DISC and the people side of care Pt. 1 | Nicole Belanger

In this 2 part episode of Mission in Motion: A Minute with Maxwell, host Heather Maxwell sits down with Nicole Belanger, a DISC and leadership development specialist, to unpack how understanding communication styles can transform teams in senior living, long-term care, and healthcare.Nicole demystifies the DISC framework: D (Dominance), I (Influence), S (Steadiness), and C (Compliance) explaining what each style looks like in real life: how D’s drive results, I’s energize relationships, S’s create harmony, and C’s safeguard quality and compliance. She shares how DISC began as psychological research and has evolved into a practical assessment tool used in hiring, leadership, and team development.Grounded in the reality that senior living is a people business, Nicole and Heather explore why DISC is so valuable in environments where leaders must balance resident care, family expectations, regulatory compliance, and team well-being. They connect DISC to pressing issues like employee engagement, burnout, retention, and psychological safety, highlighting Gallup’s finding that only about 20% of employees are engaged globally, and that managers influence 70% of that engagement.Listeners hear vivid examples of how different DISC styles commonly show up on a senior living leadership team, such as an Executive Director (high D), a Director of Care (high C), and a Recreation Manager (high I)—and how clashes often arise when a results-oriented D and a risk-averse C see the same situation through very different lenses. Nicole offers language and strategies leaders can use to reframe tension, validate each other’s perspectives, and co-create a path forward instead of slipping into command-and-control or silent resistance.About Maxwell Management Group:This podcast is brought to you by Maxwell Management Group, a national executive search and education firm specializing in the continuing care and healthcare sectors. For nearly two decades, they’ve partnered with organizations to build values‑driven leadership, vibrant workplace cultures, and purpose‑led employer brands.Learn more: maxwellmanagementgroup.com0:00 – Intro & Welcome0:49 – Why DISC in Senior Living2:32 – What Is DISC?3:35 – D, I, S, C in Everyday Terms7:06 – DISC, Engagement & Burnout11:48 – DISC on a Leadership Team15:11 – How Styles Act Under Pressure18:20 – When D and C Clash22:37 – From Frustration to Understanding25:40 – Using DISC with Families & Residents27:38 – Story: Turning Conflict into Connection31:15 – Key Takeaways & Next Episode Teaser32:47 – Closing & Call to Action