What Leadership Animal Are You?
Discover Your Leadership Style and How to Grow It
In the world of leadership, just like in nature, different styles serve unique purposes and thrive in various environments. At SheLeads Coaching, we believe that understanding your leadership style can help you become a more effective and authentic leader. Inspired by the Harvard Business Review's six most common leadership styles, we’ve drawn playful parallels with animals to help you identify which style best represents you. By identifying your leadership animal, you can also discover areas for growth and improvement, moving toward a more balanced and impactful approach.
The Bull: Coercive Leadership Style
A coercive leader is like a bull—decisive, authoritative, and willing to charge ahead to get things done quickly. This style is highly effective during crises when swift action is required, but it can cause fear or resentment if overused.
Reflective Question:
Do you tend to make decisions quickly and expect immediate results from your team? How do your team members respond to this approach?
Actionable Step:
Balance your authority with empathy. While decisiveness is crucial, check in with your team regularly to ensure they feel supported. Ask for their input, listen actively, and create a more collaborative environment that builds trust while maintaining the pace of your leadership.
The Lion: Authoritative Leadership Style
Like a lion, an authoritative leader sets a clear vision and inspires others to rally behind it. This style is best suited for leaders who can inspire others with their direction and energy, creating a strong sense of purpose
Reflective Question:
Do you set a clear vision and inspire your team to follow? How open are you to feedback from your team to ensure they feel included in your vision?
Actionable Step:
To make your leadership even more effective, create regular touchpoints for team feedback. Encourage open discussions where everyone feels heard and valued, aligning their goals with your vision. This will foster deeper buy-in from your team and keep them engaged in the process.
The Cheetah: Pacesetting Leadership Style
Pacesetting leaders set a fast pace and expect high performance from their team. Just as a cheetah moves with speed and agility, this style drives excellence but can lead to burnout if the pace is too intense.
Reflective Question:
Are you setting a pace that’s sustainable for your team? Are your expectations realistic, or do you find your team struggling to keep up?
Actionable Step:
Slow down the pace when necessary and prioritize well-being. Set high standards, but ensure your team has the support and resources they need to succeed without burning out. Encourage open communication about workload and create space for team members to recharge as needed.
The Dolphin: Affiliative Leadership Style
Affiliative leaders, like dolphins, focus on emotional intelligence and building strong, positive relationships within the team. This style fosters a supportive environment, but it may need to be balanced with accountability to ensure performance standards are met.
Reflective Question:
Do you focus on creating harmony within the team? How do you ensure that the positive relationships you foster don’t compromise performance?
Actionable Step:
Strengthen your team’s emotional connections while setting clear expectations for performance. Consider incorporating regular check-ins that focus on both emotional well-being and productivity. Providing constructive feedback along with emotional support will ensure the team thrives both personally and professionally.
The Elephant: Democratic Leadership Style
Democratic leaders, much like elephants, seek consensus and value the input of their team. This style encourages collaboration and inclusivity but can sometimes lead to slower decision-making.
Reflective Question:
How often do you consult your team before making a decision? Do you ever find that the decision-making process takes too long?
Actionable Step:
While consensus is important, streamline your decision-making process to avoid delays. Set clear boundaries for when input is necessary and when quick decisions are needed. This will help your team remain engaged without slowing down progress, creating a balance between collaboration and efficiency.
The Owl: Coaching Leadership Style
Owls are symbols of wisdom and guidance, just as coaching leaders focus on developing the potential of their team members. This leadership style emphasizes long-term growth and individualized support.
Reflective Question:
Do you focus on helping your team grow and develop? How often do you provide feedback that is focused on future improvement rather than just current performance?
Actionable Step:
Create individual development plans for your team members and set aside time for coaching sessions that focus on their long-term growth. Help them expand their skills and capabilities by providing constructive feedback that encourages continual learning and improvement.
What Leadership Animal Are You?
Now that you’ve reflected on the characteristics of each leadership animal, ask yourself: Which one resonates most with your current leadership style? Are you a bull, a lion, a cheetah, a dolphin, an elephant, or an owl? Understanding your leadership animal allows you to leverage your strengths and identify areas for growth. By asking the reflective questions and taking action on the steps suggested, you can begin to fine-tune your approach and become the most effective version of yourself as a leader.
At SheLeads Coaching, we believe that the key to successful leadership lies in developing strength in each leadership style. The most effective leaders understand that leadership isn’t about sticking to one style—it’s about having the wisdom to lean more into one style over another depending on the situation, context, and team dynamic. By mastering the art of adaptability and knowing when to draw upon each leadership animal, you can guide your team with authenticity, clarity, and purpose.
So, which animal will you channel to enhance your leadership today?