What is Human Design?

By Birgitte Riddersholm

A Beginner’s Guide to Human Design — for leaders who want to lead with more energy and ease

What if leadership wasn’t just about strategy, performance, or productivity — but about energy?

That’s the question that changed everything for me.

If you're a leader, HR professional, coach, or entrepreneur, chances are you're already aware that how we lead matters. Not just what we say in meetings or how we deliver results — but how aligned we are with ourselves. And that’s where Human Design comes in.

It’s a tool that’s helped me — and the leaders I coach — move from stress, self-doubt, and burnout… to clarity, confidence, and flow.

This is your beginner-friendly guide to understanding what Human Design is, why it’s relevant in leadership, and how you can start experimenting with it right now.

What is Human Design?

At its core, Human Design is a holistic blueprint of your personal energy.

It combines ancient systems — astrology, the chakra system (as you might know from yoga) — with modern science like quantum physics. The result? A bodygraph (or chart) that maps out how your unique energy operates in the world.

Your chart is based on your exact birth time, date, and place, and reveals:

• Your Energy Type – how you’re meant to use your energy in daily life and leadership

• Your Strategy – the most aligned way for you to take action

• Your Authority – your inner decision-making compass

• Your Profile – your life theme and leadership archetype

• Your Centers – which parts of you are energetically consistent and where you're more open

• Your Gates & Channels – your innate gifts, values, and energetic strengths

✅ Want to look up your Human Design chart now? You can do it for free at MyHumanDesign.com.

But what does that mean for Leadership?

Are you curious about how your personal Human Design effects your leadership style, I've made this article for you -> The Power of Human Design in Leadership

The 5 energy types (and why they matter)

There are 5 main Energy Types in Human Design — and understanding yours is a great place to begin:

Manifestors (<10% of the population): Visionaries of the group, Manifestors are natural leaders who initiate action and inspire others. They work best with autonomy and can bring rapid progress to their teams.

Generators (35%): The driving force of society, Generators have a consistent supply of energy for work they find meaningful. They excel in roles that allow them to build and create.

Manifesting Generators (30%): A blend of Generators and Manifestors, these individuals are multi-passionate and thrive on variety. They are capable of handling multiple projects simultaneously and bring dynamism to the team.

Projectors (20%): Gifted with the ability to see efficiencies, Projectors excel in guiding and optimizing processes. They require more rest than other types and shine when their insights are valued.

Reflectors (1-2%): The rarest type, Reflectors are highly sensitive to their environment and offer valuable insights into the well-being of their organization. They serve as a mirror, reflecting the health of the team or company.

🎯Which type are you? If you don't know yet, grab your free chart and start exploring!

Want to know more about Human Design?

Read my article in Forbes here:

"The Power of Human Design in Leadership"

How to start your Human Design experiment

Ready to get started?

Here’s how to begin:

1. Get your chart – You’ll need your birth date, time, and place

2. Read about your Type, Strategy & Authority – This is your energetic foundation

3. Begin to notice patterns – Where are you already in alignment? Where are you resisting your natural energy?

Remember, Human Design is a living experiment. It's not about perfection — it’s about awareness and alignment.

Want personalized guidance? Book a Human Design session or invite me to work with your team. Contact Me →

❤️ Why I use Human Design in my work

Before I discovered Human Design, I had already spent years working with change management, coaching, and leadership development. But something was missing.

Human Design gave me a language — and a permission slip — to lead from my true self. And now I help others do the same.

Because the future of leadership isn’t about doing more.It’s about being more aligned.

📩 Ready to go deeper?

I’ve created a free workbook to help leaders like you discover your unique leadership energy.

You’ll learn:

• The 5 Energy Types in leadership

• How to apply your Design at work

• Tools to prevent burnout and lead more effectively

Click here to download it for free

Let’s lead from energy. Not from exhaustion.

Birgitte 🌿