What Kind of Leader Are You?

Renowned US author and academic Jeff DeGraff has spent years researching leadership and what makes a great leader.

In his studies, he has found that being a leader is a bit like being in charge of a substantial tool kit.

However, he says, it is no good having the correct tools for the job if you do not have the skills to use them.

Over many years of research, DeGraff has established there are four main types of leaders, and knowing which one you are will greatly assist you in carrying out your job while using the ‘tools of the trade’.

The four types of leaders are as follows:

1. Artistic

These types of leaders are often visionary, clever and creative. They can usually see the outcomes well before they occur and as such, are able to generate hope and faith in their followers. Spontaneous and imaginative, they express themselves in ways that are original and different – encouraging original thought and new ideas from both themselves and those they lead

2. Competitive

These leaders thrive on competition and rivalry and are aggressive and decisive. They strongly pursue goals and targets and find the ‘thrill of the chase’ extremely energising. Hard taskmasters, competitive leaders also drive their employees hard and expect only the best in return. Power is key to the competitive leader, and they are quick to alter course where necessary to redeploy resources or solve problems

3. Collaborative

This type of leader is empathetic, caring and highly skilled at building networks of people and sharing information. Using proven techniques such as conflict management and ‘consensus decision-making’, collaborative leaders are skilled at creating interactions between both internal and external stakeholders, as well as maintaining strong links with the community. This usually results in a wealth of shared values and commitment, as well as good staff morale and strong team relationships

4. Controlling

Sometimes known as ‘The Engineer’, the controlling leader possesses strong technical skills and the knowledge to improve efficiency. They are usually careful, diligent and function-based, and experts in the control and distribution of information. Lovers of technology, these types are usually at the forefront of new breakthroughs, and they are quick to employ them. Cautious and risk-averse in other areas, their idea of success is improving quality through the use of procedures.

As a leader, it can be very helpful to know which of the above types you most relate to.

Knowing your leadership type can also enable you to better identify your strengths and weaknesses, and thus operate more efficiently using the tools at your disposal.

Writing recently in the Harvard Business Review, US entrepreneur and management expert Bill Taylor quotes Alan Kay, the educator and computer designer, who famously declared, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”

In his article, Taylor uses the example of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to illustrate how it is still possible for some of today’s entrepreneurs to be ‘leading lights’ in creating the future.

Taylor describes Bezos as an ‘experimental leader’ i.e. the sort of person who is happy to take chances, and who doesn’t worry unduly if they don’t work out.

Indeed, entrepreneurs such as Bezos are much more complex than the average entrepreneur or leader, as they are a complex blend of some or all of the above qualities.

As an example of this, Bezos is expert at ‘reimagining’ what his organisation has done, and then moving forward with fresh interpretations and bold experiments about what is coming next.

Perhaps that is why he is so successful as he adapts and adjusts to the vagaries of the business world, seemingly effortlessly, and with great panache.