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THE BENEFITS OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE

adjust their style, particularly when dealing with certain customer
types, to prevent any negative perceptions.

Leadership roles often see a similar pattern. Many leaders adopt a
dominant style, setting the pace and direction. Yet this can some-
times be seen as too authoritative by employees who prefer a more
collaborative approach. For these workers, a dominant boss can be

off-putting or intimidating. And when you have an equally assertive
employee, the potential for a clash rises.

However, life is full of exceptions. A dominant leader might actu-
ally appreciate a challenge from an assertive employee, thinking, “At
last, someone who doesn’t just agree but offers a real discussion!”

Key Point: Knowing Yourself Helps You Adapt

Understanding your own behavioral style is incredibly valuable—
it’s a tool that benefits you in just about every aspect of life.
When you’re tuned into your personal traits and what motivates
you, you gain insight into how you appear to others and how you
perceive them. This self-awareness is powerful; it lets you adjust
your behavior to connect better with those around you. Plus,
being authentic in how you present yourself strengthens your
relationships because you’re interacting as the real “you.”

IF YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOU CAN CHANGE

I realized the value of self-awareness later in life, yet still sooner than
those who firmly believe throughout their years that they cannot
change, often saying, “That’s just who I am.”

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