Do you know that you have your own unique style of leadership?  One thing that makes one leader more effective than another is recognizing his or her strengths from weaknesses and operating in those strengths. Another thing is promoting the strengths of team members. 

According to Rath and Conchie in their book Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Followthere are four domains of Leadership Strengths and at least eight characteristics for each.  I have noted only three in each domain here.

Rath and Conchie also gave one example of a successful leader in each style.  Wendy Kopp, the Executing style,  founded Teach for America, an organization created to offer quality education to students in communities not able to afford it.  With an Influencing theme, Simon Cooper, president of Ritz-Carlton, improved the brand to “a new level of excellence.”  Mervyn Davies, Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank, used his deep seated concern for people, in his Relationship Building style, to foster a culture in which employees took ownership of the company.  Brad Anderson, CEO of Best Buy, exemplified Strategic Thinking.  He led the company to shift from commissioned sales which made customers not feel pressured to buy when they browsed.  Other stores eventually did the same.

You may not be leading an enterprise or group, yet, but you have the potential to. Focus on what is in your sphere of influence and it will expand – possibly to bigger than you imagine.  The bible tells of a master who on his way out of town shared his goods among his three servants according to their abilities.  Unfortunately one of them did not invest his talent and earned no interest on it.  When the master returned he took the talent away and gave it to another servant who multiplied his (Matt 25: 14-28).  Do you have a talent you are not developing?  Lead it to bring you the fulfillment you crave. 

You Can Lead

In all of us the leader stands or lays

Stands, symbolizing confidence and action

Or lays, for doubt and fear to pursue gifted ways

That grows you to lead in your sphere for rewarding reactions

Do not compare yourself to others who seem more successful

Hello, you do not possess their skills

You have your own talents and passion for actions willful

Actions great or small that move you closer to what indeed fulfills

Again, lead what you have into growth

Take if even little action, today, be bold

Later you may be further than you know

Then you can teach your triumph untold