DISC AQ

categories: Disc AQ

I interviewed Dr. Tony Alessandra, founder of Assessments 24x7, to discuss the intersection of DISC and Answer Intelligence (AQ)™. The following are some basics regarding DISC, AQ, and DISC AQ (using DISC + AQ at the same time).

DISC is a framework for understanding your behaviors and those of others. AQ is the ability to provide elevated answers to important questions. Taken together, DISC AQ supports meaningful conversations about your identity and the identity of others to encourage productive and deep relationships at work. DISC AQ is the ability to effectively communicate your behavior style.

DISC

• Understanding your behavior style is an important first step to becoming your authentic self at work.
• Understanding the behavior style of others is important to appreciate others.
• Behavior style is dynamic (it can be strengthened/weakend, changed) and it is informed by self-reflection, life experiences, education, and maturity.

AQ

• AQ is a new science of answers that fully incorporates questions.
• Questions and answers are fundamental to effective communication.
• AQ can be applied to any topic (leadership, sales, personality, etc.).

DISC AQ

• “Who are you?" In AQ terms, you are the answers you tell yourself and provide to others.  In other words, you need to be able communicate your DISC style as six answers (story, metaphor, theory, concept, procedure, action) to basic questions.  For example, imagine you have a Dominance Style. "What is like to work with a D-style?" can be answered with a concept or metaphor. "Why should I work with a D-style?" can be answered with a story or theory. "How do I work with a D-style?" can be answered with a procedure or action.
• A fundamental human need is to be understood and to understand others. AQ is a framework that individuals can use at work to communicate their DISC styles to each other by simple question and answer exchange to achieve greater appreciation, respect, and influence upon each other.
• AQ is a development framework that extends DISC. There are 4 primary behavior styles (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientious) and 15 DISC Profiles (unique combinations of the four primary behavior styles) all of which can be developed in terms of six answer types and the 5 High AQ practices. For example, there is always an opportunity to learn a new story or metaphor to emotionally connect yourself or others to your primary behavior style; you can identify a new procedure or action to develop new behaviors, and you can reflect upon and communicate behavioral concepts and theory to develop enduring mental models of yourself and others.

anchor: Tony

Interview with Dr. Alesandra
During my interview with Dr. Alesandra, I asked him some basic questions about his DISC profile.  I knew Dominance was his primary behavioral style.  For example, I asked him, "What is dominance?"  In AQ terms, as a concept-answer he was able to define dominance and discuss key aspects of dominance, including that he is very direct. I then suggested a metaphor for being direct.  I said, "you prefer to go from point A to point B."  He said, "That is close. I prefer to go directly from point A to Z."  This metaphor is very helpful for anyone that is working with Dr. Alessandra.

It is important to communicate your DISC style in terms of six answers (story, metaphor, theory, concept, procedure, action) to make sense of yourself and to help others effectively work with you. 
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What is Dominance?

Concept

Metaphor

Concept

What is Dominance?

Concepts can be defined and described in detail.

Dr. Alesandra could describe persons with a Dominance Style as those persons that are direct and guarded, Fast-paced, task-oriented, assertive, focusing on problems & challenges. 

Metaphor

What is Dominance?

As a metaphor, Dr. Alesandra described direct as "going from point A to Z." 

Understand & Communicate Who You Are.  Learn more about the DISC AQ assessment for Individuals, Organizations, or Professional Service Firms.

Learn More About the DISC AQ Assessment