Why Do Good People Still Clash?
Welcome to another Toolkit Tuesday! Every week, our goal is to give you a practical leadership tool to put in your toolkit.
So There I Was…
One of our clients was struggling with tension between a leader and one of their team members. The leader was a Pioneer, driven to win no matter what. Sales goals, customer reviews, even a board game. The team member was a Nurturer focused on people and relationships. For them, winning meant everyone felt valued, respected and taken care of.
Both were frustrated. The Pioneer couldn’t understand why the Nurturer seemed hesitant to push for results and the Nurturer felt unseen and unappreciated. Once the leader saw how differently they were wired, everything changed. They started communicating in ways that made the Nurturer feel heard and supported. Nine months later that team is producing 100% above last year’s results because communication is clear and trust runs deep.
The Challenge
You’ve probably seen this before. Smart capable people hitting walls in communication. It’s not about who’s right or wrong. It’s about how they see and process the world. Without realizing it, they’re operating from completely different perspectives that shape their decisions, language and priorities.
The Tool: 5 Voices Dynamics
The 5 Voices Dynamics helps teams understand those core differences. It maps out how each of the 5 Voices — Nurturer, Guardian, Connector, Creative and Pioneer — processes information and makes decisions.
Across the horizontal axis you have Present Oriented vs. Future Oriented thinkers.
On the vertical axis, Systems & Logic vs. People & Values decision makers.
When you see it visually it’s easy to recognize why some people naturally align while others seem to clash. The tool even shows your Nemesis Voice, the one wired to think opposite of you.
If you want to learn more about the 5 Voices, check out our series on the 5 Voices.
Why This Matters Now
Teams that don’t understand their dynamics waste time and energy in unproductive conversations. But when you do understand them, you unlock synergy. You start valuing the different perspectives that make your team stronger. Instead of seeing tension as conflict, you start seeing it as a path to better decisions.
The Result
When leaders use the 5 Voices Dynamics they communicate with clarity and empathy. They make balanced decisions that account for both logic and people. Without it, teams default to frustration, misalignment and missed opportunities.
Take Action
Ask your team two simple questions: “Do you think more about what’s possible or what’s practical?” and “When you make decisions, do you focus on logic or people?” The answers will tell you a lot about your team dynamics.
Do you want your team to grow exponentially in clarity, trust and performance? Schedule a strategy call with us. We’ll show you how the 5 Voices Dynamics and our proven tools can help your team communicate better, execute faster and lead healthier.
Closing the Loop
For that Pioneer and Nurturer, understanding their dynamics didn’t just make work smoother. It changed the tone of the whole team. They learned that winning and caring aren’t opposites. When you learn to speak each other’s language, everyone wins.
