Picture this: the electrifying energy in the room after a triumphant DiSC development session with a massive group of participants. The buzzing conversations about effective collaboration and newfound self-awareness are just some of the remarkable outcomes. However, orchestrating a successful DiSC session for over 25 people requires meticulous planning, precise execution, and thoughtful follow-up. Drawing from our collective experiences at Fruitful, we’ve compiled essential pointers to help you ace your next large group event.
Let’s dive into the three crucial phases: Planning, Facilitation, and Review & Follow-up. While we’ll share two key points for each section, remember that there’s much more to consider. So, we’ve also included a handy checklist with additional insights at the end.
Planning:
- Get crystal clear on the objective: Before anything else, align with your stakeholders on the session’s purpose. Keep in mind that while team leaders and stakeholders may have high hopes to delve into lots of detail, the limited time available for large group development sessions necessitates a focused aim. For instance, aiming to raise awareness of DiSC and foster personal insight and appreciation for different styles can work wonders.
- Opt for the Workplace profile: Among the various DiSC profiles, the Workplace profile shines as the ideal choice for large events. It enables exploration across job functions and management levels, fostering a common language for participants. Consider distributing the profiles on the day or using the online DiSC tool Catalyst to share them beforehand. Catalyst seamlessly connects the event and post-event discussions, embedding DiSC into your team’s culture.
Facilitation:
- Unleash your creativity: Make your sessions dynamic and engaging to maintain the energy in the room. Lengthy slide presentations or one-sided talks can dampen the discussions. Instead, encourage participants to get up, move around, and share their styles and thoughts. An excellent activity like QuikDiSC, featuring cards with DiSC style-related words, sparks excitement. Participants trade cards, introducing themselves and gaining a more accurate self-description. Another successful approach involves dividing the group into their respective styles. Ask them to gather in different corners of the room and discuss what they appreciate about other styles and the challenges they face when working together. For larger groups, create smaller discussion groups and later invite summaries and comments from each style. This activity illuminates differences and fosters a fun, enlightening experience.
- Enlist two facilitators: With a group exceeding 25 people, having two facilitators is essential. While one presents, the other can move around the room, offering additional support to individuals. This tag-team approach keeps participants engaged and ensures an optimal energy level. The second facilitator can also monitor the room’s vibe, allowing swift adjustments if needed.
Review & Follow-up:
- Preserve the momentum: At the session’s end, participants will be buzzing with ongoing discussions, sharing style preferences, and connecting DiSC to real work situations. Avoid disrupting this momentum with immediate feedback. Instead, speak to the leader or stakeholder afterward to gauge their initial impressions. Other feedback can be communicated at a later time, ensuring the positive energy endures.
- Keep the DiSC magic alive: Don’t let your fantastic session end without a trace. Sustain the impact by arranging short follow-up sessions, providing opportunities for participants to share their DiSC experiences and stories. Encourage participants to include their DiSC style in email signatures or rename their virtual meeting profiles. For a potent approach, connect participants to the online Catalyst tool, granting access to their profiles and useful tips on connecting effectively with other styles.
Additional Points to Consider (Checklist):
- Accommodate language preferences e.g. would someone prefer an assessment in a language other than English.
- Assess participants’ familiarity and level of trust.
- Consider recent or ongoing changes and any imminent announcements.
- Double-check the room, ensuring scheduling, space, and equipment readiness.
- Review participants’ profiles to understand predominant styles and tailor your approach.
- Create a seating chart for diverse style representation.
- Address individual discomfort with profiles privately, during breaks.
- Emphasise the relevance of DiSC to participants’ daily work.
- Polish your content and pacing for maximum impact, focusing on audience response.
- Encourage learners to commit to applying new skills or insights and share their commitment with an accountability partner.
Designing and executing a large group DiSC session demands thorough planning and dynamic facilitation. Embrace the challenge and relish every minute, as these sessions can be immensely rewarding. For further guidance on running such sessions or exploring the capabilities of Catalyst, feel free to contact us.
We also run regular DiSC Facilitators Training programmes for those who want to upskill themselves in these powerful tools. Gain access to our exclusive Members’ Area full of resources to help you deliver 121, team and large group DiSC sessions.
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