Why Experience Alone Isn’t Enough—and How Assessments Bring Learning to Life
At Signature Teambuilding, we’ve spent more than three decades designing experiences that challenge teams, surface real behavior, and spark meaningful conversations. Whether a group is solving a complex problem, navigating ambiguity, or working under pressure, our programs are intentionally designed to reflect the realities of the workplace.
But here’s something we’ve learned over the years:
Experience creates insight—but insight needs structure to last.
That’s where behavioral assessments come in.
From “That Was Powerful” to “This Changes How I Work”
One of the most common comments we hear at the end of a program is:
“That was powerful—but how do we keep this going?”
Experiential learning is incredibly effective because it engages the whole person. People feel it. They see themselves in it. They recognize patterns—both helpful and unhelpful—in real time.
Behavioral assessments help name those patterns.
They give participants a shared language to describe:
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How they prefer to communicate
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How they respond under stress
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What they need from others to do their best work
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Why collaboration sometimes flows—and sometimes breaks down
When experience and assessment are combined, learning becomes clearer, more personal, and far easier to apply back on the job.
Why We Use Assessments in Our Work
We don’t use assessments as stand-alone “tests” or labels. We use them as learning tools—tools that help participants reflect on what they just experienced and connect it to their everyday work.
Assessments help:
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Deepen self-awareness
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Normalize differences in work styles
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Reduce miscommunication and assumptions
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Turn group experiences into individual takeaways
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Extend learning well beyond the day of the program
In short, assessments help learning live on Monday morning, not just during the workshop.
The Two Assessments We Rely On Most
DiSC®: A Shared Language for Communication and Collaboration
DiSC is one of the most widely used behavioral frameworks in the world—and for good reason. It’s intuitive, practical, and immediately useful.
DiSC focuses on observable behavior and communication preferences, helping participants understand:
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How they tend to approach challenges
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How they influence and interact with others
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Why certain interactions feel energizing—or frustrating
When paired with experiential learning, participants don’t just read about their DiSC style—they see it in action during the program. The result is stronger awareness, better conversations, and clearer next steps.
Using the Catalyst platform, learning continues well after the event through cloud-based access, group comparisons, and ongoing reflection.
My HardWired®: Understanding Behavior Under Pressure
While DiSC focuses on everyday behavior and communication, My HardWired explores something deeper:
how we’re naturally wired to respond when things don’t go as planned.
This assessment is especially powerful for leaders and teams operating in high-pressure, high-accountability environments.
My HardWired helps participants understand:
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How they make decisions under stress
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Where blind spots may show up
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How pressure impacts teamwork and trust
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Why certain patterns repeat during difficult moments
When combined with experiential programs that intentionally introduce ambiguity and challenge, My HardWired creates powerful “aha” moments that stick.
Why Assessments Work Best with Experiential Learning
Assessments are valuable on their own—but we believe they are most impactful when paired with experience.
Why?
Because experience:
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Makes behavior visible
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Creates emotional engagement
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Surfaces real dynamics—not hypothetical ones
Assessments then help participants:
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Make sense of what happened
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Put words to what they noticed
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Translate insight into action
This combination transforms a single event into a longer learning journey.
Flexible, Intentional, and Aligned to Your Goals
Assessments can be delivered:
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As part of any Signature Teambuilding program
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As a stand-alone experience
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In person or virtually
We work closely with each client to ensure assessments support—not distract from—their goals, culture, and operating environment.
The Bottom Line
Experiences spark awareness.
Assessments provide clarity.
Together, they create learning that lasts.
If your goal is not just a great day—but meaningful, lasting impact—integrating behavioral assessments into your team development work may be the missing piece.
If you’d like to explore whether DiSC, My HardWired, or a combined approach is right for your team, we’d love to start the conversation.
