Leadership style matters – does your style fit the situation?

Are you leading your team in the same manner and style you used last year, or when you received your first promotion as a leader? Is your leadership style unchanging and constant, or flexible and evolving? Consider the benefits of learning about leadership archetypes and applying an adaptive approach as your leadership challenges evolve. An excellent definition for archetypes comes from author Jon Howard-spink who says “An archetype is a universally familiar character or situation that transcends time, place, culture, gender and age. It represents an eternal truth.”

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

wrote about archetypes in leadership in the Harvard Business Review. He tells us that getting the leadership style and personality match wrong can cause misery for everyone and great damage to a company. The following leadership archetypes frequently occur in organizations and can be highly effective, depending on the needs of your team and company. See if you recognize your leadership style or that of your manager. The Ruler uses command and control to drive results. This style fits best when rapid decisionmaking is required, such as in a crisis or emergency. This style of leader can struggle when inspiration and affiliation are needed to gain buy-in at all levels. The Hero is on a mission and likely has a clear vision for success. She values persistency and can overcome significant challenges. Experienced and independent thinkers do not always respond well to this style. The Caregiver is a strong leader in circumstances where conflict resolution and collaboration are required. He values harmony and empathy. The Caregiver may believe they have the only right answer or may place relationships over facts in decision-making. The Sage or Mentor excels at tapping into potential and building leaders for the future. She values lifelong learning and seeing others succeed. This style of leader can struggle with micro-managing. The Explorer thrives on innovation, experimentation, and being first. He values the freedom and individuality required to achieve innovation. This leader typically struggles when the need for structure and process arises. The Professor or Scientist leads the way to inventions that improve how things are done. She values logic and rational thought. This leader is likely to struggle to form relationships or may seem aloof and distant. As you can see, each of these styles has value. There is a time and place for each. Becoming adaptive and tapping into under-utilized aspects of your leadership style can boost your performance and improve measurable results. Here are some important ideas to keep in mind as you consider which archetype best describes you or your manager. Remain authentic to your style, even if it means experiencing a learning curve as you find your identity as a leader. To become adaptive while remaining true to yourself, identify the top leadership styles that match your strengths and values. Know the strengths and weaknesses of each style. Pair up with team members who have complementary styles and strong values alignment. For more info on Leadership Archetypes, read our blog at www.thewinsorgroup.com/blog