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    Jun 09, 2016    |   Aidan Millar

Type and Leadership: Coaching the Public Persona

rallyingtroops In my leadership development workshops, I often emphasize that the effectiveness of our personal style often hinges on how it is interpreted by those we lead. In other words, our public persona or the impression we give others is as important as our intentions – in some cases, even more so. There are four communication styles influenced by type preferences and the dynamics therein. By helping leaders identify how they outwardly communicate and present to others, they can often address blindspots in their approach and address these moving forward. By looking at what function each type extraverts, we can identify four categories of leaders: Extraverted Thinking types, Extraverted Feeling types, Extraverted Sensing types, and Extraverted Intuitive types.

Extraverted Thinking Types – ESTJ, ENTJ, ISTJ, INTJ
Extraverted Thinkers are decisive and action oriented. When communicating with others they are systematic and logical, and freely offer explanations. These four types tend to be expressive and fluent, and adopt a critical, analytical approach when discussing topics with others. As a result, they can appear as arrogant, condescending, and aggressive to others. thinking-outside-the-box-33399_1280 (2)

Tip for Development: Take a few moments to reflect and validate the idea or contribution of the individual before asking some of the more critical but necessary questions.

Extraverted Feeling Types – ESFJ, ENFJ, ISFJ, INFJ
Extraverted Feelers are sympathetic and supportive. Their communication style is warm and sociable, and they work hard to include others. In order to be accommodating they adopt a style that is diplomatic and tactful. To others they can come across as overly sentimental, fussy, impulsive and self-dramatizing.

Tip for Development: Decide what warrants a more objective and hard-lined approach to making – and communicating – a decision. Remember that correction is not about character but about competence, and be prepared to have those discussions.

Extraverted Sensing Types – ESFP, ESTP, ISTP, ISFP
Extraverted Sensors are realistic and focus on what is practical. As a result, their communication contains precise references to who, what, where, and when. They prefer efficient and concise communication, and are quite aware of current facts. To others, Extraverted Sensors may come across as rigid, demanding, and unscrupulous.

Tip for Development: Decide which details are crucial for moving forward and implementing a solution, and be selective in communicating those. Remain open to other interpretation of the data if offered up.

training (4)Extraverted Intuitive Types – ENTP, ENFP, INTP, INFP
Extraverted Intuitives are adaptable and versatile. They tend to communicate enthusiasm and curiosity about situations, and can be quite perceptive. When working with others they are willing to make changes according to the needs of the moment, and are quite resourceful. Extraverted Intuitives may come across as restless, impulsive, distracted, and full of unrealistic expectations.

Tip for Development: Make sure to check back on the foundation of your assumptions: are they based on real – and accurate – facts? Be prepared to justify your ideas and expectations in more concrete terms to more detail-oriented others.

While we each have a preferred communication style, we are able to become better communicators by learning to adopt different styles when appropriate. Perception, especially as we lead diverse others, is often as important to our effectiveness as our intentions. Perception is reality to others, and we need to be cognizant of where these perceptions may be doing us a disservice.