The Eight Leadership Styles by Andy Urquhart We derived the Quality of Eight Leadership Styles using an L8 orthogonal array (OA) structure known in Chinese metaphysics as the 'Ba Gua' and interpreted each style according to our own observations and experience. To our mind the highest level of Quality Leadership Style, which we call the Toa of Leadership style is the Servant – Leader.
Sovereign Leader Sovereign Leaders believe they lead by divine right or because they belong to an elite group, such as a bloodline, family, school, university, society, creed, or class.
Charismatic Leader A Charismatic Leader is an entertainer, a good actor, orator, and performer. Sometimes, when they are caught unawares, charismatic leaders appear foolish and nonsensical.
Knowledge Leader A Knowledge Leader knows any of the following: who, what, where, when, how, or why. For example, while a captain handles (manages) an aircraft, the navigator shows the way (leads.) Confusing management with leadership or vice versa often produces topsy-‐turvy situations, such as administrators leading physicians.
Authoritarian Leaders Dictators and tyrants commonly believe in the survival of the strongest (c/f Plato) and categorize people as friend or foe, for or against, in or out, winners or losers.
The Indecisive Leader
Like the wind, indecisive Leaders: blow hot and cold, blow first this way then that way, dither, procrastinate, and often suffer pathological mind-‐changing. Unlike Chief Engineers, facilitators often have to follow a consensus, or take an average opinion before coming to a decision. Generally, the more academically qualified the Indecisive Leader, the more confused and indecisive they tend to become. As commonly noted in the British Army, bullsh*t baffles brains.
Puppet Leaders A Puppet Leader is not a true leader; true power lies with someone else, a tyrant, or others (a plutocracy) who hide in shadows or behind a veil of secrecy, as described in the Wizard of Oz. (c/f The Secret of Oz)
The ‘Change Agent’ Leader Generally, ‘Change Agents’ take the radical view complete change is necessary to correct previous wrongs. In the political sphere, this often requires undermining or destroying existing organizations before commencing a rebuild. (c/f Saul Alinsky)
Wise Leaders A Wise Leader is an older, pragmatic person, with considerable life's experience, who while holding the Servant-‐Leader in high regard, recognizes it is not possible to lead or serve some people.
The Servant Leader
Servant-‐Leaders recognize the sovereignty (logos) within each and every person and seek to serve the greater good. They often ask employees, "What do you require from me to help you complete your task on time,' instead of always demanding ever greater efforts using bogus targets, often contrived unreasonably using non-‐statistical expectations. In Japan, the Toyota Production System considers the notion of no unreasonable-‐ness (Muri) an important efficiency factor because taking shortcuts, or circumventing process self-‐assurance to meet output targets, does not address the root cause of problems.
Photos used under Creative Commons …
©Andy Urquhart 2011 All Rights Reserved (www.tauquality.wordpress.com)