Knights, Kings/Queens, Presidents And You: How To Lead When Others In Leadership Roles Won't

By Rich Anderson, executive coach with HTG Peer Groups

He bows before you, King/Queen of your Technical Realm. You raise the magical gleaming silver sword, Excalibur, high over your head. Lowering Excalibur, you touch each shoulder of that bowed special ally as empowering words fall from your lips, “I dub thee, Sir, Knight of the Royal Technology Table. Arise Sir Reginald and assume your leadership role.” With a hope-filled heart you watch Sir Reginald arise. He walks into your service team meeting glowing with pride and promptly falls on his face. Gasping for air, you awake from your dream wondering, “How can I lead when my leaders can’t … or won’t?”

Moving from Royalty to President, what do Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama not have in common?  Let’s take a look using the personality profile known as “DISC” as a reference. You might say George W. Bush with his swagger, decisiveness, and apparent lack of interest in your support, is a D for Dominant (or from Dr. Larry Little’s Make a Difference book, a Lion) personality. Perhaps Bill Clinton, loving the spot light, being up front playing his instrument, er … ah … his saxophone, has an I for Influencer (Monkey) personality.  Could Ronald Reagan with just a few close advisors, preferring time alone on his ranch, have been an S for Steadfast (Turtle/Golden Retriever) personality? Finally, Barak Obama with his neat as a pin appearance and lawyer-like attention to details may be a C for Conscientious (Camel) in his personality. Four men, four personalities. Even with their different personalities, each of them sat behind the desk in the White House oval office. 

Enough stories, you say … what about my non-leading leaders who, like Sir Reginald, fall on their face when they assume their leadership role? What can I do? You want to lead. Leading is about developing your team, so…

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