Question for Ask Dr. A™: Someone is in DISC Wheel space 16. The job requires them to be detailed oriented and do a lot of repetitive tasks. On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 is the best fit, […] Read Full Article

Ask Dr. A™ Question:  I have two staff that constantly argue.  One is in DISC Wheel space 28 and the other in DISC Wheel space 23. What can I do to help them work better together? Ask Dr. A™ Response:  […] Read Full Article

Ask Dr. A™ Question: I have a large number of staff who are “S” or “C” on the DISC. How do I get them to make a large change? Ask Dr. A™ Response: (For this answer we used the “Balanced” […] Read Full Article

Ask Dr. A™ Question:  Our company was just merged with another company causing a lot of stress.  How can I decrease the stress experienced by DISC “Ss” and DISC “Ds” who are repeatedly arguing with each other? Ask Dr. A™ […] Read Full Article

Josh is in DISC Wheel space 7.  I am in DISC Wheel space 11.  How should I communicate with Josh to get him to join my sales team? (The answer uses the Ask Dr. A™ “Brief” response of 75 to […] Read Full Article

Using Ask Dr. A™ for Self Development – answer below is from Ask Dr. A™ I am in DISC Wheel space 3, what are my limitations? In DISC Wheel Space 3, your limitations may include: Detail Orientation – you may […] Read Full Article

A new staff is starting today.  I want to help them start off well in their new environment.  They are an SC and I am a DI.  How should I best communicate with this new person? To effectively communicate with […] Read Full Article

We asked “Ask Dr. A™ “ the question below.  See below for Ask Dr. A’s™ response: Coaching Corner Question: I am in DISC Wheel space 28. I am trying to persuade someone to use my coaching services. This other person […] Read Full Article

In each issue we will show you the power of our Ask Dr. A™ AI agent.  We also let you know which of the 4 answer word length options (Brief – 75-100, Quick: 125 to 175, Balanced: 200 – 300, […] Read Full Article

The above is your team DISC Wheel.  You notice everyone on your team, all 13 people, are on only about half the DISC Wheel.  You have Analyzers, Implementors, Conductors, Persuaders, and Promoters.  You have NO Relaters, Supporters, or Coordinators.  What […] Read Full Article

Like her Coat of Many Colors, Dolly Parton’s DISC profile reveals the many facets of her personality. Read Full Article

If I asked you two weeks ago “who is Folarin Balogun?” you would have probably looked at me like “a deer in headlights,” shook your head or shrugged your shoulders, and said “I don’t know.” If you follow what’s happening […] Read Full Article

It’s AMAZING how useful DISC can be!  It’s also AMAZING how accurate DISC can be! Last week we wrote two articles using DISC to analyze the two 2025 Super Bowl quarterbacks.  In Part 1 we looked at Patrick Mahomes’ (of the Kansas […] Read Full Article

We asked a popular AI program to tell us about Patrick Mahomes’ and Jalen Hurts’ DISC style AND how to stop each from being successful on the field.  Dr. A then modified the AI comments to more closely resemble his perception […] Read Full Article

We decided to have some fun since it was Super Bowl time.  We asked a popular AI program to tell us about Patrick Mahomes’ and Jalen Hurts’ DISC style AND how to stop each from being successful on the field.  […] Read Full Article

When I first started to learn about Taylor Swift I thought, here we have a superstar who is a huge “I” DISC behavior style with an even larger “D” behavior.  After all, she has risen to be a billionaire, has […] Read Full Article

Benjamin Franklin is out flying a kite again. This time with a key attached. He was waiting for a huge thunderstorm with lightening, thunder and rain. He’s got the storm now and he’s in the middle of it flying that […] Read Full Article

Matthew McConaugheyWhether it’s lunch with Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Kate Hudson’s “challenge” in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” or in the “Dallas Buyers Club,” where he won an Academy Award, Matthew McConaughey is […] Read Full Article

The Legally Blonde 1 & 2 beauty queen (She has won at least a dozen child and then celebrity beauty honors.) is much more then “just another pretty face.” You’d think she was an intense “I,” but she’s not that […] Read Full Article

She has played Queen Elizabeth (twice), Princess Galadriel in The Lord of the Ring movies, and the Russian villain in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, among other parts. She has won over two dozen actor awards; […] Read Full Article

Yes, almost everyone is motivated by money, BUT everyone is also motivated by other things as well. In fact, some people are motivated much more by non-financial means. Our motivators report goes into all of these. Let’s look here at […] Read Full Article

Anyone can call themselves a coach!  There are no legal licensing requirements or standards to be a coach. With 10,000s of people calling themselves a coach, and relatively few of them even having IAC or ICF credentials, how does one truly know […] Read Full Article

Are one or more of your coaching clients not making as much progress as you would like? Are you frustrated because you can’t get through to them? Are you not making as much money as you want with your coaching […] Read Full Article

Goal setting!  Key performance indicators (KPIs)! Accountability!  Organizations are screaming for staff to do more with less.  They want people to accept responsibility for their work.  They want them to work longer and harder.   Employees are screaming back.  You […] Read Full Article

A Question? Does your spouse only do things for you if you pay them? Does your best friend only do things for you because you pay them? Do YOU only do things for others when they pay you? Of course […] Read Full Article

“I never waste time!” It’s others who waste my time! How do I stop that? Here’s the BAD news! No matter the reason for wasting time, it’s YOUR responsibility to manage your time. Here’s the GOOD news! It’s not that […] Read Full Article

Ever worked with a very intense “C” and tried to get them to understand there is a human side to the work?  How about if you are the intense “C” and people just don’t understand you?  What are the secrets […] Read Full Article

We asked “Ask Dr. A™ “ the question below.  See below for Ask Dr. A’s™ response: Coaching Corner Question: I am in DISC Wheel space 28. I am trying to persuade someone to use my coaching services. This other person […] Read Full Article

In each issue we will show you the power of our Ask Dr. A™ AI agent.  We also let you know which of the 4 answer word length options (Brief – 75-100, Quick: 125 to 175, Balanced: 200 – 300, […] Read Full Article

The above is your team DISC Wheel.  You notice everyone on your team, all 13 people, are on only about half the DISC Wheel.  You have Analyzers, Implementors, Conductors, Persuaders, and Promoters.  You have NO Relaters, Supporters, or Coordinators.  What […] Read Full Article

Have you ever said, “if I knew then what I know now …” Or maybe, “I can’t believe I did that.  WHAT was I thinking?” OR “I can’t believe I did that AGAIN!  We all have blind spots where we […] Read Full Article

The Ideal Environment page appears in every DISC report.  It may be at different locations within the report, but it is in every DISC report. When would you use the Ideal Environment page? In hiring, onboarding, coaching, managing/leading and/or retaining. […] Read Full Article

AI is the craze and everyone is jumping in.  But no one has jumped into using AI for DISC like The Abelson Group.  Most DISC companies focus on 24 individual profiles.  We have combined our 384 profiles and developed 60 […] Read Full Article

You wouldn’t believe the lies I have heard told by others who believe they are telling the truth when teaching DISC. Because the information was initially misrepresented to them, they continue to fabricate, confabulate, and reenforce things that are NOT […] Read Full Article

Let’s face it: this market demands more with less. And while it’s tempting to think that hiring someone new will solve your productivity problem, most of the time, it won’t. The smartest leaders I work with aren’t expanding headcount—they’re maximizing the […] Read Full Article

Over the last 45+ years working with leaders and organizations across the globe, I’ve seen a common thread in underperforming teams: they have the skills, the experience, and even the ambition—but they don’t understand each other. Great teams aren’t just built […] Read Full Article

Hiring staff? How do you know the candidate has the right behaviors? Coaches, want to better connect, motivate, & manage your clients? Managers and leaders, want to know where staff will excel? Understanding graphs will help you do all of […] Read Full Article

Research and experience tells us effective teams are much better performers than are individuals.  When things are chaotic, in constant flux, or stressful, high performing teams are that much more important.  When led effectively, the team dynamic helps calm things down, helps […] Read Full Article

How do great poker players win most of the time?  They have a system! How do great sports teams create a dynasty?  They have a system! How do successful people keep being successful? They have a system! YOU have a system for winning […] Read Full Article

The most important methods for bridging the gap between emotional intelligence and personality development are DISC assessments. Behavior and personality are measured with DISC tests that provide its basis for developing emotional intelligence, improving team interactions, and providing all-around training. […] Read Full Article

The DISC certification has gained great popularity among professionals, educators, and leaders. DISC certification provides skills for beginners to analyze behavioral styles. This enhances communication and improves team dynamics. DISC certification provides knowledge and understanding of tools to use the […] Read Full Article

It’s AMAZING how useful DISC can be!  It’s also AMAZING how accurate DISC can be! Last week we wrote two articles using DISC to analyze the two 2025 Super Bowl quarterbacks.  In Part 1 we looked at Patrick Mahomes’ (of the Kansas […] Read Full Article

We asked a popular AI program to tell us about Patrick Mahomes’ and Jalen Hurts’ DISC style AND how to stop each from being successful on the field.  Dr. A then modified the AI comments to more closely resemble his perception […] Read Full Article

We decided to have some fun since it was Super Bowl time.  We asked a popular AI program to tell us about Patrick Mahomes’ and Jalen Hurts’ DISC style AND how to stop each from being successful on the field.  […] Read Full Article

It’s near the end of the holiday event.  Uncle Freddie and Aunt Miranda (our “D”s) are getting ready to leave.  Cousins Jim and Oprah (our “I”s) are continuing to talk away, like always.  Brother Martin and sister Barbara (our “S”s) are still sitting […] Read Full Article

Oh, there’s Mom and Dad over at the buffet table.  I am sure they arrived at the exact agreed upon time to start the holiday dinner.  They always do!  They are also inspecting the buffet table to make sure all the desserts they […] Read Full Article

Dealing With Your Siblings You have just arrived at the family holiday fest.  Coincidentally, you arrived at the exact same time as your sister Barbara and your brother Martin.  Everyone, including you, loves them dearly, but both are the smothering kind, and […] Read Full Article

Oh my G-d!  It’s Cousin Jim and Cousin Oprah, and they are going at it again.  The argument from h _ _ _.  They are getting louder and louder as one tries to outdo the other story after story.  It’s […] Read Full Article

It’s the holidays and you dread having to interact with Aunt Miranda or Uncle Freddie.  So much so, you are thinking of not going to the family event.  But you MUST go, or be a family outcast for life. How […] Read Full Article

Did you ever wonder what makes some people born to be leaders while others are born just to obey those leaders? Or why do some individuals make hasty decisions while others proceed slowly in decisional processes? The answers may well […] Read Full Article

Successful organizations need effective leadership in today’s fast-paced corporate world. DISC leadership training is one such technique that allows for a great deal more self-awareness, improvement in team dynamics, and better decision-making. Recognition of behavioural patterns in oneself and others […] Read Full Article

This rule says about 1/3 of the decision should rest on what you know about the person from before their application for the job.  Things like their level and kind of education, work experience, character items such as volunteer experience, […] Read Full Article

We have onboarding reports that include the most important sections from our DISC and/or Motivators report.  It puts two people on the same page and gives each’s bulleted statements for a particular section of the report.  For example have on […] Read Full Article

Can you really motivate people without money?  Most people don’t use their imagination to motivate others.  They rely too much on motivating with money.  But, you MOST CERTAINLY CAN motivate people without paying them anything.   We all do it […] Read Full Article

Are one or more of your coaching clients not making as much progress as you would like? Are you frustrated because you can’t get through to them? Are you not making as much money as you want with your coaching […] Read Full Article

Staff turnover is expensive!  A common “rule of thumb estimate” suggests it cost 25% to 200% of a leaving staff’s annual compensation each time someone leaves.  For example, an inexpensive staff person may receive a salary of $40,000 a year.  […] Read Full Article

One of the many myths I dispel in our DISC Certification course is that DISC scores do not change over time. Can a person’s DISC score change? Absolutely! Do they change? That depends. There are over 30 different DISC assessments […] Read Full Article

DISC TeamSituation:A particular office had a history of repeatedly hiring poor performing administrative assistants. We did a DISC behavior team report on the entire administrative staff; ownership, management, administrative assistant, and a few other staff. We also looked at the […] Read Full Article

Two people you know take our DISC and have almost identical DISC scores, but they are as different as night and day.  If DISC is a personality profile, how can their personalities be so difference?  The answer is easy.  DISC […] Read Full Article

Ever worked with a very intense “C” and tried to get them to understand there is a human side to the work?  How about if you are the intense “C” and people just don’t understand you?  What are the secrets […] Read Full Article

Myths About D.I.S.C. Several years ago, I wrote a series of articles on myths regarding the D.I.S.C. behavioral assessment. I want to revisit just two of those myths here to help explain why some people think D.I.S.C. is not accurate. […] Read Full Article

This is where I think the distinction becomes particularly interesting. 1. You’re learning from someone who has spent decades applying DISC—not just selling a certification The Abelson Group was founded by Dr. Michael Abelson in 1986. Its current materials describe his background […] Read Full Article

We Asked AI two questions Question #1 Why get DISC & Motivators Certification? Question #2  Why would I want to get certified by Dr. Abelson and The Abelson Group? Here is How it Answered the Questions WITH NO Changes From […] Read Full Article

Many people will tell you your behavior doesn’t change over your lifetime.  That is ridiculous and totally wrong.  If you can’t change your DISC behavior how do psychologists, clinical social workers, coaches, or others, make a living.  You CAN and […] Read Full Article

The DISC certification has gained great popularity among professionals, educators, and leaders. DISC certification provides skills for beginners to analyze behavioral styles. This enhances communication and improves team dynamics. DISC certification provides knowledge and understanding of tools to use the […] Read Full Article

Did you ever wonder what makes some people born to be leaders while others are born just to obey those leaders? Or why do some individuals make hasty decisions while others proceed slowly in decisional processes? The answers may well […] Read Full Article

Emotional intelligence (EI) is becoming more relevant and when someone is certified in it, great things can come out of it. From improving interpersonal skills to leadership capabilities, an emotional intelligence certification can beautify personal and professional life equally. In […] Read Full Article

In the fast and feverish workplace, understanding the human approach to acting and feeling is vital to progress. Two huge certifications that assist in this space are the DISC and Motivators certificates, the DISC Emotional Intelligence to Understand People on […] Read Full Article

Nowadays, people are busy and it is crucial to understand how feelings work and how to manage their work. This is one of the few skills that applies to both interpersonal relationships and business organization. Emotional Intelligence is about how […] Read Full Article

Anyone can call themselves a coach!  There are no legal licensing requirements or standards to be a coach. With 10,000s of people calling themselves a coach, and relatively few of them even having IAC or ICF credentials, how does one truly know […] Read Full Article

Are one or more of your coaching clients not making as much progress as you would like? Are you frustrated because you can’t get through to them? Are you not making as much money as you want with your coaching […] Read Full Article

Goal setting!  Key performance indicators (KPIs)! Accountability!  Organizations are screaming for staff to do more with less.  They want people to accept responsibility for their work.  They want them to work longer and harder.   Employees are screaming back.  You […] Read Full Article

A Question? Does your spouse only do things for you if you pay them? Does your best friend only do things for you because you pay them? Do YOU only do things for others when they pay you? Of course […] Read Full Article

Party, Party, Party! That might be the “call” when some hear the word “social.” But in our case, “social” means giving to others or society. The mantra for people with this motive or value is closer to “caring,” “sympathetic,” and […] Read Full Article

“I never waste time!” It’s others who waste my time! How do I stop that? Here’s the BAD news! No matter the reason for wasting time, it’s YOUR responsibility to manage your time. Here’s the GOOD news! It’s not that […] Read Full Article

One of the many myths I dispel in our DISC Certification course is that DISC scores do not change over time. Can a person’s DISC score change? Absolutely! Do they change? That depends. There are over 30 different DISC assessments […] Read Full Article

Facilitating dozens of DISC Certifications with 100s of now DISC certified practitioners has taught me a number of things about what makes for a quality DISC certification course. Below are six key components you should find in any quality DISC […] Read Full Article

Identifying whether or not someone is experiencing stress is one of over 100 techniques we discuss in our DISC & Motives Certification course. In this article, I discuss how to use our DISC and Motives report to identify if someone […] Read Full Article

Money rarely creates loyalty. Just think about it. People leave one organization to go to another organization for more money all the time. Sometimes it’s 5% more. Other times it’s 25% more, or greater. If you are using money as […] Read Full Article

Two people you know take our DISC and have almost identical DISC scores, but they are as different as night and day.  If DISC is a personality profile, how can their personalities be so difference?  The answer is easy.  DISC […] Read Full Article

Ever worked with a very intense “C” and tried to get them to understand there is a human side to the work?  How about if you are the intense “C” and people just don’t understand you?  What are the secrets […] Read Full Article

Myths About D.I.S.C. Several years ago, I wrote a series of articles on myths regarding the D.I.S.C. behavioral assessment. I want to revisit just two of those myths here to help explain why some people think D.I.S.C. is not accurate. […] Read Full Article

We all experience and handle stress in different ways. “Stress, it’s just a state of mind. I have it under control” (says the confident “D” style). “I can handle the stress” (says the optimistic “I” style). “Yes, I am feeling […] Read Full Article

Has a new staff person just arrived and been assigned to work with you? What is she like? How do you communicate or motivate her? What value will she bring to your team? These are all “onboarding” questions. Onboarding is […] Read Full Article

Coaching is an incredibly competitive field with so many individuals offering consulting services, and organizations utilizing coaches to drive performance. Coaching certifications exist, but aren’t required. The issue then becomes, as a coach, how can you differentiate yourself among all […] Read Full Article

Change in the real estate industry is everywhere and increasing in speed. We have heard for decades that these changes will replace the professionals in real estate transactions.  The truth is, there are only two constants in real estate; change […] Read Full Article

For over 50 years, I have been involved in how to effectively interview and hire.  I have done it many times myself and have taught minions to do the same.  I thought; let’s ask Chatgpt “what AI research says are the 5 […] Read Full Article

Part 2: Rules for Interview Effectiveness It is time for the main event, the actual interview. Hopefully, your pre-interview tasks recommended in Part 1 of this article series are complete. Your job benchmark has identified the primary personal characteristics needed […] Read Full Article

Part 1: Rule For Pre-Interview Effectiveness On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rank your success hiring staff? Be honest now. Most people believe they can interview well. After all, you talk with someone, you listen to […] Read Full Article

“Peanut butter raises,” where everyone gets the same even spread, or percentage raise, seems to be the new craze in HR departments.  That’s according to a recent article in Fortune Magazine.   At first glance this may seem to be […] Read Full Article

Goal setting!  Key performance indicators (KPIs)! Accountability!  Organizations are screaming for staff to do more with less.  They want people to accept responsibility for their work.  They want them to work longer and harder.   Employees are screaming back.  You […] Read Full Article

A Question? Does your spouse only do things for you if you pay them? Does your best friend only do things for you because you pay them? Do YOU only do things for others when they pay you? Of course […] Read Full Article

Like everything else; successful approaches to hiring people have changed. A recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article points out a number of maladies experienced by job seekers. Negative outcomes abound because of organizational mistakes. Some outcomes are even nightmarish. For […] Read Full Article

Goal setting!  Key performance indicators (KPIs)! Accountability!  Organizations are screaming for staff to do more with less.  They want people to accept responsibility for their work.  They want them to work longer and harder.   Employees are screaming back.  You […] Read Full Article

A Question? Does your spouse only do things for you if you pay them? Does your best friend only do things for you because you pay them? Do YOU only do things for others when they pay you? Of course […] Read Full Article

Party, Party, Party! That might be the “call” when some hear the word “social.” But in our case, “social” means giving to others or society. The mantra for people with this motive or value is closer to “caring,” “sympathetic,” and […] Read Full Article

Part 2: Rules for Interview Effectiveness It is time for the main event, the actual interview. Hopefully, your pre-interview tasks recommended in Part 1 of this article series are complete. Your job benchmark has identified the primary personal characteristics needed […] Read Full Article

Part 1: Rule For Pre-Interview Effectiveness On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rank your success hiring staff? Be honest now. Most people believe they can interview well. After all, you talk with someone, you listen to […] Read Full Article

Like everything else; successful approaches to hiring people have changed. A recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article points out a number of maladies experienced by job seekers. Negative outcomes abound because of organizational mistakes. Some outcomes are even nightmarish. For […] Read Full Article

Has a new staff person just arrived and been assigned to work with you? What is she like? How do you communicate or motivate her? What value will she bring to your team? These are all “onboarding” questions. Onboarding is […] Read Full Article

Coaching is an incredibly competitive field with so many individuals offering consulting services, and organizations utilizing coaches to drive performance. Coaching certifications exist, but aren’t required. The issue then becomes, as a coach, how can you differentiate yourself among all […] Read Full Article

Four Positive Outcomes of Onboarding Are people you know stressed because of a misunderstanding or conflict with others? Are they satisfied and committed because they believe and experience management cares about them and is willing to invest in them; in […] Read Full Article

Politicians love to ignite emotions.  Both Republicans and Democrats.  Why?  Because they know we buy from our emotional selves.  We buy products, concepts, images, you name it; we buy it from how we feel about it.   Emotions sell!!!  They sell cars. […] Read Full Article

There are many different types of teams; executive teams, administrative teams, project teams, taskforce teams, sales teams… Teams can be from many different types of organizations; for-profit, not-for-profit, community service, even family. There is one thing that ALL teams experience; […] Read Full Article

Identifying whether or not someone is experiencing stress is one of over 100 techniques we discuss in our DISC & Motives Certification course. In this article, I discuss how to use our DISC and Motives report to identify if someone […] Read Full Article

We Asked AI The Below Question What are the strengths of the DISC Team report from The Abelson Group and why would I want to use The Abelson Group to debrief the report? The DISC Team Report gives you a […] Read Full Article

The above is your team DISC Wheel.  You notice everyone on your team, all 13 people, are on only about half the DISC Wheel.  You have Analyzers, Implementors, Conductors, Persuaders, and Promoters.  You have NO Relaters, Supporters, or Coordinators.  What […] Read Full Article

Let’s talk about something most broker-owners, recruiters, and team leaders know but rarely address out loud: a staggering number of licensed real estate agents haven’t closed a single transaction this year. That’s not hyperbole. It’s backed by data. In many […] Read Full Article

In today’s market, hiring isn’t always the solution—and quite frankly, sometimes it’s a distraction. The real win? Getting more out of the people you already have. Now, I don’t mean working them harder. I mean working smarter—together. The organizations thriving […] Read Full Article

Over the last 45+ years working with leaders and organizations across the globe, I’ve seen a common thread in underperforming teams: they have the skills, the experience, and even the ambition—but they don’t understand each other. Great teams aren’t just built […] Read Full Article

United States tariffs are increased on countries worldwide and then decreased!  Stock markets and bond markets go up and down and up again!  Industries go on hiring binges and then do wholesale layoffs.  The technology industry, for example, has done this numerous times.   They […] Read Full Article

There are many different types of teams; executive teams, administrative teams, project teams, taskforce teams, sales teams… Teams can be from many different types of organizations; for-profit, not-for-profit, community service, even family. There is one thing that ALL teams experience; […] Read Full Article

DISC TeamSituation:A particular office had a history of repeatedly hiring poor performing administrative assistants. We did a DISC behavior team report on the entire administrative staff; ownership, management, administrative assistant, and a few other staff. We also looked at the […] Read Full Article

The biggest misunderstanding of why people leave is that money will solve the problem. It’s a myth that paying people more is THE answer to retaining staff. It is true that certain people are driven by the need for money […] Read Full Article

“Peanut butter raises,” where everyone gets the same even spread, or percentage raise, seems to be the new craze in HR departments.  That’s according to a recent article in Fortune Magazine.   At first glance this may seem to be […] Read Full Article

Staff turnover is expensive!  A common “rule of thumb estimate” suggests it cost 25% to 200% of a leaving staff’s annual compensation each time someone leaves.  For example, an inexpensive staff person may receive a salary of $40,000 a year.  […] Read Full Article