There Are 3 Basic Types of Leaders...

Last week I received this message from a reader, "Why do you keep using the words 'Profound Leader?' What do you mean by that?"

It's a great question. In the 30 years I have been studying and practicing the art of leadership, I have picked up a few things. Leadership, for me, has been an infatuation ever since I took my first college interim course called "Leadership" in 1995. (Creative name, right?)

Since then I have held countless leadership positions, coached exceptional leaders, and learned from paramount leaders in various disciplines.

I'm not saying I was always a great leader. In fact, looking back at my leadership, I often remember some drastic leadership MISTAKES!

I have learned from both failure and success. Here's what I have gleaned:

There are 3 basic types of leaders.

1. The Pretend Leader

2. The Surface Leader

3. The Profound Leader

1. The Pretend Leader is a trickster. A Wiley Coyote. The Pretend Leader is tricky enough to first trick themselves into believing that they lead. Many of us start out as Pretend Leaders (I know I did). We have good intentions, but often are more infatuated with the idea or position of leadership, so we trick ourselves into thinking we are leading. But the Pretend Leader acts from a place of personal gain or re growth. The best Pretend Leaders are naively innocent, and later evolve into a deeper form of productive, positive leadership (vision-focused leadership) in due time. The worst Pretend Leaders turn toxic, and grow deeper into their own self-focused trickery. We all know how these toxic leaders can adversely affect an organization.
   

2. The Surface Leader is a role player who maintains the status quo and delivers on expectations. As expected. The Surface Leader will innovate within the parameters allowed them, but certainly won't disrupt the apple cart. The Surface Leader often desires to grow, but feels obligated to color inside the lines and follow prescribed protocols. Often they are driven by task accomplishment, even if the tasks seem menial. This type of leader is very prevalent among large organizations because their role is vital to the operation of a company. But The Surface Leader often feels like their hands are tied, and their innovation is not recognized. A common complaint from this leader is, "I don't know if I am making an impact."
   

3. Then there is the Profound Leader. This is the kind of leader that my reader is asking about. A vision-driven, change-maker, the Profound Leader has aspirations of becoming vitally impactful to an organization. Not for their own sake, but for the sake of the vision of the organization. The Profound Leader is growth-minded, future focused, and not intimidated by the future or innovation. Having once been a pretender, or maybe a surface role player previously, the Profound Leader knows what it means to ensure their work benefits the core principles of a community or organization, and is not distracted by selfish pursuits. The Profound Leader has likely wrestled with deep personal growth, and bears those insights to the vision they serve.
   

Creating Profound Leaders is the pursuit of the Profound Minute. They are the hopeful end result of everything we do at Profound Space. I believe the future of the human workforce, and the future of our relationships, depends on developing creating Profound Leaders. To learn more about our work, visit createprofoundspace.com

Where are you at in your Profound Leadership journey?

Where do you want to be?

Go Be Profound.

G

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