{"id":2033,"date":"2021-11-10T09:42:11","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T16:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leadershipchoice.com\/?p=2033"},"modified":"2021-11-10T09:42:11","modified_gmt":"2021-11-10T16:42:11","slug":"individualized-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.taylorsolutionsinc.com\/lc\/individualized-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership Is An Unpredictable, Individualized Sport"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”3.22″ transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_slider show_arrows=”off” show_pagination=”off” admin_label=”Fullwidth Slider” _builder_version=”3.16″ parallax=”on” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”|||” custom_padding_phone=”|||” box_shadow_style=”preset6″ box_shadow_blur=”10px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)” remove_inner_shadow=”off” hide_content_on_mobile=”off” hide_cta_on_mobile=”off” show_inner_shadow=”on” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][et_pb_slide heading=”Leadership Is An Unpredictable, Individualized Sport” use_bg_overlay=”on” bg_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.23)” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”3.16″ header_font=”||||” body_font=”||||” background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”https:\/\/dev.taylorsolutionsinc.com\/lc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/AdobeStock_94913726-2.jpeg” button_icon_placement=”right” button_on_hover=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” sticky_transition=”on”]by\u00a0Dave Boizelle
\n[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_fullwidth_slider][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”||-40px|” transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Social Media Share” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”] [feather_share] [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”26.03125px|0px|1px|0px” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blurb” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Training High-Potential Leaders<\/h1>\n

Individuals learn leadership lessons in unique and personal ways, often at unpredictable times.<\/em><\/h4>\n

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I was facilitating a high potential leadership team program<\/a> when one of the participants interrupted me and blurted out, \u201cI get it! I finally get it!\u201d The class came to a halt. I turned to him and said, \u201cWhat is it you get?\u201d<\/p>\n

The participant, Ethan, started to explain that he now understood the implications of a communication principle we had covered months ago. He said, \u201cI just realized that I am the problem in the group I lead. I never understood why my teammates could not process issues and make decisions as quickly as me. It drove me nuts, so I would take charge and start telling them what to do instead of asking what they thought we should do. They are nice people to work with, but so frustrating at times.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Enemy Within<\/h2>\n

Ethan had come face to face with his strongest opposing force\u2014himself. It was an illuminating moment for him (and the class) as he realized his actions were getting in the way of being an effective leader.<\/p>\n

I could see that he was processing years of needless frustration, so I seized the opportunity to create a coaching moment:<\/p>\n

\u201cEthan, what have you discovered about yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n

He responded profoundly, \u201cI realize now that I have been overplaying a strength that I thought would bring me faster results. I have a Dominant communication pattern. It\u2019s who I am. I am really time- and task-oriented. I am not as interested in feelings and relationships at work.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI also realize that most of my team members have an Amiable communication pattern. They are very different from me in how they solve problems and make decisions\u2014I prefer to make decisions quickly with less data, but my team is not as comfortable taking that risk. They often fuss over things and don\u2019t seem to have any time boundaries. When I see this happen, I can\u2019t stop myself from stepping in and taking over. I feel like I have to keep the ball moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI realize now that I disempower the team with those actions. The sad thing is that most of our decisions are not urgent and certainly not life threatening.\u201d<\/p>\n

I urged him on: \u201cWhat modifications can you make in that situation?\u201d<\/p>\n

His response was what I was hoping for. \u201cI need to relax and have more patience. Instead of dominating a situation I feel isn\u2019t getting resolved quickly enough, I need to lower my assertiveness. I need to get more comfortable coaching my team through a decision-making process using questions\u2014I think this might help the team process faster and learn how to make quicker decisions. That would also force me to listen to their ideas and concerns. As hard as this is for me to do, I think it would empower the team to be more decisive and maybe more comfortable telling me the way things really are.\u201d<\/p>\n

The class surprised me with a round of applause for Ethan. Then I realized that they had just witnessed what they thought was an improbable transformation of a colleague. It was a very inspiring and satisfying moment for me and the group.<\/p>\n

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From Insights to Action<\/h2>\n

I was thrilled to see Ethan\u2019s progress, but knew that these breakthroughs are most effective when they are supported by an action plan. I asked Ethan if he could take on an assignment to teach us further.<\/p>\n

His assignment was to act on his revelation\u2014to engage his team in ways that he had described\u2014then to return to the next workshop and report the outcome.<\/p>\n

Ethan did so and proved that \u201cdo it my way\u201d leaders can modify their communication<\/a> pattern and value the new perspectives that come as a result.<\/p>\n

He reported that his more Amiable team turned out to be great problem solvers once he stopped overplaying his strength. His lower-assertive coaching approach helped his team open up. They needed more time and space to process\u2014time and space he is now more willing to give them once he saw how effectively it empowered them to deliver results.<\/p>\n

I asked Ethan one final question. \u201cWas making small, temporary adjustments to the way you communicate to your team a waste of your time? Did it slow down progress, or slow down the \u2018ball\u2019 you were so anxious to keep rolling?\u201d<\/p>\n

Perhaps this was his greatest revelation. \u201cIt defies logic, but in many instances taking a bit more time to adapt to the communication patterns of my team actually saved me time and I tend to get better outcomes when I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Stay in Touch<\/h3>\n

Receive monthly\u00a0insights & articles from our leadership development experts.
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