Leaders, What Are You Putting Out There? Leadership – and the quality thereof – is affected by a multitude of factors that impact one’s ability to connect to, communicate with, and motivate diverse groups of people around a common vision. Through his work, Roger Pearman examines the link between Type and Leadership style, focusing specifically on how one’s natural preferences incline them toward particular patterns of communication which often form a leader’s inherent public persona and their default approach to mobilizing the efforts of subordinates. Specifically, Pearman highlights that a leader’s communication style is heavily impacted by the function they happen to extravert as this is what others see from them most often – regardless of their overall preferred attitude. He therefore emphasized four communication styles influenced by an individual’s type preferences: Extraverted Sensing, Extraverted Intuition, Extraverted Thinking, and Extraverted Feeling styles; each with a different approach that brings both contributions to leadership as well as potential misunderstandings and blindspots. Ask yourself: 1) Does your extraverted style work to your benefit in leadership? How? 2) How may your communication tactics trip you up? 3) How have you seen these tendencies in the most effective – and least effective – leaders you’ve worked with? 4) Is there a possible disconnect between the impression you have of yourself – and the one others may have of you? (Sometimes the difference between what we “I” and what we “E” can be jarring!) Feedback from colleagues can be a useful way to bridge this potential disconnect. Extraverted Sensing Types – ESFP, ESTP, ISTP, ISFP Extrave rted Sensors are realistic and like to focus on what is practical and pragmatic. As a result, their communication often contains precise references to the who, what, where, and when of the issue. They prefer efficient, sequential and concise dialogue, and have a knack for remembering and presenting facts with precision. To others – particularly with a different set of preferences – this style may come across as rigid, demanding, and unscrupulous. Extraverted Intuitive Types – ENTP, ENFP, INTP, INFP Extraverted Intuitives are typically adaptable and versatile. They tend to communicate enthusiasm and curiosity about situations, and can be quite perceptive to sub-contextual information. When working with others they tend to be quite resourceful as they can see connections and possibilities beyond what is immediately available. Extraverted Intuitives may come across to others as restless, vague, distracted, and full of “pie in the sky” dreams and expectations. Extraverted Thinking Types – ESTJ, ENTJ, ISTJ, INTJ Extraverted Thinkers are decisive and action oriented. When communicating with others they tend to be systematic and logical, freely offering explanations and alternative options. These four types are typically 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. Extraverted Feeling Types – ESFJ, ENFJ, ISFJ, INFJ Extraverted Feelers are sympathetic and supportive. Their communication style tends toward being warm and sociable, and they work hard to gain consensus and include others in decisions when possible. In order to be accommodating they adopt a style that is diplomatic and tactful, but to others they can come across as overly sensitive, inauthentic, ‘touchy-feely’ and self-dramatizing. The fact is: there is no ‘perfect type’ in leadership. Effective communication comes from development: learning to adopt and hybrid different styles as appropriate to the context, or our followers. However, by understanding first what our default communication style might be, we give ourselves an important platform from which to recognize those natural contributions to hold on to, while recognizing the blindspots of our inherent approach. Always remember that perception is often reality to those we seek to lead; by being aware of your public impression, you can work to emulate the benefits of all the extraverted functions in harmony to boost your effectiveness and cater to your teams. If you’re interested in enhancing your expertise further regarding Type and Leadership, please check out our MBTI Master Class, Using Type to Optimize Leadership, happening in Fredericton on August 25. Or, view our webinar on Developing Leaders Using Type – Tips and Strategies. Click here. References: *Hardwired Leadership: Unleashing the Power of Personality to Become a New Millennium Leader. Pearman, R. *The Leadership Advantage Training Program and Facilitators Guide. Pearman, R. *Enhancing Leadership Effectiveness through Psychological Type. Pearman, R.
