Knowing your communication style is useful. Knowing when to move beyond it is what creates growth. In episode 627 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Zeina Baydoun about how law firm leaders and teams can use DISC to better understand themselves, communicate more effectively, and respond with greater intention.
Zeina breaks down why DISC is not a personality test or a permanent label. It is a starting point for recognizing the behaviors that come most naturally, the blind spots those tendencies can create, and the ways stress may amplify them. Rather than using a profile to say, “That is just how I am,” she encourages leaders to ask whether their default response is actually what the person or situation needs.
They discuss how different communication styles can create friction inside law firms, why understanding behavior can replace judgment with curiosity, and how teams can better support one another without lowering expectations for growth.
If you want to improve communication without forcing everyone to think and work the same way, this episode offers a thoughtful framework for building more adaptable leaders and more connected teams.
Listen to our previous episodes on Leadership, Communication & Building Stronger Law Firm Teams.
#615: How to Stop Being the Bottleneck and Build Stronger Teams, with Debbie Foster and Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN
#596: The Athlete’s Mindset for Lawyers, with Jess Sargus Apple | Spotify | LTN
#592: Client Care, Culture, and Character: A Framework for Great Leaders, with William O’Neal Apple | Spotify | LTN
#527: Casting Your Vision and Leading Your Firm, with Kevin DeShazo Apple | Spotify | LTN
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Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction01:25 – Using DISC as an Active Leadership Tool04:10 – Meet Zeina Baydoun05:45 – What DISC Reveals About Communication08:35 – Understanding Behavioral Preferences12:00 – How Self-Awareness Changes Team Dynamics14:40 – The Problem with Personality Labels16:20 – Why Leaders Cannot Hide Behind Their Style17:40 – Developing Skills Outside Your Comfort Zone18:55 – Adapting Your Communication to the Situation21:55 – Leadership and Communication Under Pressure25:25 – Supporting Strengths and Managing Blind Spots28:50 – Creating Space for Other People to Lead31:05 – Moving Beyond Fixed Leadership Styles32:10 – Building New Behavioral Habits33:05 – Choice, Growth and Intentional Leadership35:05 – Closing Thoughts
