SIX TYPES OF LEADERS
CRAIG GROESCHEL
"When a leader gets better, the whole organization gets better."
Craig Groeschel analyses the six types of leaders.
1. Unpredictable leaders produce hesitant followers. If you ever have the misfortune of working for an unpredictable leader, you never know what they’re going to do next. Since you don’t know what to expect, you inevitably become hesitant, fearful, and tentative. It’s impossible for the team to find consistency. If you think you might be an unpredictable leader, work on consistency. Successful people do consistently what normal people do occasionally.
"Successful people do consistently what normal people do occasionally."
2. Domineering leaders produce compliant followers. These types of leaders will intimidate or threaten people into following them. This might produce short-term results, but long term, they can be devastating. Domineering leaders foster a culture of ‘yes’ people. They might get compliance, but not commitment. Be intentional about not bullying your team or organization. Ask questions and really listen. A good rule of thumb is to ask ten times more questions than you give directions.
3. Secretive leaders produce guarded followers. If your people are guarded, they’re not going to give you feedback. And if they don’t give you feedback, your days as an effective leader are numbered. That’s why transparency, vulnerability, and honesty are so important for leaders. Simon Sinek said it this way: “A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other.”
4. Passive leaders produce disengaged followers. If there’s a problem everyone can see, but the leader doesn’t fix it, eventually the problem is not the real issue—it’s the leader. If a leader doesn’t care, the team isn’t going to care.Acknowledging the problem is the first step to overcoming passivity. If you've been a passive leader, start by doing something. Doing nothing is worse than doing something.
5. Healthy leaders produce faithful followers. Instead of being unpredictable, a healthy leader has a clear vision. Instead of being domineering, a healthy leader listens and collaborates. Instead of being secretive, a healthy leader is transparent and trusting. Instead of being passive, a healthy leader is active. A healthy leader is engaged daily in the organization. If you work for a healthy leader, you’re going to want to follow, sacrifice, and give your best.
The next type of leader, however, is a step beyond healthy.
6. Empowering leaders don’t just produce followers—they produce other great leaders. Empowering leaders are going to do all the things a healthy leader does, and then do more. Empowering leaders are not focused on themselves. Instead, they empower people with the ability to say ‘yes’ to opportunities and vision. If people deep within the organization have the ability to say ‘yes,’ you have an empowering culture.
"Empowering leaders don’t just produce followers—they produce other great leaders."
How do you get to be an empowering leader?
First, lead yourself. Then lead others. Then, lead leaders. Don’t just tell them to do what you say, or even to do what you do—tell them to do the things you can’t do! Train them to create, innovate, and lead. That’s how to become an empowering leader.