Why Understanding Others Makes You a Better Leader!

June 10, 2025

🧠 Understand People First: The Secret to Real Leadership

In life and business, people may or may not understand you—and that’s okay.
What truly matters is how well you understand others.

Why?

Because understanding people is a superpower. It’s one of the greatest strengths a leader can have. The better you understand how individuals think, act, and react, the more effectively you can lead, guide, and position them—whether in your business or your personal life.

Let’s explore why this matters and how you can sharpen this skill with 3 powerful tools that will elevate your leadership game instantly.

🌟 The Truth: Understanding Others Builds True Leadership

It’s easy to feel frustrated when people don’t “get” you. But the reality is:

You can’t control how others think. You can only control how you respond.

When you master the ability to understand people:

  • You stop being reactive.
  • You lead with clarity.
  • You place people in the right roles or relationships based on their strengths.

As Stephen Covey said in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

Let’s dive into how to apply this practically.

đŸ”„ 1. Understand Human Nature Through the Four Elements

One of the most insightful tools comes from Tony Robbins: The Four Elements of Personality – Earth, Air, Water, and Fire.

Each of us has dominant traits connected to one of these natural elements. When you recognize this in people, you start seeing the world—and your team—differently.

🌍 Earth Personality

  • Grounded, stable, nurturing
  • Often found in roles like mothers, caregivers, or support systems
  • They don’t expect much in return, but they hold everything together
  • Best roles: Supportive, dependable functions

đŸ”„ Fire Personality

  • Energetic, passionate, reactive
  • Can be seen as impulsive or emotional
  • Needs room for creative expression or fast-paced decisions
  • Best roles: Creative, dynamic, fast-moving projects

💧 Water Personality

  • Calm, adaptable, sensitive
  • Too much pressure makes them pull away
  • Respond better to gentle guidance and consistency
  • Best roles: Client support, empathetic communication, collaborative environments

đŸŒŹïž Air Personality

  • Fun, talkative, light-hearted
  • Great at lifting the mood but may lack decision-making power
  • Best roles: Brand experience, event planning, employee morale

🔑 Tip: Recognizing these traits helps you avoid conflict and leverage people’s natural strengths.

đŸ§© 2. Use the DISC Personality Test

Especially useful in hiring, team building, or forming close partnerships, the DISC profile helps you decode someone’s working and communication style.

You can try it free at 👉 TonyRobbins.com/DISC

What DISC Stands For:

D – Dominance (Driver)

  • Focused, assertive, goal-driven
  • Wants results fast. No fluff.
  • Ideal for: Leadership, management, sales

I – Influence (Interactive)

  • Outgoing, social, persuasive
  • Great at connecting, not ideal for detail-heavy roles
  • Ideal for: Sales, customer success, public relations

S – Steadiness (Stable)

  • Loyal, dependable, patient
  • Excellent team players, thrive on harmony
  • Ideal for: Team-based tasks, operations, support

C – Conscientiousness (Cautious)

  • Detail-oriented, analytical, accurate
  • Excellent with data, slow to act without full understanding
  • Ideal for: Finance, administration, quality control

❗ Caution: Don’t put high-C personalities in fast-paced sales roles—they may hesitate too much. Likewise, high-I personalities may not suit roles requiring silence and precision.

Using DISC profiles during hiring or team restructuring can help you assign the right person to the right seat—making your business run more smoothly and efficiently.

📚 3. Book Recommendation: Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson

Ever judged someone for being too quiet, too loud, too slow, or too intense?

You’re not alone.

But often, what we see as “weird” is just a different personality type at work. This book brilliantly breaks down why people behave differently and how you can understand them better.

You’ll learn:

  • How to stop assuming everyone thinks like you
  • Why introverts, extroverts, and analytical minds all serve different purposes
  • How to avoid labeling people and instead lead with empathy

This is a must-read for anyone who leads teams or interacts with diverse personalities regularly.

🏆 Final Thought: Understanding People Is a Leadership Superpower

When you shift your mindset from “Why don’t they understand me?” to “How can I better understand them?”—you unlock a whole new level of leadership.

Here’s your action plan:

  1. Study the Four Elements – Earth, Air, Fire, Water.
  2. Try the DISC test – Know who you’re working with.
  3. Read Surrounded by Idiots – And stop calling people idiots. 😉