Have you heard of the DISC Personality Test?
The DISC has become one of the most popular assessments to help people understand how they relate to others in the workplace, at home and in leadership.
Even without taking the assessment, you can likely tell whether you’re wired for dominance, influence, steadiness or conscientiousness (DISC).
These different personality traits can play a big role in your fundraising approach.
Here's how...
IF YOU ARE A “D” PERSONALITY STYLE
You tend to be direct and decisive, sometimes described as dominant. You would prefer to lead than follow. You tend to have high self-confidence. You are a risk taker and problem solver, which enables others to look to you for decisions and direction.
Fundraising Strengths:
You are great at casting a big vision and presenting the cause in a compelling way. When you meet with potential donors, you focus on the mission, vision and get straight to the point.
Areas to Improve:
Slow down, be personable and don’t rush the close. Practice listening more actively. You tend to be all about business and goals; therefore, you may need to focus more on developing personal relationships, and recognizing the opinions, feelings, and desires of your donors.
IF YOU ARE A “I” PERSONALITY STYLE
"You are not afraid to be the center of attention. You are enthusiastic, optimistic, talkative, persuasive, impulsive and emotional. You trust others naturally, truly enjoy being around others and function best when working in teams." - PeopleKeys.com
Fundraising Strengths:
You’ll keep your fundraising presentations fun and tell a lot of stories. You want people to like you and your ministry. You are great at persuading others to partner with your ministry. You are comfortable sharing about your ministry from a stage and you are just as equally comfortable presenting face to face. You enjoy inspiring others.
Areas to Improve:
You might exaggerate claims in order to build rapport. You might skip key facts and details so you can be more inspiring. Concentrate on talking less and listening more. Be careful not to overpromise or overcommit to a project or idea just to please a donor.
IF YOU ARE A “S” PERSONALITY STYLE
You are steady, stable, reliable and dependable. You make a great team member because you are loyal. Unity and teamwork are really important and you want everyone to get along. You know how to stick to a project and see it through. You are dependable.
Fundraising Strengths:
You are patient and let people process information at their own pace. You know how to read a room and won’t push too hard. You do a good job explaining systems and processes to your donors.
Areas to Improve:
Because you want people to feel comfortable, you may be overly agreeable. You might need to be more direct at times. Don’t be afraid to make the ask. Work on being more direct in your interactions with donors.
IF YOU ARE A “C” PERSONALITY STYLE
You are cautious, precise and detail oriented. You think analytically and make decisions with plenty of research and information to back them up. You’re excellent with details and know how to solve problems. You feel most safe when there are procedures and a routine.
Fundraising Strengths:
In fundraising, you often back up your presentation with real facts and figures. You want people to know exactly how their donations are being used and are patient with questions. You like to emphasize the quality of your programs to your donors by explaining metrics and outcomes.
Areas to Improve:
Your personality can lead you to control a conversation and you might come across as inflexible. Work hard to inspire, not just inform, recognizing everyone doesn’t always care about the same details as you. Tell a story in addition to that statistic. Work on appealing to the heart in addition to the mind.
What personality style resonates with you?
For more information about the DISC, or to take the test, check out PeopleKeys: