The Definitive Guide to implementing Everything DiSC Catalyst

The backend system used to manage the Catalyst platform is called EPIC (an acronym for Electronic Profile Information Center). You will use EPIC for many tasks and activities, including:

• To give user names and admin rights to people on your Catalyst program management team
• To update all personal options and settings (email addresses, logos, etc)
• To set up the departmental structure that employees will see when they are in the Catalyst platform
• To create the custom message(s) and subject line(s) that will accompany the email invitation your employees receive when you ask them to complete the Catalyst assessment
• To launch new Catalyst assessments (by either uploading a spreadsheet with taker information, entering names and emails manually, or using an existing DiSC report)
• To upgrade past DiSC assessment takers to Catalyst
• To turn on add-on modules, like Management and Agile EQ
• To send reminders to people who don’t complete the assessment when first asked to do so
• To resend login information for those who may have misplaced it
• To view PDF profiles of any assessment taker
• To pull specialty reports, like Team View, Group Report, and Comparison Reports
• To unassign access codes if/when necessary
• To purge former employees from the Catalyst Colleague Directory

Integris will set up your initial account settings, give you log in credentials, and provide user training via a mix of self-directed materials and live coaching.

SAMPLE CUSTOM MESSAGE FOR LAUNCHING CATALYST ASSESSMENTS

One of the more critical set-up activities is the creation of your custom message(s) that will go out with assessment invitations. Here is the standard message we at Integris use when we launch Catalyst assessments to give users access to the additional resources that will help them make the most of their experience with Catalyst. We encourage you to use this same message (including the hyperlinks) or create your own that still offers access to these same resources.

Subject: ACTION REQUESTED: Your Everything DiSC assessment is here!

Get the most out of your Catalyst experience with these resources:

• What is Catalyst?  Watch the 4-minute video that explains the why, what, and how: https://youtu.be/SM_7pdL6AiA
• How do I use Catalyst?  Check out these common workplace situations where Catalyst can help you reduce frustration and be more effective: https://solvingthepeopleproblem.com/resources/how-catalyst-helps/
• Read or listen to the book that explains it all.  Get your ebook or audiobook copy of the best-seller, Solving the People Problem: Essential Skills You Need to Lead and Succeed in Today's Workplace. Named by Entrepreneur Magazine as the #1 must-read of 2021, this easy-to-read book offers valuable insights, interesting data, and helpful tips for how you can put the language of DiSC to work for you and your team: https://solvingthepeopleproblem.com/download-the-book-participants/
• Complete the self-directed orientation.  This e-learning course provides a tutorial of how to navigate around the Catalyst platform: https://solvingthepeopleproblem.com/everything-disc-catalyst-orientation/

Everything DiSC Catalyst is different from other communication and personality style solutions you may have used in the past in large part because Catalyst is NOT A TRAINING SESSION. Rather, Catalyst is an interactive platform that your employees will use in various ways in the weeks, months and years ahead to make them - and their teams - more cohesive and more productive. Your people will use and reference Catalyst through a portfolio of self-directed and facilitator-led learning activities.

Your partnership with Integris gives you exclusive access to a range of resources you can use to educate and engage your employees in the Catalyst experience. Learning options include:

SELF-DIRECTED / AUTONOMOUS LEARNING 

The text, videos, and podcasts inside Catalyst are easily navigable. Other self-directed resources include: 

• Welcome to Catalyst intro video: https://youtu.be/SM_7pdL6AiA
• “How Catalyst Helps” use-case scenarios: https://solvingthepeopleproblem.com/resources/how-catalyst-helps/
• Solving the People Problem: Essential Skills You Need to Lead and Succeed in Today’s Workplace - Ebook and audiobook versions are available to you at no additional cost (standard book prices apply to print copies)
• Solving the People Problem: Field Guide for Leaders (standard book prices apply to print copies)
• “What’s My DISC-EQ?” emotional intelligence survey and personalized report
• Catalyst Orientation e-learning program (30-45 minute self-directed tutorial of the platform)
• Catalyst email series #1 for Everyone (Editable text for 22 emails you can send to everyone who has access to the Workplace on Catalyst content to reinforce the concepts of DiSC and bring users back to the platform)
• Catalyst email series #2 for Managers (Editable text for ~20 emails you can send to people-managers. Content includes both personal development activities using the Management module on Catalyst and guidance for how managers can engage their people in team building exercises).

FACILITATOR-LED LEARNING

Your Catalyst Facilitation Kit includes slides, scripts, and activity instructions for over 20 learning modules (with separate guidance for delivering virtually or in-person). Modules range from 20 to 90 minutes, and can be delivered as stand-alone sessions, combined with each other to create extended learning sessions, and/or can be blended into other programs your organization may offer (like The Leadership Challenge, The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, or Crucial Conversations).

Modules available to Facilitation Kit holders include the following (updated files available for download by past purchasers):

Everything DiSC Fundamentals

• Your DiSC® Style (60-65 minutes)
• Your Colleagues (60-65 minutes)

Everything DiSC Workplace 

• What Drives You (70-75 minutes)
• You and Other Styles (60-75 minutes)
• Build Better Relationships (55-60 minutes)

Everything DiSC Management

• Your Management Style (60 minutes)
• People Reading (30 minutes)
• Direct & Delegate (60 minutes)
• Motivation (60 minutes)
• Develop Talent (60 minutes)
• Manage Up (60 minutes)

Everything DiSC Agile EQ

• Your EQ Strengths (40-45 minutes)
• Beyond Your Personal EQ Comfort Zone (95-100 minutes)
• Develop Your EQ (60 minutes)

Solving the People Problem, powered by Catalyst

• Orientation to Catalyst (90 minutes)
• Communicating with others (90 minutes)
• Engaging in productive conflict (90 minutes)
• Working together as a team (90 minutes)
• Sales and customer service (90 minutes)
• Leadership (90 minutes)
• Decision making (90 minutes)

*Facilitation Kit files can be shared across users inside the same organization, so be sure all your facilitators and coaches have access to them. Additional modules will be added as created. Learn more about the Catalyst Facilitation Kit here.

The Catalyst Facilitation Kit includes step-by-step scripts and instructions that anyone with basic facilitation skills could follow, even individual leaders. So don’t hesitate to make the Kit content available to anyone who wants to take the lead on engaging others in the power of Catalyst. That said, if formal facilitator-led sessions will be part of your education portfolio, you’ll want to be sure your trainers know the ins and outs of Everything DiSC so they’ll be equipped to answer questions and go “off script” whenever the situation calls for it. 

Integris offers a rolling Everything DiSC Facilitator Training and Certification program that prepares internal trainers and coaches to expand the reach and impact of DiSC in your organization. Through this program, participants will:

• Gain expertise in the Everything DiSC model and research
• Learn how to effectively train and engage others to use the language of DiSC to increase their emotional intelligence and strengthen their workplace relationships
• Navigate challenging scenarios that can arise during a workshop or coaching session

Program includes:

• Three 90-minute instructor-led online sessions
• Self-directed exercises in the online learning center with continued access to the content post-course
• 15 PDUs from SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) 
• The ability to earn the Credential of Everything DiSC Workplace® Certification
• Review of the Everything DiSC Workplace Facilitation Kit and how to use the included scripts, videos, and customizable PowerPoint slides 

Learn more about Facilitator Training and Certification here.

It’s time to get your people on Catalyst! The networked functionality of the Colleague Directory means the value of Catalyst rises exponentially as more employees get onto the platform. Moreover, the language of DiSC will have a greater impact on your organizational culture once all team members have access to Catalyst and start to put the insights to use, both to better understand their own style and the style of others. So, while the pace of your rollout is up to you, we recommend using the full range of options in your education portfolio (including the self-directed resources) to move as quickly as you are comfortable. 

In Implementation Step 1 we set up the custom messages and subject lines that will go out with your Catalyst invitation emails. So you are almost ready to go. But before pressing “send” on those assessments, you’ll want to let people know what’s coming. 

Below we share two sample emails (one for employees who are new to DiSC and this will be their first DiSC assessment, and one for takers of previous DiSC assessments who will be doing an "upgrade" to Catalyst).

NOTE: If you need help identifying who in your organization is eligible for the Catalyst upgrade, let your partner at Integris know. We can show you how to find this information inside the EPIC administration system.

These are generic sample emails that you will want to customize to explain the why behind your organization’s investment in Catalyst. Use this as a change management activity; an opportunity to explain to your people what kind of organizational culture you are looking to build and/or maintain. For example, in these messages you can highlight how Catalyst and the language of DiSC supports organizational values or aligns with other culture-development initiatives. The more you engage people in the “why”, the more likely they will be to engage in the how!

Send these messages from the CEO or other senior leader or authority if possible to highlight the importance of the effort. Further, engage influencers throughout the organization to be early adopters (have them complete their assessments asap and ask them to speak with others about it).

1. PRE-ASSESSMENT SAMPLE INVITATION FOR NEW DISC TAKERS

Hi [First Name] -

Shortly you will receive an email from [“XXXX@wiley-epic.com”] with an invitation to experience Everything DiSC on Catalyst. You’ll start by taking a short assessment that asks about your communication preferences and behavioral tendencies (plan for about 15-20 minutes to complete it). Once you finish, you’ll be able to log in to the Catalyst online platform. Go ahead and take a moment right now to watch this brief introduction to what Catalyst is all about: https://youtu.be/SM_7pdL6AiA

Research shows that the #1 source of workplace conflict and frustration comes from clashes in the different communication and personality styles we all experience. Inside the Catalyst platform, you’ll find videos, text, a podcast, and a colleague directory, all designed to give you insights about yourself and your colleagues to help you work more effectively with everyone around you, regardless of their style preferences. 

At [Organization Name], we believe these style differences are our strength, and we are using Catalyst to equip you and your colleagues to be the best you can be. 

2. PRE-ASSESSMENT SAMPLE INVITATION FOR PAST DISC TAKERS WHO NOW NEED UPGRADE

Hi [First Name] - 

Shortly you will receive an email from [“XXXX@wiley-epic.com”] with an invitation to experience Everything DiSC on Catalyst. Catalyst is an online platform that builds on the previous DiSC assessment you completed, and gives you new insights and tools to help you work more effectively with everyone around you, regardless of their style preferences. 

You’ll start by taking a short assessment that gathers some new information about your communication preferences and behavioral tendencies (plan for about 10-15 minutes to complete it). Once you finish, you’ll be able to log in to the Catalyst online platform where you’ll find videos, text, a podcast, and a colleague directory,

Research shows that the #1 source of workplace conflict and frustration comes from clashes in the different communication and personality styles we all experience. At [Organization Name], we believe these style differences are our strength, and we are using Catalyst to equip you and your colleagues to be the best you can be.

As stated earlier, Catalyst is not meant to be “a training session.” Catalyst is an organizational-wide platform that offers a broad range of useful resources and functionality. The platform and your education portfolio should work together to engage your workforce in the language of DiSC.

Remember…The #1 source of conflict, frustration, and miscommunication in the workplace is connected to the interpersonal and style differences we all encounter with our work colleagues. Some level of frustration is always likely to exist when our co-workers do things and/or communicate in ways different from our own preferences. It’s very natural to think “Why did they do that?” or “Why did they decide to go that way when I would have made such a different decision?” or "Why did that interaction go so horribly wrong?" The key to making it better, and to building a truly healthy organizational culture, is helping every employee - from senior leaders to front-line workers and everyone in between - understand and honor these style differences.

Your organization has invested in one of the most robust leadership, team, and cultural-development tools available anywhere in the world; a new, state-of-the-art solution that helps people use the proven language of DiSC to understand and honor style differences. Now it’s time to engage your people in the power of Catalyst using everything you have at your disposal, including self-directed learning, formal training sessions, leader-led discussions, email and intranet communications, and any other resources that work in your organization’s environment. 

Integris is here to support you every step of the way, for the entirety of your Catalyst journey. That said, after working together closely during the planning and rollout period, it can be easy to assume the Catalyst program is now on autopilot. To some degree, that’s not entirely a bad thing, as your investment will be generating a positive ROI as leaders and teams throughout the organization find their own ways to put it to use. But to ensure you're making maximum impact against your goals, we will schedule at least quarterly check-in meetings, where we can review what’s happening, make adjustments to your plan, and help you get the most value possible out of your investment in Catalyst and the language of DISC.