The Leadership Style that Trumps all Leadership Styles
There are as many leadership styles as there are leaders. Leadership styles, much like personalities, ebb and flow. One leader could be autocratic on Monday when under the pump and laissez-faire on Friday afternoon as the work week draws to a close.
So, can you really classify your leadership style? And is classification even needed?
I don’t think so.
But before I explain why, let’s first touch on the leadership styles most talked about in leadership circles.
Democratic: makes the final call, but everyone has a say first
Autocratic: employees aren’t consulted or considered before a decision but expected to adhere
Laissez-Faire: hands over almost all authority to their employees
Strategic: has one eye on improving the current work environment and the other eye on growth
Transformational: visionary, wants to change what is not working, pushes employees outside their comfort zone
Transactional: uses control and planning to achieve goals, offers rewards for high performance
Coach-style leadership: identifies and nurtures the unique strengths of each member
Bureaucratic: relies on a transparent chain of command and clearly defined roles
Can you define your leadership style with any precision?
As you can probably feel within yourself, we all have components of each style within (yes, some more than others). And no one style applies to all scenarios. We draw on facets of each type depending on the situation and circumstance. For example, when my child was young, and I was often sleep-deprived, I was far more likely to respond in an autocratic way than I am now. Leadership styles are situational.
I think it’s important to understand the different styles but, at the same time, know that we are not bound in any one category.
What makes an exceptional leader is the ability to draw on the positive attributes of each style in the face of different challenges. We do that by accessing the part of ourselves that sits above and behind all of these leadership styles. In fact, this one quality is the canvas upon which all these leadership styles are painted on.
That quality is awareness. Cultivating awareness is the way of a self-actualized leader.
When we work towards self-actualization and lead from that place, we naturally draw on all the positive attributes of each leadership style. And the negative qualities wash away.
What is a self-actualized leader?
Self-actualization is the development of an individual’s full abilities and potential. Common characteristics of a self-actualized leader include:
Accept themselves and others for who they are
Can tolerate uncertainty
Highly creative
Motivated to find solutions to greater social problems (rather than personal problems)
Strong moral / ethical standards
Honest and unpretentious
Works hard / take responsibility for actions
Open to other people’s ideas and opinions
Empathy with and appreciation of all of humanity
Appreciates life
According to Abraham Maslow in his infamous ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ , the path toward actualization first requires the satisfaction of needs lower in the hierarchy.
It is challenging to be an exceptional leader while we are toughing it out at the bottom of the pyramid. I would even suggest that outstanding leadership requires self-actualization.
Self-actualized leaders cultivate workplaces characterized by stellar performance, and at the same time, compassion, kindness and well-being.
They possess a combination of strong social, communication and emotional skills, working together with knowing how to get the best out of their people.
In other words, it is a matter of substance over style.
Conclusions
We build substance as a leader firstly through awareness. From awareness, humility, accountability, inspiration and trust are born. It is the leaders who’ve reached the pinnacle of self-awareness that are the most successful.
This is the path of a self-actualized leader.
That is why I argue that self-actualization is the leadership style that trumps all leadership styles. In fact, it is the pathway to a more compassionate and inspired world.
