By Accelerator Coaching Ltd.
“Treat others as they want to be treated – not as you would want to be treated.”
If you’ve ever sat in a meeting thinking, “Why don’t they get it?” – you’re not alone.
Communication is the single most important skill in leadership, yet it’s the one most of us assume we’ve mastered.
The truth is, good communication isn’t just about being clear – it’s about connecting. It’s about understanding how others think, feel and process the world, and flexing your style to meet them halfway.
At Accelerator Coaching, we believe communication is the golden thread of great leadership. It’s what builds trust, drives collaboration, and helps people thrive – even when conversations feel uncomfortable.
When good intentions miss the mark
Back in our corporate days in national newspaper sales, we learned this lesson the hard way.
We’d spent weeks rallying the team for a new CRM launch – lively meetings, creative ideas, plenty of energy and enthusiasm. We were confident everyone was onboard.
Launch day came… and a few people went quiet. They weren’t being difficult; they were simply uncomfortable. They were the calm, methodical team members who needed time, clarity and a one-to-one conversation before change felt safe.
At the time, we didn’t have the language for it. Later, through behavioural profiling, it all clicked. These colleagues had a more “Green” communication style – steady, loyal and thoughtful. They wanted to know why the change mattered and how it would work before diving in.
If we’d understood that earlier, we’d have taken a completely different approach one that met their needs, not just ours.
The Language of Human Behaviour
Whether you call it DISC, Insights, or C-Me, these frameworks all point to the same truth: people communicate differently.
Some are fast-paced and direct. Others are reflective and relational. None of these are right or wrong – they’re just different.
At Accelerator Coaching, our brand colour is yellow – it represents warmth, optimism and connection, which sit at the heart of everything we do.
Our founder, Tess, naturally leans YellowRed: energetic, enthusiastic and driven. But our wider coaching team blends every colour – analytical Blues, supportive Greens, dynamic Reds and sunny Yellows – because real success comes from embracing diversity, not flattening it.
We use DISC as one of several tools alongside coaching, Gallup Strengths, and the RocheMartin Emotional Capital Report (ECR), which explores emotional intelligence. Combined, these tools help leaders see both the science and the emotion behind how people communicate – and why they sometimes don’t.
Why communication is a Leadership Superpower
Strong communication isn’t about who talks the most; it’s about who listens best.
It’s about reading the room, asking before assuming, and knowing when to energise, when to explain, and when to simply hold space.
When leaders adapt their approach, something shifts:
Teams feel heard and understood.
Conflict turns into curiosity.
Collaboration becomes smoother, faster, and more human.
Communication isn’t one-size-fits-all.
But when you understand the people around you – their pace, their needs, their motivators – you stop managing and start leading.
The Takeaway
Next time you feel surrounded by “idiots”, take a breath. You’re probably surrounded by people who think, feel and communicate differently – and that’s where your biggest leadership potential lies.
At Accelerator Coaching, we accelerate leaders and teams uncover those differences and use them as superpowers – because when communication flows, everything else follows.
About Accelerator Coaching
Accelerator Coaching Ltd enables leaders and teams in the UK to communicate with confidence, manage emotions effectively, and perform with purpose using a coaching-led programme.
Founder Teresa (“Tess”) Peters, an EMCC Senior Practitioner Coach, Emotional Intelligence Expert (RocheMartin ECR), and Accredited Emotions Practitioner, together with our team blends coaching psychology, DISC, and Strengths-based development to drive meaningful, measurable change.
ignite@acceleratorcoaching.co.uk
www.acceleratorcoaching.co.uk