When the original version of the mockumentary comedy series ‘The Office’ played on our screens, viewers cringed every time office manager David Brent spoke.
The ick factor wasn’t his jarring one-liners like: “They’ve got to trust me – I’m taking these guys into battle, yeah? And I’m doing my own stapling.”
It was the horrid realization that every one of us came into contact with an iteration of Brent. He embodied the “manager from hell” archetype; a walking cautionary tale.
As Jim Collins said, “By definition, it is not possible for everyone to be above average.” And rightly so. According to Gallup, only 10% of the world’s population are natural leaders. Another 20% possess leadership traits.
Leadership Styles
What exactly marks the qualities of a good leader? There are cliched answers, but leadership goes far beyond what we usually think. More than qualities, leadership styles define whether one is capable of leading or not.
Forbes council member Steven Taplin says he’s observed entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Mark Cuban over the past 10 years. Their distinctive experiences defined their leadership styles.
Musk’s relentless pursuit of innovation and willingness to take significant risks hasn’t come without controversy. However, he’s driven his teams to achieve their sometimes ambitious goals.
On the other hand, Cuban has taken the opposite approach. His people-first ethos has a positive spin on company culture.
Making himself accessible to everyone in his company, Cuban has fostered an environment of building trust and respecting his employees. His management style is well-documented on how he revolutionized player support in the Dallas Mavericks.
While both bastions in their respective industries, Musk and Cuban’s different leadership styles produced results. That’s why leadership qualities cannot be set in a checklist that always stays the same.
Once you know your leadership style, you must find the right niche to put it into practice. Not all styles blend well with all industries, so it is important to choose a career that aligns with what you have.
Whether you’re thinking about pivoting into another career or exploring your options and know you have the makings of a leader, consider the following roles.
Clinical Nurse Leader
Nursing is often the logical choice for students with a calming bedside manner and buckets of empathy. After all, this is one field where understanding people and caring for them makes you the right candidate.
As you know, every sector needs a leader, and nursing is no exception, even if it does not look like a competitive one. Essentially, this is the role of a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). These clinical nurse specialists improve patient outcomes through care coordination and evidence-based practices in health care settings.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) initially developed the role of advanced practice nursing to boost patient care quality and health care services. However, the road to leadership in a nursing role is a long one. You need the right foundation to reach there.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is the stepping stone for aspiring clinical nurse leaders. Many aspirants also expedite the journey with accelerated BSN (ABSN) degrees. When comparing ABSN vs BSN, the time commitment is the key difference.
Keypath Education cites another difference between these degrees. ABSNs are designed for learners with a bachelor’s degree already. These programs are available online, which means they can be completed without pausing one’s current career.
HR Practitioner
Human Resources is often painted with the “us against them” brush. To be fair, it’s not quite as cut and dry.
Most HR practitioners lead by transformational style. This method prioritizes employee development and fosters a positive work environment. HR personnel act as a strategic partner within the organization.
Dealing with clashing personalities during conflict resolution requires resilience. Businesses are becoming more complex as teams grow and roles intertwine. People often find themselves facing issues with colleagues, and HR managers need to step in when such situations arise.
Besides dealing with employee relations and implementing new technologies, HR managers take on these challenges with agile precision.
Their focus is motivating staff to achieve their full potential while fostering a culture of growth. McKinsey & Company says HR leaders who focus on transformational style help create a positive work environment, support employee growth, and drive organizational change.
Servant leadership takes a support-based approach. HR leaders practicing this style champion employees, resolve concerns, and foster a supportive, inclusive workplace.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Fortune notes that aspiring CEOs have big shoes to fill, considering they deal with geopolitical uncertainty, AI disruptions, and market shifts. Not to mention, there are the regular chances of leading an organization.
The new generation of leaders must be capable of navigating the above issues while driving workplace transformation.
Don’t let these challenges dissuade you from taking on the role. Instead, see them as opportunities that make your leadership abilities shine.
Citing research from Korn Ferry, the publication says CEOs who balance innovation and operational excellence often outperform their peers.
Future CEOs must be adept in several competencies in an ever-evolving business landscape. The skills and qualities they have today may not be enough to lead with conviction tomorrow.
They must adopt a global perspective that aligns strategic vision with execution. Their leadership style should encourage stakeholder communication, and build strong, diverse networks.
In other words, transformative leadership takes the reins.
Lead with Empathy
The last word of advice does not talk about hard skills and leadership abilities. It is rather about how you connect with people. No matter your leadership style, always include empathy in your toolbox. This essential quality is often lacking at the management level.
Lead with empathy and it will enable you to connect with employees on a level playing field. Empathy fosters trust and improves communication and positive working conditions. The result is a boost in productivity and happy staff.
As a leader, you get to witness the rewards of your hard work in a world of David Brents, Elon Musks, and Mark Cubans. Pick your fighter… but choose wisely.
