How Do I Make My DiSC Workshops More Interactive and Engaging?

Quick Answer:
Stop presenting. Start letting participants immerse themselves in the content. The most engaging DiSC workshops use many, brief, and varied activities that make behaviors visible. That way, people laugh, recognize themselves, have aha moments, engage with their team, and learn without realizing it.

With more than 25 years of facilitating DiSC sessions under my belt, I’ve learned that no one comes to a workshop hoping for a PowerPoint marathon. The magic happens when people recognize their own quirks like the D who makes decision too fast, the i who can’t not talk, the S who’s quietly saving the group, and the C (like me) who’s dying inside because no one’s following the process. Those moments stick because they’re real.

Q: What’s the simplest way to make a DiSC session more interactive?
A: Use “see it, say it, do it.” Here are a couple of examples:

• Let your learners see their styles in their Everything DiSC Profiles, say what it means, and do a small group challenge or some digging in Catalyst.

• Let managers see and explore a list of motivators, discuss what motivates them, and plan delegation and development strategies based on their team members’ unique styles.

Q. What’s the best pace or timing for a DiSC workshop?
A: My classroom sessions typically run about 3 hours and my virtual sessions run 90-to-120 minutes. I plan for 4 activities per hour, although I might shorten or lengthen them based on the learners’ responses and needs. It’s important to spot when a topic needs more or less discussion or when additional practice is necessary.

Q: What are some quick, high-impact activities?
A: Varying your activities is essential. The best facilitators study their learners’ styles in advance and create activities that appeal to D’s, i’s, S’s, and C’s.

• The Four Corners: D's appreciate this fast-track, get the answers on the board activity. Have participants move to their primary style's corner and list their strengths, how those strengths could be misunderstood by others, and how they could avoid those misunderstandings.

• Style Spotting Game: I's love to work in breakout groups. Have them read real-life scenarios (“Your coworker sends a 12-step process for ordering coffee.”) and guess which style it is.

• Wrong Way/Right Way Videos: S's feel more comfortable when they see it. The videos in the Catalyst Practitioner Experience are exceptional ways to turn theory into real-life examples. These aren’t typical training videos with corny scripts and perfect outcomes. They offer practical ways for learners to spot their own mistakes and how-to's for adapting their styles to be more effective.

• Analyze the Team: Give C's the data. Use the Group Culture or Facilitator Profile to take a deep dive into your learners’ composite profiles. Identify how their distribution helps the team, how it gets in the way, and specific actions to increase teamwork.

Q: How can you make a virtual session more engaging?
A: Use all the features your hosting platform has to offer including polls, quizzes, whiteboards, chats, and games. I often play “chat it up” by asking a probing question, putting on some rocking music, and giving learners 3 minutes to type their answers in the chat box. And, don’t forget breakout groups. Very few people speak up on a Teams or Zoom meeting. Get them talking to each other, just as if they were sitting in a small group in the classroom.

Q: How can I make my Everything DiSC sessions pop?
A: You don’t need big props - just prompts. In fact, when I go to my clients’ sites to deliver a workshop, I take their Profiles, a flashdrive with my videos (no PowerPoint), my Quick DiSC Card Sort game, flip chart paper, and of course, my favorite scented markers! The real magic happens when you ask the questions that get them thinking, talking with each others, and creating specific and actionable next steps.

Q: How can technology support my Everything DiSC workshops?
A: Get your learners using Catalyst before, during, and after the session. Assign light prework to study their own profiles. During the session use Catalyst’s “Your Colleagues” or “Your Groups” features to turn the workshop into a live lab. Have participants explore their teammates’ profiles and compare insights right in the tool. Imagine their reaction when you say, “okay everyone, let’s get on your phones!”

👉 Download: Click here to get my FREE DiSC Facilitators Dream Kit. I’ve compiled 20 interactive activities to add more spark to your next session.