Leadership Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All 

(And Neither Are You)

By Kelly Fairhurst

What your behavioural style says about the way you lead and why it matters. Let’s face it: leading people is tough. One person wants clear instructions. Another wants freedom to “just run with it.” Someone else just wants to be left alone with their spreadsheet and noise-cancelling headphones.

And the truth is, how you lead is shaped by your behavioural style, often without you even realising it.

If you’re naturally task-focused and decisive, you might steamroll quieter team members without meaning to.

– If you’re people-oriented and enthusiastic, you might avoid tough conversations to keep the peace.

– If you’re calm and dependable, change might stress you out more than you let on.

– If you’re analytical and precise, working with “wing it” types might secretly make your eye twitch.

These aren’t flaws. They’re patterns. And understanding yours is the first step to becoming the kind of leader people want to follow, not just have to follow.

Why Does This Matter?

Because your natural style influences how you make decisions, give feedback, handle conflict, and communicate under pressure. And what works brilliantly for you… might completely miss the mark with someone else.

That’s where behavioural awareness comes in.

⮞ High Dominance? You’re likely results-driven, direct, and decisive. Great in a crisis, maybe less great when your team wants collaboration over commands.

⮞ High Influence? You bring energy, positivity, and people skills, but you might gloss over details or avoid hard conversations.

⮞ High Steadiness? You’re calm, loyal, and supportive. Change can be a challenge, and conflict? Not your favourite.

⮞ High Compliance? You’re precise, analytical, and focused on doing things right. But fast-paced change or ambiguity can leave you spinning.

Great leaders don’t just “know their stuff.” They know themselves. They understand how they’re wired and how to flex their style to bring out the best in others. So, what happens when leaders don’t know their style? 

Cue misunderstandings, micromanagement, unspoken frustration, and teams that never quite hit their stride. People feel unheard, unseen, or unsure of what’s expected of them.

But when leaders are behaviourally aware, everything changes:

⮞ Conversations get clearer.

⮞ Expectations are aligned.

⮞ Conflict becomes productive, not personal.

And people feel valued for who they are, not just how they perform.

Ready to find out your leadership style?

Book a complimentary consult with us or download our eBook The Art of Leadership – Understanding the DISC Leadership Styles

Whether you’re leading a team of two or a company of 200, better leadership starts with better self-awareness.

Because leadership isn’t about changing who you are.

It’s about knowing who you are and learning how to lead from there.