This article was written by Kayla Depoian of The Abundance Group.
It is a wild misconception that people are either good leaders or not. The truth? Nobody is born a good leader. Leadership is a skill that is learned, fostered, and nurtured over time. Those that dedicate the time and effort to it, thrive in their leadership and it shows in innumerable ways. On the contrary, those that fail to make the investment in themselves lack the leadership they need to lead a high performance team. So how do you become a stronger leader? One of the biggest kept secrets to being a good leader is understanding your leadership style and the temperaments of those on your team to learn how you can effectively communicate and support one another. Let’s unpack the steps you can take to level up your leadership and enhance your team effectiveness.
It starts with YOU!
As the owner of your business, you set the tone for the work environment. The work you invest (or don’t) will directly impact the way your team synergizes. So, no pressure, but it starts with you. By understanding your leadership style, you can design a clear path to success. To do this, you will want to:
- Be open minded to see yourself as you are, not who you wish to be.
- Be prepared to make changes. Yes, change can be difficult but it can also warrant incredible results!
- Dig in deep. Yes, this means you will need to really explore your weaknesses head on so you can address them.
Understand your leadership style
When it comes to your leadership style, everyone falls (predominantly) into one of four categories. It is possible to have components of all and even a secondary style but ultimately you will find that there is one you align with most. For the intent of growing your leadership, it is important to focus on your most dominant style. You can do this by taking the quiz! The four styles are:
- Thoughtful Developer
- Optimistic Connector
- Driven Trailblazer
- Compassionate Influencer
Each of the four styles have unique strengths and weaknesses that impact how they show up for their team. Let’s unpack them further!
Thoughtful Developer
Thoughtful developers (associated with the color blue in Kathleen’s research) are incredibly skilled at introspection and reflection. This means that they are always making small shifts to better their processes. For this reason, they are able to build something that continues to grow stronger with time.
They also have a unique gift that allows them to be deeply connected to their surroundings, making them one of the most empathetic and compassionate people. They are certainly the ones that are serving and caring for others. Everything Thoughtful Developers do has a carefully designed blueprint and serves a meaningful purpose. They live by their schedule, are all about the details, and love organization.
Optimistic Connector
Optimistic Connectors (associated with the color yellow in Kathleen’s research) are some of the most joyful people around! They are incredibly magnetic, they know how to draw a crowd, and they have a zest for life that is unmatched. Optimistic Connectors have such a great love for being around people that it takes a significant amount of time (if ever) for their social battery to run out.
People are drawn to those that have this leadership style because they tell the best stories in the room, they are enthusiastic, and their optimism is contagious! Optimistic Connectors bring a joy for gathering, a high level of creativity, and an unwavering positivity that will be remembered by everyone!
Driven Trailblazer
Driven Trailblazers (associated with the color red in Kathleen’s research) are the high achievers of the world. They are the students who weren’t ok with just 100%. They are always reaching, chasing, dreaming, and building—it’s in their DNA. They aren’t afraid to go where nobody else has ever gone and they aren’t afraid to make big moves. Failure isn’t even a word in a Driven Trailblazer’s vocabulary because they always find a solution to the problem.
DrivenTrailblazers have a unique ability to accomplish many tasks in a short period of time because they have a fire within that will never burn out!
Compassionate Influencer
Compassionate Influencers (associated with the color green in Kathleen’s research) are the peacemakers of the group. They constantly are seeking balance and harmony in their life. Because of this, people are drawn to them. They are witty, compassionate, cooperative, and highly likable. When things get crazy or start on fire, they are calm, collected, and level headed. They know how to move with ease through the challenges that each day brings!
Compassionate Influencers are connected with many and loved by all because of their incredible ability to listen intently. Their empathy and open door can feel like home!
Each style has mountains and valleys
When it comes to leadership, there isn’t one style that is superior to the rest. In all honesty, every style has the potential to be a successful leader. However, the real action and learning comes from understanding that while each style has mountains of strength, they each come with valleys of weaknesses. Being aware of those weaknesses and understanding how they impact your communication style, your behavior, and your relationships is what can take you from a leader to a great leader! Upon taking the quiz, your results will show you the areas of growth needed to make strides in your leadership; however, it is your responsibility to be open minded!
Weaknesses are never a bad thing if we are willing and able to see them. Our awareness of them is integral to our success. For example: A Driven Trailblazer is an exceptional leader, yet they can tend to get caught up on the tasks rather than the people. This moves the needle forward but causes challenges when acknowledging the work of others, developing strong relationships, and even day-to-day small talk. By having an awareness of this, Driven Trailblazers can make intentional efforts to connect personally with their team members prior to digging into the agenda for the day. This small change will make big waves in your team!
Know the temperaments of your team members
Most people, after taking the quiz, want to know what their team members (and even spouses) are! Why? Because knowing and understanding their style helps you know how to best show up for them. For example, if a business owner is an Optimistic Connector, they will make their team feel loved and seen but they will often lose the details. When communicating with a Thoughtful Developer on the team, this can be seen as a great challenge, since they function on the details. Knowing this can help them develop a system for compiling the details necessary to allow both parties to be productive!
It is also critical to know and understand their style because it will change how you interact. For example, an Optimistic Connector would LOVE for you to make a big scene about their birthday and sing to them. A Thoughtful Developer, however, may prefer a small gathering or less flashy approach to the day. Knowing and caring about their styles and how it affects the way they live their lives makes you an incredible leader and grows your team’s loyalty.
Take the leadership style quiz
Through utilizing the research of Kathleen Edleman, we have created a quiz that can help you determine your leadership style so that you can level up your leadership and take your team to greater success. Take the quiz to:
- Find out your leadership style
- Gain insight into your strengths and weaknesses
- Access customized tools to support you as aleader
- And MORE!
**Note: Email team@theabundance.group and they will send you a leadership bracelet**
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