Growth Hierarchies Are Greater Than Dominator Hierarchies

There are two kinds of hierarchies, one positive, and one not so positive.

The first type of hierarchy, the positive one, is called a growth hierarchy. This type of hierarchy helps people actualize their potential. The second type of hierarchy, the type that is not positive, is called a dominator hierarchy, where those in higher roles dominate those in lower roles.

Dominator Approaches

Dominator hierarchies are usually led by people who make weak choices, to using some type of force to get their will, even though force is evidence of weakness, not strength.

• Force: When you use threats, focus on personal consequences, and ultimatums to produce results through others, you are making the weakest of all choices available to a leader.
• Coercion: The threat of force is really no different than force. Using psychological pressure to cause people to do what you need them to do is clear evidence of a dominator hierarchy, and it is only slightly different from force itself.
• Manipulation: Using fear, shame, bribery or some other similar tactic is poor leadership. It is tactical, transactional, and it is evidence that you believe that people are a means to an end, and not the end. Leaders care about those in their charge, and manipulation is the opposite of caring.

Growth Hierarchies

There are positive choices for a leader to produce results through others. These choices are quite different from the choices a dominator might make.

• Persuasion: Using logic and reason to help people understand what they need to do, how they need to do it, and why it is important is a positive, respectful way to lead. It is also how to teach people, and it’s how we provide them with a vision of what they are capable of.
• Influence: Influence is a more powerful approach still. Being someone other people follow, because of your character, your values, and your ability to help them grow and develop is positive choice. This is also a choice that requires more of you as the leader.
• Inspiration: In an age of narcissism and nihilism, the place from which to lead is inspiration. It’s creating an environment where people fine meaning and purpose and identity. When people are inspired to be and do their best, you have clear and overwhelming evidence of an exceptional growth hierarchy.

Growth hierarchies are better, more effective, and more sustainable than dominator hierarchies. The place you lead from determines what kind of leader you are—and it determines what kind of results you produce in others. It also determines who will work for you and for how long.