This week in the world’s #1 newsletter on leadership communication:

How to Speak with Anyone
On the Show: How the World’s #1 Coach Builds Elite Leaders
Book Recommendation: Communicate with Mastery

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How to Speak with Anyone (4 Personality Types)

Here’s a 3-second test if you are an advanced communicator: When you speak to your team…

…do you assume everyone processes information the way you do? Or do you adapt how you communicate depending on who is in front of you?

If we are honest, most leaders fail this test. Not because they lack intelligence, but because they default to their own style.

I recently had a conversation with global publishing phenomenon Thomas Erikson about personality types and what it means for communication styles. Thomas is the author of bestsellers like Surrounded by Idiots that have sold over 12 million copies worldwide.

His core idea is simple yet uncomfortable: People are not difficult. They are just different.

If you only communicate in one way, part of your team will always feel misunderstood and performance suffers.

You might be wondering: can personalities really be categorized in a way that’s actually useful?

The answer is yes – but it depends on the model. Myers-Briggs, for example, is business-approved astrology and lacks reliability. The DISA model (Dominant, Inspiring, Stable, Analytical), which Thomas uses, is far more practical and grounded in observable behavior.

Here’s a break-down of the four personality types and how to speak to each of them (you can find my 1-page visual here):

DOMINANT

Who tends to be red? Leaders

Say this:
• “Here’s the goal.”
• “Here’s the decision.”
• “Let’s move forward.”

Give them: Speed & results

Avoid:
Long explanations
Over-detail
Slow decisions

INSPIRING

Who tends to be yellow? Leaders, creative types, marketing

Say this:
“Here’s what’s possible…”
“This is exciting because…”
“Imagine if we…”

Give them: Energy & vision

Avoid:
Dry facts only
Too much structure
Killing enthusiasm

STABLE

Who tends to be green? Operations, customer success, HR

Say this:
“Here’s how we’ll do it.”
“You’re supported.”
“We’ll take this step by step.”

Give them: Reassurance & clarity

Avoid:
Pressure
Sudden change
Conflict-heavy tone

ANALYTICAL

Who is yellow? Engineers, analyst, scientists, legal

Say this:
“Here’s the data.”
“Here’s why this works.”
“Let’s look at the details.”

Give them: Logic & structure

Avoid:
Vague ideas
Guessing
Rushing

The bottom line is this:

Don’t assume everyone talks like you
Figure out what color your team members and peers are
Appeal to all of them when speaking to the team.

Watch my conversation with Thomas to understand the four personality types and how to talk to them on YouTube. Thomas also nails my personality type within minutes :)

Click here to watch.

ON THE SHOW

How the World’s #1 Coach Builds Elite Leaders

I do a weekly show to help you become a top 1% communicator. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Youtube.

Marshall Goldsmith, widely considered the world’s number one executive coach, has spent decades working with some of the most powerful leaders on the planet – but at some point, he ran into a fundamental problem: how do you scale that level of impact? So he did something unusual.

He asked bestselling authors Scott Osman and Jacquelyn Lane to bring together the best coaches in the world under the 100 Coaches umbrella to bring that same level of transformation to leaders everywhere.

Because at the highest level, the real constraint isn’t intelligence, experience, or even effort – it’s what you can’t see about yourself.

In this week’s episode of Speak Like a CEO, you get a rare look behind the scenes: how the world’s top executive coaches actually work with leaders, what they see that others don’t, and how you can benefit from insights normally reserved for top CEOs.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Communicate with Mastery

If you’re looking for a timeless introduction to leadership communication, this is it.

Created for students at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, this book delivers practical frameworks to help anyone become a more influential speaker, compelling writer, and effective communicator.

One idea that stuck with me: The AIM Triangle

Before you communicate, get clear on three things: