86 / UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP
Leading from within
Being a frontrunner
People respect leaders who embrace
strong values and take responsibility
for their own choices in life. To
demonstrate this internal strength
you need to be seen to be leading by
example. Show your team that you
have the confidence to take risks, that
you can persist through difficult times,
and that you are prepared to keep on
learning, adapting, and creating new
business opportunities.
The job of a leader is to give others a sense of purpose and self-worth.
This is impossible to do with any conviction if you don’t understand your
own strengths and weaknesses, or if you are uncertain about the direction
in which you want to take your professional and personal life. Improving
self-awareness is an essential part of growing into a more effective
leader and becoming alert to the effects you are having on others.
Accepts direction
Focuses on how to achieve
a goal
Plans and thinks through
any actions logically
Thinks any problems out
from first principles
Redefines problems and
confidently challenges
issues upward
Sees opportunities for
action and improvement
Focuses on practical
actions and implementation
in complex situations
How can we achieve the
best result in the least time?
How can we organize the
actions into a clear plan?
What are the most important
things to do or coordinate?
What action can we take?
What needs to be done?
When can we start?
What if…?
Why have we ruled out these
other courses of action?
Why not do this instead?
Who else needs to be involved?
STYLE
CHARACTERISTICS
QUESTIONS ASKED
Defining thinking styles
TACTICALOPERATIONAL
STRATEGIC
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LEADING FROM WITHIN / 87
Knowing yourself
People don’t all think in the same way.
Understanding your own thinking style
and the styles of others around you
will give you some valuable leadership
tools. The term “thinking style” does not
refer to your IQ, but how you process
information; broadly we can distinguish
between three styles: tactical,
operational, and strategic.
Most people tend to get stuck using
just one of the thinking styles. But by
recognizing your own thinking style you
begin to ask different questions and think
about problems in fresh and exciting
new ways. By doing this you work more
effectively with your team because you
can understand how they think and
communicate, and you can talk to people
in their own “language.”
LIST YOUR SKILLS
Make a list of the essential
characteristics you already
have as a leader—“I am
focused,” “I am committed
to excellence,” “I respect
others,” “I work hard”—and
those to which you aspire: “I
am caring,” “I am trusted.”
Repeat this exercise regularly
to monitor your inner thoughts
and development.
Tip
thinking styles
are useful for solving
different problems
3
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88 / UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP
Leadership styles
Psychologist Daniel Goleman made
the concept of Emotional Intelligence
well known. He developed the idea
of the importance of emotions in
management to identify six leadership
styles (see below). Many people
use several styles at different times.
The authoritative style had the most
positive impact on organizations.
When you embrace the
values by which you live
and apply them to your role
as a leader, people will
respect your sincerity
and sense that you wish
others to succeed
COERCIVE
Leads with a
clear vision
Self-confidence,
empathy
Key phrase:
“Come with me”
Most positive
impact
Creates harmony,
builds bonds
Empathy, good
relationships, and
communication
skills
Key phrase:
“People come first”
Positive impact
Demands that
people comply
Drive to achieve,
self-control
Key phrase: “Do
what I tell you”
Negative impact
AUTHORITATIVE AFFILIATIVE
Leadership styles
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LEADING FROM WITHIN / 89
embrace the values by which you live
and apply them to your role as a leader,
people will respect your sincerity,
acknowledge the stake you have in your
work and in your team, and sense that
you wish others to succeed. Self-
awareness means analyzing your
thoughts and emotions, seeking as
much feedback from others as possible,
and developing listening skills.
Developing self-awareness
To be effective, you need to lead from the
inside out. What you really think, and
what you value as your life principles,
should emerge clearly in your behavior.
To think as a leader, you should look to
your self-awareness as well as to your
awareness of the outside world. Leading
from within and being true to your own
principles brings results. When you
Creates harmony,
builds bonds
Empathy, good
relationships, and
communication
skills
Key phrase:
“People come first”
Positive impact
Concensus through
participation
Collaboration,
team spirit, and
communication
skills
Key phrase: “What
do you think?”
Positive impact
Sets high
performance
standards
Drive to achieve,
conscientiousness
Key phrase:
“Do as I do”
Negative impact
Develops skills
in other people
Developing others,
empathy, self-
awareness
Key phrase:
“Try this”
Positive impact
AFFILIATIVE
DEMOCRATIC PACESETTING COACHING
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90 / UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP
Applying self-knowledge
The benefits of self-knowledge in the
workplace may not be immediately
apparent when set alongside other,
more practical and cognitive skills, but
its value has been acknowledged by
psychologists for decades. The term
Emotional Intelligence (EI) was coined
to describe an ability to identify,
discriminate between, and use one’s
own and others’ feelings to guide your
thoughts and actions. The importance of
EI cannot be overstated—there are many
studies that indicate that EI is a far better
indicator of leadership potential than
standard measures of intelligence
such as IQ. The emotions that leaders
experience affect the culture of an
organization, shaping productivity,
employee satisfaction, and loyalty, and
so having a real influence on results.
COMMIT TO CHANGE
Seek out an experienced coach
to guide you in building EI. The
transformation will entail
changing your attitudes and
habits, as well as learning
new skills, and requires a
real commitment—in time
and resources—from you and
from your organization.
Tip
The emotions that
leaders experience
affect the culture
of an organization
Using emotional
intelligence
RECOGNIZING EMOTIONS
EMPATHIZING
REGULATING EMOTIONS
NURTURING
USING EMOTIONS
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