Seeing People, Not Prospects: A Human Design Take on Selling & Leading
Have you ever been on the receiving end of a sales pitch that just didn’t land?
Not because the offer itself was bad. Not because the price was wrong. But because it felt transactional. Because you weren’t seen as a person, only as a prospect.
It leaves a bad taste — and it’s a powerful reminder for those of us building businesses and leading teams.
Why one-size-fits-all doesn’t work
Here’s the truth: selling (and leading) isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Some people love a direct approach. They want clarity, speed, the straight offer. Others need to feel a human connection first. They want to know you understand them before they’ll even consider your offer.
The same is true in leadership: some team members thrive when you give them autonomy straight away. Others need nurturing, encouragement, or more context before they can step up.
When we forget this, we fall back on blanket approaches. And that’s when connection breaks down.
The trap of “taught sales”
Many of us have been taught sales formulas — how to structure the call, how to “handle objections,” how to follow up.
The problem? If you copy-paste a method that doesn’t align with your natural gifts, it feels off. To you, and to the person on the other side.
Maybe you’re more of a storyteller. Maybe you shine in one-to-one conversations. Maybe you create trust by teaching, or by simply asking the right questions.
When you try to override your natural way of influencing, people feel the mismatch.
What Human Design reveals about influence
This is where Human Design gets really practical.
Each energy type has a natural way of influencing and being received:
Generators & Manifesting Generators create magnetism when they share genuine excitement and respond to what’s already alive. Forcing a scripted pitch usually backfires.
Projectors shine when they’re invited to share their insights. When they try to push, it often falls flat — but when they wait for recognition, their guidance lands deeply.
Manifestors are powerful initiators. They don’t need permission to start conversations — but they build trust when they inform and bring people along, rather than surprising them.
Reflectors influence best when they mirror back what’s really happening in the room. Their gift is in reflecting truth, not pushing an agenda.
Understanding your design means you can stop copying what you’ve been taught and start leaning into the way you’re naturally wired to connect.
Key lessons for sales and leadership
Whether you’re selling to clients or leading a team, the principles are the same:
See people clearly. Not everyone wants to be approached in the same way. Attunement matters.
Lead with your gifts. You don’t have to sell like everyone else. Influence flows when you show up the way you’re designed.
Relationship before transaction. For many people, trust is the foundation. Honour that, and the “yes” comes naturally.
Delegate where needed. If selling really isn’t your gift, bring in someone whose design makes them brilliant at it. That’s leadership, too.
The takeaway
Whether you’re leading a team or growing a business, there is no single right way.
Leadership and sales both work best when we stop forcing formulas and start seeing people clearly — ourselves included.
That’s what Human Design offers: a framework for understanding your natural strengths, and for recognising the differences in others.
Because when you lean into your authentic way of connecting, people feel the difference. And that’s where trust — and real influence — begins.
If this resonates, I’d love to explore how Human Design can support your leadership, your business, or your team.
Book a Discovery Call
Or learn more about how I work with leaders and teams here.
