Chapter IV: Are Leadership Styles Necessary?
“Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I will understand” (Confucius circa 450 BC)
What Does Style Impact?
Why have so many wrestled with so many differing styles to locate the common denominator of a true skillful, in-charge person? This script will discuss a limited variety of reasons for perhaps selecting differing leader style(s). More so, which of the items discussed already need a brisk polishing? Finally, the sole purpose of this section demonstrates that all roads will eventually lead to four germane terms Drink, Swear, Steal, and Lie. Readers may wish to concentrate on avenues that permits one to capture multiple traits of leadership as contemporary times, concerns, issues, and situations require fit within each of the aforementioned categories. These four terms will ultimately provide sufficient individualized elements for innovation, enthusiasm, charisma, competence, goal setting, values, and integrity to demonstrate that you have what it takes to be a leader (if you are not already one).
Not unlike any change in an organization or life the reader needs to understand the “What’s in it for me” by reading this manuscript. If the “What’s in it for me” is not sufficient to convince the reader why this is just not another guru fashioned book then I understand I have lost the audience. So, in brief, let me reiterate why this material was written as it relates to you. I say with absolute certainty, you the reader will not find my name among high profile leaders like Eisenhower, Gandhi, or Lincoln, to name a few.
I did not lead armies, a country through a war, nor provide spiritual guidance to the lost souls of foreign soils. I have been fortunate to be the leader of three different police agencies, a couple of professional organizations, and the Chair of a state municipal police training council. My story is full of mistakes and recoveries employed for success. This is not a lecture, but rather a conversation albeit references are made to theoretical styles that I think I was modeling. This is about the lumps and bumps that you have or will encounter during your ascension to the leadership role, with or without the title.
Myth or Reality
- If it ain’t broken; don’t fix it!
- The higher up I go, the less I need to worry about what leadership style I use.
- Great leaders begin with questions, not answers.
I am torn between which of the above bulleted items to write, but must assert in no uncertain terms the first two are mythical and destructive, and the third is the most accurate of the three statements. The first two are “killer phrases” within an organization that accompany others such as, “we tried that before, or don’t rock the boat, or relax kid you’ll have your turn someday, or my personal favorite, I’m retiring in a few years, let the next guy deal with it.”
Great leaders begin with questions, not answers. In my opinion, the most appropriate of the three i