Stop! Don’t Make That Resolution Yet: Build Lasting Change from the Inside Out
Happy New Year! The start of a new year often comes with big ambitions and a long list of resolutions. But before you dive into a fitness goal, a new hobby, or a leadership initiative, I would ask you to pause – take a moment to reflect on the changes you have in mind; are they the kind that will fizzle in a month or will they take root and yield results in the coming year?
Why ask this question? Because lasting change isn’t achieved by wishful thinking—it requires a solid foundation grounded in an understanding of who you are: your natural behaviors, motivations, and tendencies. Armed with this knowledge you can set goals and define a viable gameplan for achieving them, knowing from the start where your strengths are aligned and where your weaknesses may need extra support to succeed.
At Competitive Edge, we’ve spent decades helping individuals and organizations achieve meaningful transformation by equipping them with the means to gain those foundational insights. Change can feel like a hike through an unknown city. It’s easy to get sidetracked, even lost, and give up on your goals. Knowing your baseline through tools like the DISC and Motivators assessments is like taking that journey with a map in hand. You may still encounter unexpected turns, but you’ll have a better idea of where you stand and how to get back on track to where you are going.
Understanding Your Baseline Behaviors: The Role of DISC
DISC assessments offer insight into your core behavioral tendencies—how you communicate, handle challenges, and interact with others. For example:
- Are you naturally fast-paced and assertive, or do you prefer to approach situations more thoughtfully and methodically?
- Do you thrive on collaboration, or do you shine in independent problem-solving?
When you understand these natural patterns, you can tailor your resolutions to play to your strengths while working on areas for growth. Instead of vaguely resolving to “be more productive,” you might decide to focus on strategies that align with your DISC profile. For example, if you have a low IQ, you might find that too much “people time” is draining—by setting clearer boundaries or carving out a block of daily independent work time, you may find that you are both more productive and more energized.
When your peers also know the insights derived from their own DISC profiles it becomes easier to build teams with members whose profiles complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The resolutions made by these teammates are much more likely to succeed because of this alignment.
Tapping into What Drives You: The Power of Motivators
While DISC explains how you act, Motivators reveal why you act. Your motivators—the values and drivers that influence your decisions—are the key to unlocking genuine passion and sustained effort.
- Do you feel energized by opportunities to learn and grow (Theoretical/Conceptual motivator)?
- Are you driven by the ability to create impact and influence outcomes (Individualistic/Power motivator)?
Understanding the spectrum of what truly motivates you can help you set goals that resonate deeply. Instead of chasing external expectations, you’ll find yourself creating resolutions that organically align with your inner drive, making them more meaningful and achievable.
Adapting Along the Way: Cultivating Resilience
Of course, no plan is without obstacles, which is why adaptability matters. Being able to pivot when challenges arise is crucial to achieving your goals. While adaptability isn’t solely measured by DISC or Motivators, these tools help you recognize where you might need to stretch yourself to embrace change—whether it’s stepping out of your comfort zone or leaning into collaboration when your instinct is to go it alone. Our AQme Adaptability assessments take you further by quantifying the factors related to change based on individual attributes and the context of your working environment.
Start the Year with Insight, Not Guesswork
So, before you finalize your resolutions, take a moment to invest in self-awareness. Whether you’re an HR professional looking to support your team’s growth or an individual seeking personal development, assessments like DISC and Motivators can provide a clear starting point.
Ready to make 2025 a year of intentional growth and lasting change? Let’s start with understanding you.