Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Leadership Styles Based on Myers Briggs/Jung Typology
This describes a popular model of leadership styles that can be used as the basis for leadership training or individual coaching. These leadership styles are based on Carl Jung's eight psychological types and so are related to Myers Briggs preferences. This model assumes a modern leader will: develop flexibility to be able to use any of the styles; recognize the different demands of each situation; adapt appropriately, by using the style(s) that will give optimum success; ensure one's own needs are met You can look at leadership styles from one of two perspectives. The first is to ask what is my leadership style? This is to focus on what you enjoy, what you might be good at, what strengths and weaknesses you have. The second is to ask what leadership style is best for the people, team or organization that I'm leading? Focus on the needs of the situation, on the criteria for success, on the approach that will bring about the maximum impact. Modern leadership demands both. You need to recognize your own strengths and exploit them, but you also need to have an ability to adapt your style to different situations in order to achieve the maximum effectiveness. Rather than using solely one's own preferred style, excellent leaders are able to take different approaches to suit the various needs of differing circumstances, whilst also making sure that their own needs are met. Success is developing the external awareness of what is required, and the internal flexibility to be able to access each style as appropriate.