People Aren’t One Dimensional

Human beings are messy and amazing. We are multi-faceted, complex, ever-changing, and wear many hats in our lives.For years, people have created models and formulas to simplify and categorize people.

And for all the value those efforts and models can yield, they fall short of being the magic pill that helps us communicate with, work with, and lead individuals.

People aren’t one dimensional, and the best leaders focus on leading individuals, not leading people.

The Reality

When you ask people about themselves, often the first thing they say is what they do for a living. You aren’t surprised when you hear people say, “I’m a firefighter,” “I’m an accountant,” or “I work in the oil business.”

While people often identify themselves with their work, there is far more to who they are.They are single or married, sons or daughters.