Leadership: The Four StylesProfessional Seminar, November 17, 2007

Authors/Presenters:

Karita Campos-BidwellChristina CentrellaMary Lou Dorman

Leslie PirtleAlicia Santos-Silva

Introduction• Designed to help you identify your leadership

style• Identify most appropriate leadership style of

subordinates• Data for this article was gathered over a

span of 30 years

Personal Leadership Style• What is leadership?• What is your preferred style?• Impact on people, tasks & environment• Preferred style of your team members?• Assigning tasks based on leadership style

helps increase productivity

Leadership in General• Various definitions• Behavior, personal characteristics, &

leadership situations

4 Characteristics of Effective Leaders1. Provide direction and meaning2. Generate trust3. Prefer action and risk taking4. Communicate hope

--Warren Bennis

Holistic Leaders• Those with the skill to use all 4 styles• Very rare• Jack Welch of G.E.• Andy Grove of Intel• John Chambers of I.B.M.

Holistic Leaders Can Analyze & Respond to:• Diverse people• Complex tasks• Variety of cultures in the workplace• Peoples’ differing personalities, perceptions,

abilities, attitudes & skills

The 4 Leadership Styles

1. Type A • Fact Based

2. Type B • Creativity Based

3. Type C • Feelings Based

4. Type D • Control / Power

Based

Type A PersonalityFact Based

Type A Leadership Style• Leaders expect themselves and others to

perform at exceedingly high levels

• Leaders put significant importance on the bottom line

Characteristics of Type A• Are at ease with others• Are comfortable with tasks and environments that

deal with facts, logic, theories and scientific applications.

• Will set high quantitative standards of behavior and expectations for themselves and of their employees

• Seldom demonstrate any emotion of feelings for others

Characteristics of Type A• Priority is to get to the bottom line• Are inquisitive or fact finders

The Flip Side of Type A• Leaders can be very harsh • Perfectionists• Fashion• Thinkers• Caution/Accuracy

Key to a Good Leader

To find out what one is fitted to do and to secure an opportunity to do it is the key to happiness.”

Dewey pg.391

Type B PersonalityCreativity Based

Strengths• Provides an open and creative work

environment which provides opportunity for suggestions and clarification

Characteristics• Artistic• Flexible• Imaginative• Spontaneous• Holistic

PERSONALITY CFEELINGS BASED

CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPE C• VERY SOCIAL

• SPONTANEOUS

• FRIENDLY

• EMOTIONAL

• ENTHUSIASTIC

CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPE C

• PREFER TO USE EMOTIONS,EMPATHY,INTUITION, AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS TO GUIDE THEIR RELATIONSHIPS..

• UNCOMFORTABLE USING DATA FOR DECISION MAKING..

• DONOT USE PRINCIPALS OF SCIENCE TO ANALYZE + SOLVE PROBLEMS, WE PREFER INTUITION..

• OPEN & DIRECT IN THEIR COMMUNICATION STYLE..

•MAKES DECISIONS BASED UPON HOW HE/SHE FEELS ABOUT THE ISSUE.

•MAKE ALL KINDS OF PROMISES AND THINKS “ ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE .”

•HAS A HARD TIME FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH COMMITMENTS.

•NEED TO DEVELOP SENSITIVITY TO FEELINGS OF OTHERS, WEIGHING THE CONSEQUENCES OF WORDS OR ACTIONS BEFORE JUMPING INTO SOMETHING.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPE C

•PRONE TO THINK,ACT AND RESPOND TO STIMULI IN FAST-PACED MANNER.

•SEEK APPROVAL + RECOGNITION FROM THOSE IN CONTROL.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPE C

FLIP SIDE• TALKS TOO MUCH

• TOO PERMISSIVE

• JOBS ARE NOT OFTEN DONE WELL

• EASILY HURT

• PUSH-OVER, TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF

• HOLDS ON TO OTHER’S HURT OR PAIN

Personality type DControl/Power Based

Characteristics• 2 major aspects

• Dictatorial• Authoritative

• Strengths• Weaknesses• How to

communicate• When to use it

Two Major Aspects• Authoritative

• Dictatorial

Dictatorial• All decision-making power is theirs• Unrealistic demands• Uses excessive discipline and punishment• Does not allow others to question decisions

or authority

Passive dictatorship• All decision making power is theirs• Unrealistic demands clouded in humor• Subtle forms of discipline and punishment• Allows questions about decisions (seemingly) but

ignores them• Pretends to be your friend only to get their way

Authoritative • Seldom lets others make

decisions• Feels he is the most

qualified and experienced• Considers his views to be

the most valid• Lacks confidence in

others abilities

• Critical of differing opinions

• Rarely gives recognition

• Easily offended• Action oriented• Highly competitive

Type D is…• Control and power

based• Detailed• Planned• Sequential• Conservative• Dominant

• Highly Structured• High Task• Formal• Provides specific and

detailed instructions • Intolerant of any deviation

from plans• Discipline oriented

Strengths• Produces action needed

Biggest Weakness Is• Failure to recognize the skills and abilities

within other people• Denies opportunities for others to use or

exhibit their skills in decision-making venues

When it is appropriate• During emergencies or crisis• When employee safety is at risk• When severe disciplinary action needs to be taken• New hires unfamiliar with their jobs• Constant misuse of authority• When company rules are broken• When you are the sole person responsible for a

decision

How to communicate with Type D• Wants you to be: efficient and to the point• Provide them with: options and information

on what it does and by when, freedom to act, immediate action

General Strategies

• Be efficient and competent

• Support their goals and objectives

• Be precise• Be time disciplined

• Be well organized• Focus on the

results/bottom line• Do not waste their time• Let them make the

decision

And if you disagree• Argue facts• not personal feelings

Summary and ConclusionOf the Four Leadership Styles

•Type A - Fact Based–Expects others to perform at a high level, with emphasis on the bottom line. Type B–Provides an open and creative work environment, which provides opportunity for suggestions and clarification

•Type-B - Creativity Based –Provides an open and creative work Environment, which provides opportunity for suggestions and clarification.

•Type C - Feelings Based–Makes decisions based upon how he/she feels about the issue

•Type D - Control/Power Based –Provides specific and detailed instructions and does not tolerate deviation f from assigned sequence

Source• W.C. Howard, Ph.D., “Leadership: The Four

Styles,” Education, Volume 126, No. 2