Struggling with your new boss?:

This issue comes up frequently in my coaching sessions. Just last week, I worked with a client who had recently been promoted to a Head of Marketing role. They were experiencing friction with their new boss—a relationship that was challenging due to their very different personalities.

In our conversation, I reminded them that the skills and style that got them to this stage in their career might not be enough to excel at this new level. Growth often requires us to stretch, adapt, and embrace new approaches.

Using the DISC framework, my client identified themselves as a Yellow—enthusiastic, warm, relationship-focused, and a natural storyteller. Yellows thrive on high-level conversations but can get bored with details or lose focus. Meanwhile, their boss was clearly a Red—direct, results-oriented, quick-paced, and no-nonsense. Two very different communication styles.

Flexing your communication style:

To succeed, my client realized they needed to flex their style. They learned how to deliver concise, focused messages that landed better with their boss’s preferences. Once they adapted, the relationship improved dramatically, opening up a more productive and positive dynamic.

Conclusion

Flexibility is essential—not just in how we move, but in how we communicate and connect with others. If you want to influence, inspire, and lead, you must stretch beyond your comfort zone and meet people where they are.

About the author
Laura McGrath is an Executive Coach with a background in search and selection. She’s over 1,000 coaching hours with clients such as Virgin, BBC Studios, Virgin Partners, Booking.com Sum Up, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Gucci, BNP Paribas, Amazon and many start-up companies. She has a post graduate qualification in Executive Coaching from the IMI and has been a guest lecturer with Trinity College Dublin and TU Dublin. For more information call 087 669 1192 or email laura@isoar.ie.