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Submitted by mercuryblue on
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 I know this is off topic - it has nothing to do with management at work! - but I am hoping someone here will have a great idea that can help.

I would love to introduce DISC to my teens. I feel it would be useful to them for a whole variety of reasons.

Being a parent of teenagers, I of course now know absolutely nothing! - so any way that involves introducing it to teens in a way that is also appreciative of that dynamic would be very welcome.

As well, I would appreciate it if anyone knows of any information about DISC and parenting. I am absolutely certain that DISC would be helpful in this context; I just would appreciate some input!

bacox's picture

 If you know your teen's DISC style, you can present it to them in a way they can better understand.  That, to me, is the real benefit of DISC.  I would also recommend the new book Taking Flight by Merrick Rosenberg and Daniel Silvert.  It explains the DISC styles in a story format they might find easier to read.

mercuryblue's picture
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 Thank you, I will check that out.

I think the DISC styles of my children are very obvious! I explained them to one of my children when he was 10 or 11, portraying complementary strengths and weaknesses of each) and after one of them he responded "Is that one me?". Oh, you THINK!!!???!!! The challenge is to take that to the next level of helping him see how he can use that insight. We all know that DISC doesn't end with the score on the page - that is where it starts.

mercuryblue's picture
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 I just had a look on Amazon - and it looks terrific. Thanks again. 

mattpalmer's picture

When asked how you could introduce the Getting Things Done methodology to teenagers, he replied, "Show that you're having heaps of fun with it, and then when asked about it say, 'You're not quite old enough for this yet'.".

 

BranchM's picture

 Also, just as a young person, don't be afraid to just introduce them to the actual Manager Tools casts explaining about the DISC profiles. I'm a junior in college this year, but I actually started listening to Manager Tools my junior year of high school (at 15 basically). I was able to understand the information offered in the cast even though I never managed before, plus the casts gave me an insight as to what the business world was actually like, which helped me get the opportunities and internships I have. And, of course, the fact that they're podcasts caters to 'us' (read: our generation) as a great teaching tool because of convenience. Just listen while on the bus, doing routine work on the computer...etc...so definitely have them listen on top of that and if you're really savvy, a message link to the podcasts in itunes via facebook should work wonders. 

mercuryblue's picture
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 Taking Flight finally arrived, and while it is pretty cheesy, it's what I was looking for - a very quick, easy and totally painless read. I am not yet sure how I will introduce it to my oldest - Matt, I love your idea! - but I will. 

 

 

 

naraa's picture
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I think the most important thing we can teach kids with respect to Disc is to recognize there are differences in the way each person communicates and interact with the world and with one another.  And that they should never judge someone's intentions or capabilities based on the way they communicate because they will assume the intentions that would drive them to that behavior and they could get it wrong.

For example:

1- if someone is doing something very slowly, slower than someone else would, it doesn't mean they don't know or they have difficulties in doing it.

2- if someone doesn't say hi to them when concentrated doing a task, it doesn't mean they don't like or don't care about them.

3-if someone doesn't jump with joy when told there will be a school picnic, it doesn't mean they are not excited and looking forward to it.

4-if someone paints the sun red when everybody else paints it yellow, it is ok, it doesn't mean anything else other than the sun being painted red!

 I am volunteering at my daughters class. She is in kindergarten!  There are 25 kids and I know the Disc profile of most of them.  There is one kid who is the creative high I.  He says hello to everyone, he knew my name before I knew his, he cannot follow instructions, meaning, he always needs to change it a bit, in a creative way, and the worst for him is getting late with his work and running the risk of missing recess!  There is one that does the work very slowly, very methodically, very thorough.  There is one that is always attentive of the needs of others. She cried the day before my daughter started school because the teacher told them there would be a new student that didn't speak any English.  She was so concerned and worried how she would cope.  And she hadn't even met her yet!  And the teacher is a wonderful high D, who can control 25 kids plus two to three volunteering moms and a auxiliary teacher,and whose delegation and prioritization skills are an example I have a lot to learn from.

I feel like telling each kid how special each one is in their own style and how important that diversity in style is to get things accomplished as a team.

Nara