'I was clashing with my colleagues until I discovered these four "DISC styles".'

A few years ago, at the end of a particularly bad week at work, Lisa Lie was at a bookshop when she stumbled upon a title called Surrounded by Idiots: How to understand those who cannot be understood.

Little did she know, it would completely change the way she viewed her colleagues.

At the time, she and her co-workers weren't always on the same page.

"You know that feeling when you're mid-meeting explaining something, and you suddenly clock the other person is just not with you?" Lisa relayed to her co-host Em Vernem on Mamamia's BIZ podcast.

"You're talking outcomes, they want to know the history and the backstory, or you're trying to brainstorm and they're asking for the plan and all the detailed steps. It's not a crisis, but it is so annoying sometimes."

Watch: Recognising the signs of workaholism. Post continues after video.

In the book, Lisa found four words that would explain why everyone at work was focused on different things: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientious.

This is otherwise known as the acronym "DISC", and it serves as a valuable personality tool.

"DISC is a framework that breaks people into four main working styles," Lisa explained. "How they make decisions, how they communicate, handle pressure, that kind of thing."

Basically, DISC breaks down four different types of human behaviour, and how they operate in the workplace.

How does DISC work?

The DISC workplace personality styles include: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientious. Here's what they mean:

D - Dominance: "These are your fast-paced, results-focused, direct colleagues."

I - Influence: "They are also fast-paced, but more people-oriented, so they're energetic, talkative, they love a brainstorm by ideas, and connection."

S - Steadiness: "S is slower. They are people-focused, they listen more than they talk. They love harmony. They're like your team glue."

C - Conscientious: "They are slower-paced. They're task-focused and want to get things right, so they double-check the sh-t out of things, and they follow process."

Listen to the full episode of BIZ below. Post continues afterwards.

How to actually use DISC at work.

Knowing these styles is one thing. Applying them in daily work conversations, meetings, and Slack threads is what makes a difference.

"If you want to work better with people, here's how to meet them where they're at," Lisa said, sharing her helpful one-liners for each personality type.

"If you take one useful thing out of this, make it one of these lines."

For D styles: "Here's what we need to decide today."

For I styles: "I love your energy. Let's pick one idea to run with."

For S styles: "What do you think the team needs here?"

For C styles: "I've gone through the details. Here's what I found."

Once you start recognising these patterns, you'll experience what Lisa calls the biggest realisation of all.

"When we grow up, we're taught to treat people the way you would want to be treated. Seems nice, doesn't it? But the actual game changer is when you treat people the way they want to be treated. Then you can connect with them."

This approach can be especially useful if your team feels "not bad, just a bit clunky."

Lisa's advice? Look at your team's working styles through a three-step approach.

1. Notice the clues: What do people need to do their best work?

2. Flex your style: Even small adjustments can help you meet others where they're at.

3. Own your defaults: Talk about your natural tendencies so it doesn't have to be so hard.

Because yes, knowing other people's DISC style is important, but knowing your own is just as crucial.

Listen: Why Your Colleague Drives You Crazy. Post continues below.

It isn't a hall pass to bulldoze everyone else or hide behind your tendencies, it is merely a way to "understand your blind spots" at work.

"You're using it to adapt because then, if you know your default mode, which we often get into when we're stressed, you can be the one who flexes first."

As Lisa put it: "We don't want you to change who you are today. We want you to just make sure that you understand who you are and make it easier to get it done with less second guessing."

The bottom line? "Once you can speak someone else's language, those workplace tensions, they just start to disappear."

And honestly, who couldn't use a bit less workplace drama?

Feature Image: Getty (This is a stock photo for illustrative purposes only).