I recently read a fascinating article in Inc magazine that outlined 13 leadership styles of corporate leaders. The authors outlined each type and what traits are typical. While we all have our own unique leadership style, some styles resonate with us while others do not.
Do you recognize your leadership style(s) from the list below?
- Adaptive
This leader rises above the noise and looks at the changing landscape to interpret how best to adjust the business to the challenges. - Emotionally intelligent
These are leaders who are experts with relationships and have strong influencing skills. They are aware of their feelings and those of others, too. - Charismatic
These leaders are the motivators with a charismatic authority about them. Think of Jack Welch and Theodore Roosevelt. They can end up with a cult-like following - Authentic
This trait could be summed up as passion, but with integrity. These leaders are consistent and open. - Level 5
This leadership style comes from the book Good to Great by Jim Collins, who describes Level 5 leaders as those with a strong pursuit of goals with humility. They give credit where credit is due, and don’t have oversized egos that desire praise for themselves. - Mindful
This leader is a good listener and probes with questions to help address their curiosity. They ask smart questions to help them be better learners and leaders. - Narcissistic
This is the leader who does not listen, does not learn, and does not teach. They also have an obsessive vision that tends to pull their followers along. If they have a strong second-in-command person who can offset their “less than nice” traits, they can be effective company builders. - No-Excuse
Think of this leader as a military commander who wants no excuses about why a mission didn’t work out. These leaders display mental toughness and make decisions quickly with limited information. This leader will typically debrief on why a situation didn’t go right, not to blame but to try and learn from it and not repeat it - Resonant
This is the enthusiastic leader who can rev up their team to push through challenges. They have a contagious style that can get ordinary team members to do extraordinary things. - Servant
Servant leadership displays the person’s desire to serve employees, customers, and other stakeholders. Based on Biblical principles of “wash each other’s feet,” servant leadership can result in workplaces you see on lists titled “Best-places-to-work.” - Storytelling
This leader evokes emotion with employees through narratives to drive the vision of a company. This style tends to be prevalent with entrepreneurs who need to tell a story about their company and what they want to accomplish. They can provide a picture for the minds of their employees. - Strengths-based
This leader invests in the talents of their employees. They want them to thrive in a manner that can bring out the best of their skills and how it fits with the company’s mission. - Tribal
Tribes are led by people who understand the cultural norms and values of the group. This leader has the ability to unite the team around shared beliefs that are needed to make the company successful.
Leadership styles come in all shapes and sizes. Some people display traits in multiple styles and are not just “one size fits all” approach. However, it’s likely that one style plays a larger role with a person. Which one are you? Cheers to finding out your leadership style and how you can best use it to drive your company’s vision.
Cheers to identifying and enhancing your leadership style!
Mike