Leadership- More Than A Surface Brush 

“Truth, like electricity, is all around us, but we have very few conduits for it. What you do is plug people into your socket, they give you that electricity, and you give them heat and light.”   Rev. Jesse Jackson, reflecting upon the nature of charisma, in 1991.

I believe that most people have the capacity to lead. The trick seems to be in having the knowledge, and gumption, to go out and find the right adapter plug and finding your own personal socket.  Tripping through my early adult years, I felt confident and adept about my abilities of working with people in both work and social situations. For the most part, the interactions were positive and productive. However, circumstances these last four years caused me to become more introspective and critical, in the sense of breaking down into discreet elements, the methods and techniques I use when in a leadership position. One of the things I did this year was to take a Meyers– Briggs course. In the nomenclature of this particular system, I am a flaming ENPT. The rough translation being, stylistically, I am a highly extroverted intuitive. Although interesting, this did not really mean a whole lot to me until I graphed out what the profile would do in decision– making situations. The fact that my intuitive score just about blew everything else off the scale indicated that I gathered facts and information for a relatively small amount of time while I made connections and comparisons for comparatively long time. The selection of the correct option and the ramifications that decision would have on other people, again, took a short amount of time.  The second broad aspect, that had ramifications on my leadership style, was that I am fairly extroverted. As an extrovert, I like to talk and discuss things. I think through ideas in conversation– jumping from one key idea to another. I watch body language and intonation and use that to supplement what I am picking up verbally. Which is all grand and wonderful, if I am working on task oriented projects with other extroverts. Deadly, though, when working with some hard–core linear thinkers, which has been the case these last few years. Add to the mix, some of these individuals are highly introverted and are low on their abilities reach people on more than a cerebral level. Little wonder that after shorting out a few times, I knew that I needed to find an adapter plug– quick!

            So, on my continued quest for the appropriate hardware, I believer that there is one task and one maintenance role that would help me be able to be a more effective leader. The first thing I should do is give more time to seeking out information. Because my natural inclination is only to gather in just enough information to get a general idea of what is going on, I can miss pertinent information that would help me select a better option later. Secondly, by extending that initial fact finding time beyond what I currently use, it would allow other people their needed information gathering time without becoming frustrated. A maintenance role that piggy–backs on this first task role is facilitating communication. By the simple technique of closing my mouth more often, the introverted people who need wait time to formulate their answers, can have the time they need to speak. Secondly, because I know that I tend to process quickly, without outlining the leaps that I am making when I am on a verbal roll, I should slow down and clearly delineate the mental steps that I am taking so that other folks can see where I am heading. Of course, it would also help to some of these thoughts into writing before a major meeting so that, if appropriate and pertinent, those that need to have a copy of my thinking could do so before the meeting. In both cases, clarifying questions can be asked of me. I will have slowed down enough to do the same with the other folks in the group. By instigating these techniques, and using the papers on–going metaphor, I may not have found the perfect plug in my goal to become a better leader but I am at least in the right aisle of the Handy Dan!

Page written and maintained by Bridgette Fincher

Tuesday January 06, 2004