How Darlington College used DISC to build stronger leadership

Case Study: Darlington College Management Team Transformation

The Challenge

Darlington College’s executive team recognised the need to develop their wider management group of 22 academic and business managers. They wanted to create a high-performing, collegiate team that worked effectively and efficiently together. The leadership understood that achieving this goal would require:

Deeper self-awareness among managers
Better understanding of colleagues’ work styles and preferences
A foundation for more effective communication
A straightforward, time-efficient personality assessment system

The Solution

Darlington College partnered with Joanna to implement a comprehensive DISC personality assessment program that included:

Individual DISC assessments for all 22 managers
Personalised 1:1 coaching sessions to help understand results
A facilitated group session where managers could learn about team dynamics
Practical strategies for applying DISC insights to everyday workplace interactions

The Implementation

The program ran from January to May 2025 and followed a structured approach:

Assessment Phase: Managers completed the DISC personality assessment, which was praised for being “quick and easy to implement while providing an in-depth personality style report”
Individual Coaching: One-on-one sessions helped managers understand their personal results, recognise behavioural patterns, and identify strategies for improvement
Team Workshop: A collaborative group session allowed the entire management team to explore their collective profile, understand colleagues’ work styles, and recognise how personality differences affected their interactions. As David noted: “It was incredible how colleagues, who have worked alongside one another for countless years, suddenly realised how the personality traits of one another clearly influence their way of working. Not only did this allow colleagues to ‘make sense’ of why others behave and respond how they do, but also enable them to reflect on how they behave and how this impacts those around them.”

Ongoing Application: Managers implemented DISC principles in their daily work, using a common language to improve communication and collaboration. They consciously adapted their approaches with colleagues based on DISC insights, improving direct relationships. Many practised “dialling up and down” specific behavioural traits as needed—becoming more assertive in meetings, improving their networking skills by being more sociable when required, and displaying greater confidence when presenting information. This flexible approach to behaviour allowed them to step outside their comfort zones strategically while maintaining authenticity.

The Results

According to CEO and Principal David Gartland, the DISC program delivered significant outcomes:

Improved Team Dynamics

“I have observed colleagues being more tolerant of one another… As a group we now have a much better understanding of how best to interact with one another, we know what makes one another tick.”

Enhanced Self-Awareness

“Since the completion of DISC and the subsequent training… I have seen individuals adapt their behaviours and they appear to be increasingly aware of how their actions can influence others.”

Stronger Collaborative Culture

“I have seen greater engagement in meetings and sessions, an increase in thoughts and idea sharing, as colleagues aren’t as fearful of ‘saying something daft’.”

More Supportive Environment

“This all helps us make sure each individual member of the management team thrives, are supported and are able to do more of what they are good at and enjoy their work.”

Accelerated Progress

“I don’t think we would have made such a huge amount of progress in the time we have had it not been for the work Joanna has done with us using the DISC personality report.”

Key Benefits

Time Efficiency: The DISC system delivered comprehensive insights without excessive time commitment
Accuracy: Managers were impressed by how accurately the assessments captured their personalities
Immediate Application: Insights could be applied directly to daily workplace interactions
Fun Learning Experience: The program was engaging while delivering serious professional development
Foundation for Further Growth: DISC training served as the perfect starting point for additional teamwork initiatives

Client Testimonial

“The process, I felt, was always going to help us understand our own personalities better, but the outputs from the programme have been considerable. The whole process has been incredibly worthwhile, but also fun! I can’t recommend Joanna enough, the work that she has done has just enhanced the work we do.”
David Gartland, CEO and Principal, Darlington College

Transform Your Team with DISC

Could your management team benefit from better understanding, improved communication, and stronger collaboration? DISC provides a practical framework that helps teams work more effectively together by recognising and adapting to different personality styles.