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Ever wonder why some leaders seem unshakable, even when everything’s on fire?
It’s not just instinct or experience. It’s insight. The kind that helps you recognize what you need before stress takes over – and how to advocate for yourself and others in the moments that matter most.
That’s why I use the Birkman Method. Not occasionally. Every time.
In this post, I’m pulling back the curtain on the assessment that transformed how I lead – and how I coach leaders to unlock clarity, reduce friction, and show up as their best self under pressure.
The Tool That Changed My Leadership – and Why I Use It with Every Client
You can’t lead others well if you don’t understand how you lead, especially when things get hard.
Whether you're navigating rapid change, managing difficult personalities, or carrying the weight of too many decisions, leadership clarity can’t just come from instinct. It has to come from insight.
That’s why I use the Birkman Method in every executive coaching engagement. It’s not just a personality tool, it’s a leadership lens.
I’m a Birkman Green with Red Needs. That means while most people experience me as relational and expressive, I operate best in environments that are fast-paced, action-oriented, and direct. That tension shaped much of my early leadership, until I learned to recognize the different versions of Onika that show up under pressure.
Understanding this didn’t just make me a better leader. It made me a better partner, teammate, and communicator. I now advocate for what I need and create space for others to do the same.
If that resonates with you, I unpack more of this story in 7 Strategies to Understand Yourself as a Leader.
Why I Ditched Other Assessments for Birkman
I’ve tried them all – DiSC, Myers-Briggs, CliftonStrengths. Each offers something.
But when you need practical insight that moves you beyond self-reflection and into meaningful change, Birkman stands apart.
Unlike other tools that measure style or preference, Birkman goes deeper. It shows you:
- How you behave when things are going well
- What you need to stay grounded and perform at your best
- How stress changes your behavior – and what to watch for
- How others may experience you (even when your intention is good)
That’s why it’s the only tool I trust across every engagement. Because it’s not just about understanding yourself, it’s about leading yourself and others with clarity, even when the pressure’s on.
What Birkman Tells You (That Other Tools Don’t)
When I introduce Birkman to clients, I break it down into four distinct tools I use to help leaders move faster, connect deeper, and lead better.
1. The Birkman Map
This is your aerial view. It places you in one of four intuitive color zones:
- 🟥 Red (Doer) – Action-oriented and decisive
- 🟩 Green (Communicator) – Expressive and people-focused
- 🟨 Yellow (Analyzer) – Detail-driven and structured
- 🟦 Blue (Thinker) – Reflective and imaginative
If you’ve seen my “paint in the room” analogy, you’ve heard this: every leader brings color. The goal isn’t to match, but to blend with intention.
2. The Birkman Components
This is where most leaders have an “aha” moment.
These nine traits reveal how you communicate, make decisions, and approach structure or conflict. They don’t just describe your behavior – they uncover your needs. And when those needs aren’t met? That’s when stress behavior kicks in.
Most of us know how we act, but very few of us know what we need to stay balanced. That’s the insight most leaders don’t know they’re missing – until they see it.
3. Birkman Mindset
This lens turns the mirror inward. It reveals the mental filters and belief systems that shape how you interpret feedback, handle challenge, and assign meaning to events.
It’s where the “old tapes” start to play – those internal narratives that shape your reactions more than you realize. Recognizing them is the first step in changing what no longer serves you.
4. Birkman-Informed Coaching Tools
This is where insight becomes action. Two tools I use often:
- The Birkman Coaching Page – A one-page summary that helps others understand how to collaborate with you more effectively. It includes coaching-friendly language for communication, energy, decision-making, and more. It’s especially useful for 1:1s and cross-functional teams.
- “The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make With Me” Insight – One of the most powerful tools for accelerating trust. It helps you name the patterns that frustrate you, and gives others the opportunity to avoid them.
Together, these tools act like “speed dating for trust.” When psychological safety hasn’t been built yet, they give your team – or your new stakeholders – a fast track to understanding what helps you show up at your best.
It’s self-serving and organization-serving at the same time. When people get what they need, they thrive. And so do the teams they lead.
When you understand how you're wired – and what you need to lead well – you stop guessing and start leading with intention.
That’s why I don’t coach without Birkman. And that’s why I believe it’s one of the most worthwhile investments a leader can make.
So tell me, are you using Birkman? If not, what’s one insight from this post that could change how you lead tomorrow?
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