What type of leader are you?

What type of leader are you?

Leadership is among a list of words becoming devalued through overuse, misapplication, and misunderstanding. Look up leader in most dictionaries, and you'll get "one who leads" or "someone in control of a group." You might also see "the position or function of a leader." Interestingly, you'll find similar definitions when looking up manager and managerial.

Perhaps that's why so many people call themselves leaders; they're referring to the dictionary definition. They control a team, company, or enterprise and label themselves as such. There is no talk of competence or outcomes, morals or values, empathy or support. Yet I believe when most people use the term leader or leadership in a sentence, they refer to something much more than being a simple “controller”.?

In my opinion, leadership is not a label tagged to a position within a hierarchy; it's a hard-to-define concept supported by personal behavior, humility, and emotional intelligence. It's a unifying force creating synergy within a group of individuals, assisting them in making their outputs more than the sum of the parts. Most importantly, anyone in a team can exhibit it.

True leadership requires realizing that there are many smarter people in the room than you, but they're all heads-down focused on their specialization. Your role as a leader is about being a generalist, keeping focused on the primary objective while guiding, coaching, and supporting your team toward its achievement. You remove barriers and put each member in the best position to win, supporting them when they wobble due to self-doubt, work, or family pressures.

Leaders understand it's not all about returns to shareholders, customers, and sales. These things are important, but you'll struggle and lose your way if they're your sole focus, and true leaders should be able to juggle it all. Your team and your value proposition must be your starting point. It's the foundation for your business and the engine driving growth.

Robert K. Greenleaf coined the phrase “servant leadership”. Greenleaf strongly felt that authoritarian leadership worked against growth and success in business. He believed that the source of actual power was mutual agreement rather than control. It was an idea that took off, with a study in 20021 showing servant leadership being practiced in several top-ranking US companies,Those companies were actively followed and rated highly for leadership style.

As CEO of ProofPilot, I see my role as providing my colleagues with a solid footing and a sense of direction, even when pressure mounts, as it does in a young rapidly growing company. I remind them of how far we've come and what we have yet to achieve, and I work hard to remove any barriers to their success.?

I also try to remember that my colleagues have life and aspirations outside of work; they are more than the few hours I see of them daily. Most importantly, I try to relate to each person, talk to them, and understand their pressures and concerns. Each has valuable life experiences that differ from mine, so asking for their opinions and advice may give me a new way of seeing and solving a problem.

Leadership should move beyond the dictionary definition of being a controller; it should be motivating and inspirational. Achieving this will require self-awareness and hard work. As a proud New Yorker, I can’t help but bring up the Yankees to make an analogy here! I take my lead on inspirational leadership from Derek Jeter, “The Captain” of the New York Yankees.?

Jeter exemplifies those traits to which all leaders should aspire. He was passionate about his career and was consistent in developing his skills. Known for the respect of his teammates, Jeter always apologized when wrong and was a consummate professional. He encouraged others to pursue their goals relentlessly and still mentors and supports.

It’s what I also admire about Jeff Kozloff , who has built a phenomenal career as a multi-time CEO and investor. Jeff focused his bets as a leader and investor on people. I have had the privilege to work with Jeff for many years, including when he was the CEO of TrialScope, which was acquired by Citeline. He taught me all there is to know about leading a team through empathy and inspiring others by trusting their instincts.?

If we have learned anything over the past two and a half years it’s that the need for leadership is at an all time high. We need to stop asking the question of who can lead as anyone can be a leader… the real question is? what type of leader are you?

1. Sendjaya, S., & Sarros, J.C. (2002). Servant Leadership: Its Origin, Development, and Application in Organizations. Journal of Leadership and Organization Studies, 9, 57-64. https://doi.org/10.1177/107179190200900205