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‘What sort of leader am I?’ is a question which people often ask, and it’s not surprising that it comes up so often. Leaders are faced with a vast literature around theories and styles of leadership; hero1, servant2, authentic3, inclusive4, to name just a few. Navigating this, and determining which leadership style and persona to adopt, can be a real challenge.
Leaders may wonder do I adopt a consistent style or fluctuate between styles of leadership? How do I know what is appropriate for me and for my industry or my organisation? And how to respond when a role demands a leader who is empowering, inspirational, transformational?
Getting drawn into one particular style can be problematic. Take the example of leadership during a crisis. A situation that is planned for and predictable, such as the breakdown of manufacturing equipment, may demand that you provide really clear direction and an increase in tempo to respond and get something done. But in volatile and uncertain circumstances, you may need to adopt a very different leadership approach5, in order to adapt to a more complex situation.
Effective leadership is about being really aware of the context you’re operating in and providing an approach that’s appropriate at that time. And that context is going to keep changing, so being alert, asking ‘What’s going on?’ will enable you to select a leadership style from those available to you, in order that you can respond appropriately.
The truth is, there’s never one style which is the right style, and the question ‘What sort of leader am I?’ isn’t always the most helpful one. Asking ‘Do I see myself as a leader?’ and holding the identity of a leader is a more useful approach, because it allows for the flexibility to operate with a range of different leadership styles.
For over two decades, I’ve been helping leaders develop their understanding and practice of leadership so they can best address the challenges they encounter, in the organisations that they lead. To find out how I can support you and your organisation, let’s talk.
1Carlyle T. On heroes, hero-worship, and the heroicin history [online]. Project Gutenberg; 2012. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1091/1091-h/1091-h.htm. Accessed: 7th November 2023
2Greenleaf, R.K. The servant as leader. Center for Servant Leadership; 1970.
3George B. Authentic leadership: Rediscovering the secrets to creating lasting value. Wiley; 2003.
4Sweeney, C and Bothwick, F. Inclusive Leadership. Pearson; 2016.
5McChrystal S, et al. Team of teams: New rules of engagement for a complex world, first edition. NY: Penguin; 2015.
