DiSCover Better Communication

Use Everything DiSC® to Open Lines of Communication 

Open lines of communication is vital to running a successful business, but is often difficult to manage efficiently. Knowing how to communicate clearly and effectively in a way your employees understand is essential for your operation—the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) has a solution.

To create a positive communication environment, it’s important to understand the different ways people communicate, and one way to do this is through an NHPA-licensed program, Everything DiSC®. 

Gain Personal Insight

Everything DiSC is a personal development learning experience that measures an individual’s preferences and tendencies based on the DiSC model. Individuals who take a DiSC assessment receive personalized insights that deepen their understanding of themselves and others, making workplace interactions more enjoyable and effective. This assessment results in a more engaged and collaborative workforce that can spark meaningful culture improvement in your organization. 

Kim Peffley, director of organizational development and consulting for NHPA, works directly with employees and employers to help them better understand the many features of the assessment. 

“Each person who takes the DiSC assessment has a unique behavioral profile with different styles and priorities,” Peffley says. “Once you assess the differences and harness each person’s unique value, workplace communication improves and healthier organizations become possible.”

DiSC in Action

One operation that has taken advantage of the Everything DiSC program is Buchheits, a farm and home company with 20 locations across five states. During the company’s initial expansion, the executive team wanted to find a way to increase communication between stores and among all its employees. Some of the first individuals to take the DiSC assessment from Buchheits were Jared Hotop, vice president of retail operations, and Petrina Jannin, human resources director. The company had tried previous assessments and communication exercises but hadn’t seen the change it wanted, so the leadership team reached out to NHPA to see what options were available. They decided to try Everything DiSC.

“At first I wasn’t sure how much we were going to get out of it, but we were willing to try,” Hotop says. “I was blown away by the outcome our team came away with. We’ve been able to take what they’ve learned and share it with others to create a better work environment and positive company culture.”

Learning how other staff members communicate has opened up several lines of communication company leadership didn’t know they needed.

“We have become much more efficient,” Jannin says. “We aren’t spending unnecessary time communicating ineffectively because we know how each other communicates.”

It’s also important to be self-aware of your communication style and how it engages with  other styles. For example, if someone on your team has a fast-paced communication style and makes fast changes, other team members with a more moderate-paced style will struggle with those sudden changes. Being self-aware of how you communicate with team members is important to ensure your message is received. 

Incorporating DiSC Into Your Business

The Everything DiSC program offers several different tiers. Businesses can purchase access to just the DiSC assessment, where everyone who takes an assessment receives their own results. To get the most out of the assessments, it’s recommended to also utilize Peffley’s services, as she can help individuals and small groups dive deeper into their individual communication styles and how each fits into the team. For Buchheits, after the team had taken their assessments, Peffley held small classes for team members to answer questions and offer insights as a certified DiSC administrator. 

“Getting everyone involved in Kim’s class was key to DiSC’s success,” Jannin says. “A lot of great ideas never get discussed. DiSC opened a pathway to communicate among staff members and have those unshared ideas come forth without fear or hesitation.”

The Everything DiSC program is an excellent way to begin opening lines of communication and improving company culture. 

“If you’re on the fence, take the leap,” Hotop says. “You will learn so much about yourself and can improve your communication in your personal life as well as your work life.”

Jannin expressed similar praise and encouragement.

“Kim really helped bring DiSC together for Buchheits,” Jannin says. “I’d taken other assessments before, but no one went into as much depth and detail as she did. That attention to detail really set this program apart from others we had participated in previously.”

Peffley keeps open communication at the forefront of every conversation and interaction, looking for stress points that someone from inside an organization might not be able to see as they experience it every day.

“Working with Kim has made the DiSC program a huge success,” Hotop says. “We’ve all experienced issues in communication, and she has 26 years of experience in the hardware industry to bring solutions to our challenges.”

 To learn more about the Everything DiSC program, contact Kim Peffley at kpeffley@YourNHPA.org today. Hear more from Jared Hotop and Petrina Jannin of Buchheit about their use of Everything DisC on NHPA’s “Taking Care of Business” podcast Episode 86.