DISCinsights Blog

Continuing our series on global expansion by utilizing DISC, we already reviewed the importance of DISC for strategic planning and applying behavioral analysis for hiring and teambuilding in part 1, and focused on some strengths of the different personality styles for business development in part 2. In addition, we must understand that some countries are more family-oriented than others. These cultures may be friendlier, ambitious and centered on people. Other cultures can be more impersonal – especially in business. They want to know numbers, there is very little eye contact and they can be somewhat aggressive. Short and to-the-point, we need someone to present them with the facts, while onboarding them for ongoing business initiatives. In addition, see also How do DISC styles vary by country.

Once we begin to expand into new territories, we need to really do our due diligence to understand the local communities, traditions, business practices, and hierarchy. We need to position our leaders, based on the needs of businesses in outside cultures. Keeping our teams integrated by hiring locals will eliminate much of our burdens in the marketplace. Keeping our teams happy will build trust in nearby territories. Together, we can position our brand for greatness and eliminate cultural discrepancies in the process. In Part 1, we discussed why DISC theory is important to globalization and gave few tips and tricks for teambuilding & interaction with “the locals,” and here we will continue to dig further in utilizing DISC in your global expansion.

Tariffs aside, globalization is here to stay. With the evolution of technology, our world gets smaller and smaller. Likewise, even the smallest business is now able to reach territories further and further away. This means connecting with people and authorities of all cultures, some that you may not yet be familiar with. But how do you get along with people that can be so different? Here’s a simple answer - DISC has always been a tool to understand people and predict their behaviors. We can fairly state that DISC is the international language of human behavior and no matter of cultural differences, DISC personalities speak the same language.

As many organizations are finalizing year-end strategies and developing next year’s business plans, others have already taken a running leap into 2019 with iron-clad initiatives for growth and expansion. No matter which phase of strategic planning you are in, please don’t forget that “people” are our most significant investment and that our businesses are defined most effectively by our workforce. According to Human Resources Today, the macrotrends for workforce optimization in 2019 are dominated by record-low rates of global unemployment. Simply said, this means that workforce optimization, in a tight labor market, must be a top priority for any business entering the new year.

Research by the Harvard Business Review shows that acquiring top talent could ultimately be the difference between success and mediocre result. In fact, vetting and positioning incoming talents, based on strengths and abilities, isn’t always enough. With every “ying,” there’s a “yang.” Therefore, both are necessary in finding the right talent for your organization.

A new year means new opportunities, a fresh start, and new beginnings. For many organizations, this also means new relationships, as companies seek to partner with like-minded associates in the expansion of ongoing business initiatives. Finding the support of new products, services, and community-based programming can often be a daunting task. So, forging strategic partnerships can be a godsend, when teaming up with just the right brand.