Understanding Leadership Types

Leaders fall into two main categories: task-oriented and relationship-oriented.

Task-oriented leaders strive for excellence and can push people away as a result.

Relationship-oriented leaders are great with people but can end up disappointed.

THE PROBLEM:

Task-driven leaders alienate people in pursuit of excellence.

Relationship-driven leaders suffer from disappointment and a sense of betrayal when their

endeavors collapse. 

OTHER PROPOSED SOLUTIONS:

All leaders must 

1. Identify which type of leader they are. This is important to identify early on, as it will affect the kinds of decisions the leader makes in the future. 
2. Identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Doing this will guide leaders into a wiser decision-making process.
3. Grow in competency in the other type of leadership. To be most effective, leaders must find a balance between the two types.
4. Understand the following:

•       Vision, passion, and commitment to excellence are essential. No matter what type of leader a person is, these cannot be compromised.
•       Ministry requires visionary leadership from the person in charge. Without vision from the person in charge, nothing will move forward.  
•       We all only see out of one eye. We must remember our tendency to only see a situation from our own limited perspective.
•       We don’t always play fair. At times, we will all allow our personal strengths and weaknesses to get in the way.
•       We must connect tasks to vision. Doing so allows task-oriented leaders to keep the vision at the forefront, and it allows relationship-oriented leaders to remember why tasks matter.
•       Not everyone is a leader. We should never try to force every person to fit into these two leadership types.