Dial vs. Switch

I want to start by saying this idea isn’t originally mine—and honestly, at this point I wonder if any of my thoughts are truly original. But I digress…

The first time I heard about being a “dial” versus a “switch” was back in February during a conversation with a friend from England. They explained that some people are like dials, you can turn them up or down, while others are like switches: they’re either fully on or completely off. And when I heard that, the light bulb went off.

Think about it: Have you ever butted heads with someone and couldn’t figure out why? Or maybe you’ve wondered why certain people seem so rigid—or maybe you’re the rigid one (I know I’ve been there).

So, which one are you? A dial, or a switch?

When I was younger, I was definitely more of a switch. But as I’ve entered my 30s, I’ve found myself becoming more of a dial. I also know people very closely who are 100% switches. They live in extremes. They’re either all in or all out, with nothing in between. They don’t seem to have that “gray zone.” And that’s okay; differences are what make the world interesting. But when I think of switches, I actually picture a button you keep pressing, hoping it’ll turn off, but it just doesn’t budge. You’re along for the ride, no matter if it’s on or off; there is no tuning down.

Here’s why I believe being a dial matters: it gives you range. You can turn certain traits up when needed, dial them back down when the moment calls for it, and adjust like tuning into the right frequency. Being too much of a switch, on the other hand, can create unnecessary conflict. It makes it harder to adapt, harder to read the room, and harder to meet people where they’re at.

Dials, though, have flexibility. Learning to fine-tune your own dial not only gives you more control over your emotions (the most important takeaway for me), but it also makes you a better teammate, a better communicator, and a better human. It’s not just about knowing yourself; it’s about adjusting in ways that help you connect with others, too.