Unlocking Connection: Kairos Elite Partnership Brings the Maxwell DISC Method to LeadingAge EXPO 2026

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Effective leadership relies entirely on the strength of human connection. To help professionals navigate complex workplace dynamics, partners Will Lukang and Jeni Yelton of Kairos Elite Partnership will be presenting their session, "How to find a way to connect with others," at the LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware Annual Meeting + EXPO. The event will take place from June 16–18, 2026, at Caesars Atlantic City.  

As certified coaches, international speakers, and authors—Lukang wrote Seeds of Leadership and Yelton authored Confidently Flawed—the duo leverages The Maxwell DISC Method to build self-awareness, empathy, and communication effectiveness.  

Moving Beyond "The Box"

While many professionals have taken personality assessments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Enneagram, or CliftonStrengths, Lukang and Yelton emphasize that the Maxwell DISC Method is uniquely tailored for practical, real-world leadership and team development. Rather than trapping individuals inside a rigid category, the framework provides a "GPS" to navigate communication, decision-making, and stress styles.  

The core framework breaks human behavior down into four primary styles:  

• Dominant (D): Driven by authority and speed, "D" styles seek results and easily take control. Their greatest fear is being taken advantage of.  

• Influencing (I): Relationship-oriented and expressive, "I" styles thrive in friendly environments and love great storytelling. Their primary fear is rejection or loss of approval.  

• Steady (S): Easygoing, compassionate, and intensely loyal, "S" styles look for peaceful team environments. They deeply fear confrontation and the loss of security.  

• Compliant (C): Planner-focused and detail-oriented, "C" styles honor logic, precision, and facts. Their greatest fear is criticism.  

  
  

Tailoring Your Communication

A central takeaway of the session is learning to communicate with people based on their preferences, not your own—an idea captured by Tom Rath’s quote: "Don't go to a hardware store looking for oranges."

For instance, when dealing with an executive crisis—such as an overwhelmed senior living facility facing medication errors and social media complaints—different leaders naturally react according to their primary trait. A "Driver" pushes for speed and immediate results, while an "Influencer" prioritizes talking it out to manage emotional fallout. Meanwhile, a "Stabilizer" seeks to preserve harmony, and an "Analyzer" demands to ask questions and examine facts first.  

To build effective relationships, the session teaches attendees specific communication rules:  

• When speaking to a D: Be brief, focus strictly on results, and ask "what" instead of "how".  

• When speaking to an I: Do not do all the talking, allow time for socializing, and follow up details in writing.  

• When speaking to an S: Create a friendly tone, show genuine personal interest, and give them time to adjust to change.  

• When speaking to a C: Provide validated facts, be precise and highly specific, and patiently answer their questions.  

Ultimately, the presentation aims to show how understanding the three levels of the DISC profile—the "public self" (the mask), the "private self" (instinctive responses to pressure), and the "perceived self" (the mirror)—can transform organizational culture.  

As leadership expert John C. Maxwell famously stated, "Connecting increases your influence in every situation." Attendees at this year's LeadingAge EXPO will walk away with tangible tools to do exactly tha