Two Types of Leaders

If you sample management styles and boil it down, you come up with two fundamental leadership styles. If you are wondering which category you fall into, get someone (other than you) to quiz your people and they will quickly identify which type you are. Let’s call the two types A and B. I’m going to describe B first.

Type B Leader:

This leader gives his job everything he has to give and then some. The company (or job) is THE most important thing in his leadership philosophy. He works very hard and takes his work very seriously. If his people worked as hard as he did, things would be great. In fact, his people are his biggest problem. They just don’t care. It’s tough to find good people now days.

If we talk to the people who work for this leader we would learn that most of them hate their jobs. There is a high turnover rate. The ones that stay are continually checking job postings. Their resumes are up to date. The general attitude at the workplace is that of the old Johnny Paycheck song, “Take This Job and Shove It.”

Type A Leader:

The type A leader has a different philosophy altogether. His people come first and the job second. He likes to hang out with them in the break room and listen to their input. His employees get a birthday card from him every year. They also get a turkey at Thanksgiving and other little niceties throughout the year. When you ask his people what they think about their boss they brag about him like he was the best thing that ever happened to them. There is very little turnover at this workplace. The type A leader encourages his people and compliments them on their good work. In return his workers will happily give their best for the good of the company.

Let’s hear from others about this People-First attitude:

Wally Adamchik

"At its core, leadership is about people. Fundamental to this is that leaders take care of their people. But this concept also uncovers one of the biggest clichés in American business; people are our most important asset. Countless organizations, and the leaders in those organizations, say this but the reality of their actions is far different. The message they often send is that the people don’t really matter – it is all about the bottom-line. The leader who sends the message that people don’t really matter will generally not be as successful in the long-run as the leader who is genuinely serious about taking care of his people."

Mike Myatt

“If you don’t care about those you lead, you have no business leading them. You don’t change mindsets by being right, you do it by showing you care. If you think leadership is about you, your ego has led you astray. Leadership has little to do with you and everything to do with those you lead. If you think leadership is about the bottom line, think again; it’s about the people. Without the people there is no bottom line. … it’s the ability to both earn and keep the loyalty and trust of those whom they lead that sets them apart. Leadership lives and dies by its ability to engage, influence, and care for the people. Are those you lead better off for being led by you?"

Holden Leadership Center

“They lead from the heart: (Leaders). Business is about people. Leadership is about people. The best leaders wear their hearts on their sleeves and are not afraid to show their vulnerability. They genuinely care about other people and spend their days developing the people around them. They are like the sun: the sun gives away all it has to the plants and the trees. But in return, the plants and the trees always grow toward the sun.”

Michael Hyatt

“People follow people who genuinely care about others. It sounds simple, yet this is an area where so many leaders fall short.

– Take a true interest in the people who work for you

– Learn about their hobbies, goals, and dreams.

– Take time to get to know names of team member’s spouses, kids, and pets.

– Remember birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates.

These things make a difference.”

Sam Walton

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” (Sam Walton)

"Employee attitude is so critical that it can’t be overemphasized. It trickles down from employers. Your business isn’t optimized if you don’t optimize for employee happiness.

“If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ll have dozens of people criticize you. Customers, current and former employees (whether you know it or not), and family and friends may give you constructive criticism. It can be stressful to hear or read, and it can be easy to pass on criticism to employees. But it doesn’t help. As a leader, Walton advises that you should ensure employees have high self-esteem in their job.

“Leaders should make employees feel good about themselves. Constantly criticizing and pointing out the flaws in an employee is a sure fire way to decrease morale and performance. Richard Branson says that leaders should never criticize their employees and always look for the best in people.” (Kissmetrics.com)

Marissa Mayer

“Really in technology, it’s about the people, getting the best people, retaining them, nurturing a creative environment and helping to find a way to innovate.” (Marissa Mayer)

"I’d expand Mayer’s comments to include all industries, not just technology. No matter what the job is, leaders always want to look for the best people and then take care of them. A business is just a group of people working on various creations and inventions. It’s all about the people. They are the lifeblood of the business. When you’re leading a business or an organization, you’re leading people. It makes sense that leaders need to take care of their people. Many leaders work to have relationships with their employees. Taking them out for coffee and getting to know them better is common among leaders. Taking care of people is an important element in being a leader." (Kissmetrics.com)

Ross Perot

“Lead and inspire people. Don’t try to manage and manipulate people. Inventories can be managed but people must be lead.”