DISCy Chicks

Cindy Jacoby and Martha Forlines

We are two chicks that focus our business around the DISC communications assessment in the workplace for coaching, hiring, teaming, personal development and more. We want to teach YOU to understand the benefits of using DISC in your workplace too.

  1. 6H AGO

    Remote Work & DISC: Why Zoom Feels So Hard (and How to Fix It)

    Send us Fan Mail Remote work didn’t create communication challenges—it magnified them. In this episode, the DISCy Chicks break down how each DISC style shows up in virtual meetings and why those differences matter more than ever. From D types who want to move fast and make decisions, to I types who bring energy and connection, to S styles who listen and support, and C styles who crave structure and clarity—everyone is approaching the same Zoom call from a completely different lens. We dig into how these differences can easily lead to misinterpretation. A D’s urgency can feel like impatience, an I’s enthusiasm can come across as interrupting, and an S’s quiet presence may be mistaken for disengagement. Meanwhile, C styles can become frustrated when meetings lack organization or clear outcomes. Without the visual and relational cues of in-person work, these gaps widen—and teams can start to feel disconnected or ineffective. The good news? A few intentional shifts can make a big difference. Clear agendas are a game-changer, helping C styles feel prepared, giving D styles a sense of efficiency, and creating space for I styles to connect and S styles to contribute. Strong facilitation also matters—balancing participation by drawing out quieter voices while keeping dominant personalities in check helps maintain both productivity and engagement. Ultimately, remote work requires more empathy and adaptability from everyone. When teams understand and respect different DISC styles, communication improves and collaboration becomes more natural. We also explore how technology—like meeting assistants and collaboration tools—can support better structure and follow-through, while still leaving room for the human connection that keeps teams thriving.

    23 min
  2. MAR 5

    DISC Meets Change Management: Guiding Teams Through Transition

    Send us Fan Mail Change is inevitable in organizations — new systems, reorganizations, leadership shifts, and strategic pivots all bring disruption. But the real challenge isn’t the change itself; it’s how differently people respond to it. In this episode of the DISCy Chicks podcast, Cindy and Martha explore why one employee may be excited about change while another feels anxious or resistant, and how DISC personality styles shape those reactions.    The conversation breaks down how each DISC style experiences change. Dominance (D) types tend to welcome fast movement and clear goals, while Influence (I) personalities focus on how change affects people and morale. Steadiness (S) styles often need time and reassurance as they process uncertainty, and Conscientiousness (C) styles want logic, details, and risk analysis before embracing a new direction. Understanding these differences helps leaders avoid common mistakes like over-communicating to one style while unintentionally leaving others behind.    Cindy and Martha also share practical ways to communicate change more effectively using a DISC-smart approach. Leaders should combine big-picture vision with concrete details, address both emotional and analytical concerns, and continue the conversation well after the initial announcement. The episode closes with rapid-fire takeaways reminding listeners that resistance is often just unmet needs in disguise—and that successful change happens when leaders learn to translate their message into every DISC language.

    18 min
  3. JAN 27

    Board Room Effectiveness using DISC Principles

    Send us Fan Mail  Boardroom Communication Strategy This podcast focuses on tailoring presentations to board members’ DISC styles to maximize engagement and approval. Cindy Jacoby and Martha Forlines recommend using a structured approach to pitching ideas by addressing the four DISC types—Dominant, Influencer, Steady, and Conscientious—ensuring each style’s priorities are met.Dominants want quick decisions, results, and options framed as risk-reward tradeoffs.Influencers respond to energetic, vision-driven messaging emphasizing buy-in and excitement.Steadies seek assurances of team support and low disruption during change.Conscientious members require detailed data, risk mitigation, and compliance evidence.This approach balances brevity and depth, avoiding overwhelming any one style while engaging all.Style by Style Experienced executives often embody high dominance and expect confident, bottom-line presentations that highlight fast impact and competitive advantage. Dominants prefer options with likelihood of success and cost implications clearly stated.Risk-reward framing resonates strongly with them, guiding swift decisions.They expect minimal storytelling but clear, actionable information.Influencers value dynamic, relational messaging focused on team and customer excitement to secure buy-in during boardroom pitches. Influencers want to visualize success with phrases like “our team is excited” or “this will boost our brand.”Presenters must energize the room without boring more results-focused members.Steady board members prioritize security, stability, and team impact, requiring reassurance about low-risk, smooth implementation. Use phrases such as “low disruption implementation” and “support through change” to gain their support. They typically avoid conflict but will engage if they feel the change benefits the team.They typically avoid conflict but will engage if they feel the change benefits the team.Conscientious members are risk-averse and detail-oriented, demanding thorough preparation and evidence of compliance and risk mitigation (35:34) They appreciate advanced access to materials for review before meetings.Presenters must be ready to answer detailed questions but avoid overloading the entire group with data.Demonstrating risk awareness and mitigation fosters their trust and buy-in. Successful boardroom communication requires adapting styles to audience composition and not relying solely on one’s personal approach. Build mini-presentations addressing each DISC type’s key concerns within a 10-minute pitch.Practice presentations to confidently vary tone and content.

    24 min
  4. JAN 14

    Can all Styles Effectively Lead?

    Send us Fan Mail Can All Styles Effectively Lead ? Let’s begin with the Dominant style. Their behavior tends to be more aggressive in pursuing results. So, they're all business, more command and control with their teams. They have high expectations of their team members and hold them accountable for delivering results.    Let’s talk about the Influence Style. They tend to be very relationship-oriented, motivational, and inspirational with their team. They show their support and affirm a job well done. Challenges for this style include underperforming team members. Remember, this influencer likes to keep the peace with its team members.    The Steady Style is also relationship-oriented and takes a more gentle approach to how they manage others. The steady leader is more soft spoken, even handed with how they manage their people. Having constructive conversations may be a challenge for the high steady leader; however, if they are motivated to please their boss, and achieve their goals, they can deal with difficult conversations in a very empathetic way.   We now have the high compliant leader to discuss. The compliant leader is very detail-oriented, with perfectionistic tendencies. They are good at setting very specific goals and expect their team to meet them.  They have high expectations of themselves and transfer these expectations to their team members. Constructive conversations will likely be brief and to the point.    The DISCy Chicks agree that all styles can lead, understanding that each style leads differently! !

    31 min

About

We are two chicks that focus our business around the DISC communications assessment in the workplace for coaching, hiring, teaming, personal development and more. We want to teach YOU to understand the benefits of using DISC in your workplace too.