This is why DISC stands out. It is simple and practical. This could be the tool you have been searching for to drive results, remove friction points, and improve communication.

The Great Mix of Generations

We have five generations now working together. The current workplace contains the silent generation, boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. In 2025, millennials are expected to make up the majority of the workforce, according to Deloitte, with Gen Z right behind them. Each group brings its own ideas of what the workplace should look like, how they communicate, and what they expect from leadership.

Boomers may value hierarchy and clear instructions.
Gen X tends to be more independent and flexible.
Millennials thrive on collaboration and feedback.
Gen Z demands authenticity and flexibility, often preferring digital communication over face-to-face interactions.

With such diversity in the workplace, it is inevitable that the differences in communication will cause misunderstandings or even conflict within teams. This will lead to decreased productivity and engagement. It is only when communication styles are understood and embraced that these differences become strengths. This is where personality assessments come in.

What Personality Assessment is Right For Me?

Let’s break down three of the most popular tools for understanding communication styles and team dynamics:

Gallup’s CliftonStrengths: This assessment helps individuals identify their top strengths, focusing on what they naturally do best. It’s an excellent tool for personal development, but it requires deeper knowledge and introspection, making it less accessible for everyday team communication. However, aligning strengths with roles can help boost job satisfaction and performance.
Myers-Briggs (MBTI): MBTI is widely known and used, offering 16 personality types that dive deep into how individuals process information and make decisions. While MBTI is insightful, it’s often seen as overly complex for quick team interventions, especially in fast-paced environments.
DISC: Unlike MBTI’s 16 types, DISC simplifies personality into four core types: Dominance (D), Influence (I), Steadiness (S), and Conscientiousness (C). These four styles cover most communication behaviors and tendencies, making DISC easy to understand and immediately actionable in the workplace.

Why DISC Stands Out: Simple, Actionable, and Effective

If you're looking to improve team dynamics and improve communication, DISC is uniquely equipped to provide actionable insights quickly. Why? Because four categories are much easier and faster to grasp than 16 or 34. It avoids hours of training or complex interpretation.

The Four DISC Types:

Dominance (D): Confident, goal-driven, and direct. Bringing innovation and results but often facing challenges with impatience, overstepping authority, and resisting feedback.
Influence (I): Outgoing, persuasive, and people-focused. Boosting team morale, but they may struggle with organization, structure, and emotional impulsiveness.
Steadiness (S): Calm, empathetic, and team-oriented. Offering reliability and support, but they can struggle with resistance to change, slow decision-making, and conflict avoidance.
Conscientiousness (C): Detail-oriented, precise, and disciplined. Ensuring accuracy and accountability, but they can struggle with perfectionism and overanalyzing.

Each personality type has its strengths, and when these types are understood within the context of communication, teams can:

Reduce friction by knowing how each person prefers to interact.
Boost engagement by assigning tasks that align with natural strengths.
Improve collaboration by fostering an environment where everyone feels heard and valued.

The best part of DISC is that every single person fits into one of these types, and most people are a mix of two. That means once your team understands each other’s styles, communication barriers begin to disappear, and collaboration becomes seamless.

Communication Is the Key To Team Dynamics

The best leaders understand the key to team performance and productivity is communication. DISC assessments are a tool for teams to better understand each other and work together more effectively. It’s not only about which team member prefers face-to-face meetings over email. These insights provide an understanding of what drives each team member and how they approach problems.

For example:

A person with a high dominace(D) personality might get straight to the point, while an influencing(I) personality type may want to talk, engage, and share ideas.
A conscientious(C) personality type may want all the data and details before making a decision, but the dominace(D) personality may want to move quickly.

These subtle preferences allow for better collaboration. As a leader, this allows you to adapt your communication style to meet the needs of each team member. This ultimately leads to creating a more engaged and productive work environment.

Bringing It All Together To Bridge Communication Gaps

Teams are diverse and will continue to diversify. The diversity is not just in personality but in age, background, experience, and communication styles. Adaptable leadership skills will only become more critical as the workplace evolves. Leaders who understand their team members and the most effective way to communicate with them will foster a more inclusive and dynamic work environment.

Using DISC, leaders can tailor their approach to motivate and engage each employee according to their personality and communication needs. This not only improves collaboration but also helps retain top talent by creating an environment where everyone feels understood and valued.

Ready to Leverage Personality Tests to Take Your Team to the Next Level?

Understanding your team’s DISC profiles is the first step toward unlocking their full potential. At Quokka Hub, we specialize in DISC workshops, leadership development programs, and corporate retreats designed to improve communication and team dynamics. If you're interested in leveraging the power of these assessments to improve employee engagement and satisfaction - get in touch today!