What kind of Leadership does your team need?

The Four Domains of Leadership Strength
Explaining the Four Domains
Leaders with dominant strength in the Executing domain know how to make things happen.
When you need someone to implement a solution, these are the people who will work tirelessly
to get it done. Leaders with a strength to execute have the ability to "catch" an idea and make it a
reality.
For example, one leader may excel at establishing a quality process using themes such as
Deliberative or Discipline, while the next leader will use her Achiever theme to work tirelessly
toward a goal. Or a leader with strong Arranger may determine the optimal configuration of
people needed to complete a task.
Those who lead by Influencing help their team reach a much broader audience. People with
strength in this domain are always selling the team's ideas inside and outside the organization.
When you need someone to take charge, speak up, and make sure your group is heard, look to
someone with the strength to influence.
For example, a leader with a lot of Command or Self-Assurance may use few words, but her
confidence will continue to project authority and win followers. In contrast, a leader using
Communication or Woo might get people involved by helping individuals feel comfortable and
connected to the issue at hand.
Those who lead through Relationship Building are the essential glue that holds a team
together. Without these strengths on a team, in many cases, the group is simply a composite of
individuals. In contrast, leaders with exceptional Relationship Building strength have the unique
ability to create groups and organizations that are much greater than the sum of their parts.
Within this domain, a leader with Positivity and Harmony may work hard to minimize
distractions and to keep the team's collective energy high. On the other hand, a leader with
Individualization might use a more targeted approach to getting people involved. Or a leader
with strong Relator or Developer may be a great mentor and guide as he pushes others toward
bigger and better achievements.
Leaders with great Strategic Thinking strengths are the ones who keep us all focused on what
could be. They are constantly absorbing and analyzing information and helping the team make
better decisions. People with strength in this domain continually stretch our thinking for the
future.
Within this domain, a leader using Context or Strategic might explain how past events
influenced present circumstances or navigate the best route for future possibilities. Someone
with strong Ideation or Input may see countless opportunities for growth based on all of the
information she reviews. Or a leader drawing from his Analytical theme might help the team
drill into the details of cause and effect.
by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie
Adapted from Strengths Based Leadership (Gallup Press, January 2009)