Have you ever taken a personality assessment and proudly displayed the results for all to see? Or maybe you’ve shared your astrological sign or other labels that describe who you are. It’s natural to want others to understand us, but sometimes labels can become more of a hindrance than a help.
While labels can be useful for creating common ground and promoting understanding, they can also become pigeonholes that limit and distract us from what’s really important. The point of using labels is to help us all become more comfortable, effective, efficient, and respectful of one another. But if the labels we choose don’t provide useful information or help us understand others better, then they’re not serving their purpose.
One popular model for understanding personality is the DiSC model, which has been around for over 40 years. Many people proudly display their DiSC results in their office or workspace, but it’s important to remember that these labels are just a starting point. The real goal is to use the language of the model to create a safe and respectful environment for understanding and communication.
So, what’s your DiSC sign? Or your astrological sign? Or any other label that helps describe who you are? While it’s okay to use labels to promote understanding and connection, it’s important not to let them become prisons that limit us. The key is to use them as a tool for building relationships, not a way to put people in boxes.
