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Leadership Tip of the Month

December 2006

Copyright 2006 ã weLEAD, Inc.

 

Where Do You Fit in the Leadership Continuum?

 

 

The kind of leader you are is always difficult to determine in an objective way. A number of tests and surveys are available to indicate the traits, personality, behaviors and tendencies you might possess as a leader. Below is an informal tool for you to analyze the leadership philosophy you model to others. By looking at leadership as a continuum, we can designate two contrasting philosophies. At one end is the extreme authoritarian leader with the associated behaviors and attitude using this approach. At the other end is the ideal servant leader with the behaviors and attitude modeled by this mind-set. Of course, few individuals are at the ends of the continuum and most of us fall somewhere in between. We encourage you to take some time to go down the list of "traits" and see what your personal example and behavior reveals about your leadership. As you go down the list, ask yourself if you lean more toward the autocratic approach or toward that of a servant leader.

 

 

Autocratic Leader    5<<<< 4 <<<< 3 <<<< 2 <<<< 1 <<<< ( ) >>>> 1 >>>> 2 >>>> 3 >>>> 4 >>>>5     Servant Leader

 

Traits                                     Extreme Authoritarian Leader                Ideal Servant Leader

 

Most Important Assets            Large buildings and wealth                             Their mission & followers

                                               

Leader's Main Purpose           Self-promotion                                                Promoting others

                                                Material acquisition and prestige                    Growing people

 

Use of Power                          Limited to select few                                       Power shared

                                                Leadership limited to the top                           Leadership exists everywhere

                                                Punitive to humiliate & control                        Corrective to restore and build

 

Decision-making Roles          Limited to a select few                                    Shared with responsible people

 

Personal Fulfillment                Influence & prominence                                  Mentoring and developing others

 

Leadership Style                     Aloof                                                                Approachable

                                                Stern and rigid persona                                  Allow themselves to be vulnerable

 

                                                Stubborn know-it-all                                        Open minded

                                                Command and control                                    Consultative

                                                Only closest aids are important                      All followers are important

                                                Gives directives                                              Asks lots of questions

                                                Reclusive and secretive                                 Open two- way communication

                                                They are the center of attention                      Mission is the center of attention

                                                Selfish and arrogant                                        Generous and humble

 

Work Environment                  Competitive and fearful                                   Team based and cooperative

                                                People can’t wait to leave                               People love to work and help

                                                Constant turnover of people                           Stable environment

 

Management Time                  Spends a lot of time babysitting                      Spends a lot of time mentoring &

                                                                                                                        encouraging others

 

Morals & Ethics                       Their example not important                           Their example is most important

                                                Special perks and rules apply                         Same rules and ethics for all

                                                Code of ethics meant to control                     Code of ethics meant to ensure order

 

                                                Followers are disposable                                Followers are greatest asset

 

Accountability                          Followers must live to higher standard           Choose to live by higher values

                                                They are special and rules don't apply           Believe same rules apply to all

 

                                    Policies                                   Complex and many                                         As few as absolutely needed

                                                                                                            to provide order & avoid litigation

 

Termination Process              Abrupt and stern                                             Patient & compassionate

 

 

 

This is just one of the tools we use at our weLEAD leadership seminars. We hope you find it to be both revealing and beneficial. If you would like more information about our seminars, you can find out more at our seminars link.

 

For weLEAD, this is Greg Thomas reminding you that it was Harry Truman who said, "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."