If you've never learned about DISC personalities, please take the time to do that. At some of the Howard Brinton Universities we actually role played the types - how would you answer the phone, how can you tell from their answering machine message, etc.
We use ACT as our database and contact system, and we've created a field to input their DISC type. Whoever is setting up the record puts it in. It really helps when the others are talking to a client to immediately se their type and know whether to cut to the chase or to check on all the family before getting to the reason for the call.
There are lots of places where folks can do a quickie, free test online to see what their type is. It can lend a LOT of insight into all sorts of relationships, including ones own marriage!
Marriage . teams . clients : all these are relevant, Mary, Thanks for commenting.
This just validates how much training on this type of sales methods are utilized by the pharma/biotech industry. My wife and I both worked in that industry prior to real estate and are constantly amazed at how much impact that training gives
Hi Sharon, This sounds very interesting. I think I have taken this test myself sometime in the past but have never heard of applying it to clients. Thanks.
The DISC test is truly a great tool to learn the personality types of others to help you better communicate and understand them....
What a great idea to have a field for personality type! I'm going to implement that Monday. Thanks for the tip.
BUT ... I think it's important to remember personalities are not static. I have taken the DISC test more than once, with different results each time.
A lot depends of how you feel on any given day, and whatever other external forces are affecting your life.
For example, if you happen to call me on one of those rare and glorious slow days, I'd be happy to discuss whether or not the Dodgers will be able to re-sign Manny Ramirez.
If you call me in the middle of 19 different disasters and catastrophes (a typical day when you deal with rental property) I probably won't be able to even tell you my name.
Hi Sharon,
I love the DISC formula. It sure makes a difference once you know how to use it. And how smart of you to use it within your data base. I'll need to think about that.
Sharon Putting the Disc type on the contact information is a terrific idea.
I love learning and observing personality types. It is interesting that while we can study personality types, intuition still applies, and not everyone has intuition. Not to mention, how do personality types account for the drastic swing in how the younger generation does not want to same old sales pitches and antiquated scripts? I could go on and on.... and can't wait to see how RE will change over the next year or 2!
Josh - I think it's helpful no matter what profession you're in - or just helpful in living life. It's good to know how others are reacting to us, and to take their personality into consideration when responding to them.
Shirley - there are lots of books out there, and I'd also search Active Rain for posts, and google for articles. It's fun and valuable to learn about DISC.
Chuck - it helps for team members, too. Useful before you hire, and if it's too late for that, some team leaders have found success in switching members and their roles to better suit the personality of each.
Sharon - every little bit helps. When you add the field for Personality type (or just DISC, which is shorter) also add a Rating field, so you can letter grade each client, vendor, agent, etc.
Cheryl - that's true, of course. Another oddity is that my daughter, Tami, is a balance of all 4 personalities. No matter when she takes the test, or who administers it, she always comes out even across the board.
Lynda - I've enjoyed classes or conference sessions where four people each take a different personality type and show how they'd answer the phone, send an e-mail, what informtion they'd want about a house and how they'd want to get it..
Jennifer - and you can always change it if you find, as Cheryl points out, that your first impression was an anomaly and they're really more of another type.
Susie - as you point out, there are many layers of preferences. The more we know, the more we can help. It's just like any of us acting different in our role as agent, parent, spouse, child, friend, etc.
Now this is indeed interesting! thanks for sharing!
Barbara-Jo - you're welcome.
Hi Sharon - I agree with the usefulness of DISC or other personality-typing. A lot of it is intuitive. Mimickery of styles. This can be learned, but it's hard for some people to grasp. Like my engineer husband :)