DiSC® IS Culture: How FreshBooks Rolled Out Catalyst Across the Organization
One-Time Versus All-the-Time
Organizations turn to personality style tools for a variety of reasons. They may use it as part of their hiring practices, because they want to improve communication, or they hope to strengthen ongoing collaboration. Sometimes it’s to help their people understand each other better, talk through disagreements and make conscious decisions.
The challenge is that many personality tools stop short.
Employees complete their assessments, attend a one-time workshop, and then the tool gathers dust. Without reinforcement and accessibility, any tool risks becoming “just another training” instead of a living, breathing, integral part of the organizational culture.
The Bigger Problem
Not becoming a part of the culture can have consequences that run deeper than wasted training dollars or assessment fees. Without a shared language, employees may struggle to recognize and understand differences in working styles. Leaders often have to repeat explanations or address miscommunications that could have been prevented entirely. And organizations miss out on the lasting impact a common language can give them.
This was the exact scenario FreshBooks faced.
Having used DiSC since 2016, they had their entire workforce (of several hundred employees) with a completed Everything DiSC assessment. But none of these employees had transitioned to using Catalyst™, the new platform designed to make DiSC practical, interactive and actionable beyond a one-time training session.
HR and L&D Frustration
For HR and L&D leaders, that gap was frustrating. Years of effort had built the awareness of DiSC at FreshBooks, but it wasn’t a part of the daily work. Cait Stewart, Senior Manager of Workforce Enablement at FreshBooks, admitted she was initially hesitant to take the leap into Catalyst.
“At first, I thought — is this going to be valuable enough to ask everyone to do another assessment? But the value was so clear. Catalyst turned DiSC from something used at onboarding into something that truly is part of our culture.”
The fear of losing people in the transition was real. But the payoff has been undeniable.
DiSC is a Shared Language
The Catalyst platform provided FreshBooks exactly what it needed: a place where every employee could access their personal DiSC profile, compare styles with colleagues throughout the organization, and find advice for more effective communication. Instead of being locked away in a training closet, DiSC became an always-available tool – just one short website visit away.
The real impact of Catalyst has been a cultural shift, not just a procedural change. Cait mentioned she has walked into the lunchroom and heard employees casually reference DiSC in their conversation:
“That’s music to my ears — it’s become part of our regular conversations. In meetings, someone will say, ‘For the Cs out there, let’s provide more data,’ and everyone knows what that means.”
Catalyst didn’t just make DiSC more accessible — it turned it into a shared language that continually inspires teamwork and collaboration.
Four Steps to Rollout
Rolling Catalyst out across an organization of FreshBooks’ size required careful consideration and planning. Here’s how they did it:
- Secure leadership buy-in. When managers model the use of Catalyst, adoption flows naturally throughout the organization.
- Make it part of onboarding. Every new hire completes a DiSC on Catalyst assessment and attends a DiSC 101 workshop during their first few weeks.
- Build into team development. FreshBooks offers custom team workshops and management sessions, allowing leaders and teams to go deeper with DiSC.
- Reinforce continuously. Quarterly sessions apply DiSC to topics like feedback and collaboration. Participants even use Catalyst live to explore how best to approach real colleagues.
This structure turned DiSC from a point-in-time event into an ongoing learning journey for everyone in the organization.
Integris is a True Partner
FreshBooks didn’t take this journey alone. Partnering with Integris made the difference.
“From the very first meeting, Brett made me feel at ease. He was responsive, knowledgeable, and proactive. It didn’t feel like working with a vendor — it felt like working with a partner.”
That partnership hasn’t just been transactional. Integris has provided resources, sparring-partner conversations, and proactive support tailored to FreshBooks’ needs and challenges.
“They’re not just there to sell assessments or workshops. They’re a partner in ensuring we’re successful. When I bring an idea or a challenge, they brainstorm with me. They make my job clearer. I can define next steps and support my leaders better.”
That partnership has elevated the work of the L&D team while ensuring Catalyst delivers ongoing value for the organization.
Move From Tool to Culture Shift
FreshBooks’ experience shows that there is a vast difference between a tool and a culture shift. And cultural shift requires two things: the right platform and the right partner. Catalyst provided the structure. Integris provided the support. Together, they helped FreshBooks transform DiSC from a one-time exercise into a shared language across the company.
If your organization is ready to move beyond surface-level training and embed Catalyst as part of your culture, Integris can help.
Schedule a consultation with Integris to explore how to roll Catalyst out across your entire organization.
