The Extended DISC® Diamond is a powerful behavioral map for analyzing and predicting how we prefer to do things.
What is the Extended DISC® Diamond?
The Extended DISC® Diamond is based on the Four Quadrant Model which identifies four behavioral traits, D-style, I-style, S-style, and C-style. Each of the different combinations of the 4 behavioral traits has a position on the Diamond. Although the Four Quadrant Model is helpful in the most fundamental analysis of human behavior, it tends to be too general in more specific applications. As a result, the Extended DISC® Diamond was created to enhance practical applicability while maintaining the user friendliness of the original model.
The Extended DISC® Diamond allows the system to identify 160 behavioral styles. The identification of 160 behavioral styles over the 40 styles identified in the Four Quadrant Model allows a more accurate and meaningful assessment. It recognizes that we are complex individuals. The reality is we all have D, I, S, and C styles. However, we typically have one style that is more natural to us. Alternately, we have one style that tends to take more energy and the two remaining styles fall somewhere in between. In everyday practice we continue to use the four main behavioral styles.
The Key to the Extended DISC® Diamond
The Diamond is divided into sections within each of the four main DISC styles. Each of the sections illustrate a different combination of the four main behavioral traits. The Key to the Diamond only identifies natural styles. First, we start with the extreme corners of the Diamond. These four corners, identified by the single DISC style, represents a profile where one trait completely dominates the others. If you are plotted in any of the 4 extreme corners then you are 100% naturally that style. For example, if you are plotted in the extreme corner of the D quadrant, labeled 'D' then you are 100% D-style. The Extended DISC® Profile II would show this as only D-style above the Middle Line.
The first circle or outer ring of the Diamond identifies a DISC profile where two traits dominate the other two. In the Extended DISC® Profile II this would show as 2 styles being above the Middle Line. For example, if you are a plotted in the section labeled 'DI' then you would have D and I as the styles above the Middle Line. In addition, the plot point being in the D quadrant means the dominant style for this person is D-style with a secondary I-style.
The inner ring or inner circle of the Diamond identifies a DISC profile where three traits dominate the remaining one. Another way to think about that is the person has clearly identified one style as being less comfortable or not natural to them. In the Extended DISC® Profile II this would show as 3 styles being above the Middle Line. For example, if you are a plotted in the section labeled 'DIC' then you would have D, I and C as the styles above the Middle Line. Again, the plot point being in the D quadrant means the dominant style for this person is D-style with a secondary I-style and a tertiary style of C.
Additional Areas of the Diamond
Extended DISC identifies individuals whose profile contains two opposite styles including DS, SD, IC, and CI. D-style is Task-oriented and Active, whereas, S-style is People-oriented and Reserved. DS profiles do not share an axis and are farthest away from each other on the Diamond Model. I-style is People-oriented and Active, whereas, the C-style is Task-oriented and Reserved. IC profiles also do not share an axis and are farthest away from each other on the Diamond Model. There are other DISC tools that do not allow for identification of a DISC profile that contain two opposite styles, but the Extended DISC® Model recognizes that we are complex human beings and allows these opposite styles to be identified.
The final area of the Diamond is the central circle. You cannot be all four styles naturally. This is an empty area because a person can only be identified as one style, two styles, and a maximum of three styles naturally. It is not used for any purpose, but to divide the different areas from each other.
How to Debrief the Diamond
The first step is to locate the dot, Profile II - Natural Style and determine which quadrant it is located in. The quadrant location is the dominant style. The Diamond also visually demonstrates the perceived modifications the person wants to make. Whereas, the dot or starting point of the arrow is Profile II, the end point or tip of the arrow, is Profile I - Perceived Need to Adjust Style. The arrow demonstrates the conscious need to adjust behavior at the time of the assessment. Remind your clients that the starting point of the arrow, Profile II, should be the primary focus as the majority of the report focuses on Profile II.
Often times, we do not have the opportunity to dive deeper into secondary and tertiary styles because there is no one-on-one time. In addition, the shaded area is call the Comfort Zone. The Comfort Zone identifies the DISC styles that are most comfortable for the person to flex to all day long without additional energy. The non-shaded white areas represent the DISC styles that are outside their comfort zone, and tend to take energy. The Comfort Zone helps your client better understand their feelings when completing different types of tasks or when communicating with different types of people who fall within and outside of their Comfort Zone.
A simple way to summarize the Diamond is to simply think of it as a map to build your self-awareness. Wherever you are plotted on the map identifies the behavioral styles that are most comfortable to you. Now, you can practice identifying styles of others and making effective adjustments to improve your interactions!
