The March Madness Aftermath & the Coaching Style that Suits You
Fresh off of March Madness, there is plenty to learn from one of the country’s biggest sporting extravaganzas. For a closer look, let’s go to the tape.
It always makes things interesting when high-ranking teams are knocked out of the running early. It’s even more interesting to track the progress of an underdog team as they make it all the way to the Final Four. This year, Loyola was not projected to make it as far as they did, but to most everyone’s surprise, they were able to pull it together and triumph at the right time and place. In considering the cause of the big upset, there are all sorts of factors involved—from extraordinary teamwork to a dash of luck. Another aspect that can’t be overlooked is leadership. To make it all the way to the Final Four as a relatively low-ranking team, it takes the vision and fortitude of a true leader—in this case, Loyola’s Porter Moser.
While the corporate world is a bit different than the fun and fever-pitch of March Madness, leadership is just as important. Like in coaching, there are various approaches and styles to choose from. In business, there are generally five different types of leadership roles we tend to play:
The Architect is a structural master, matching systems with strategies to execute a company’s vision. He or she also challenges practices that don’t align with a company’s core mission and is excellent at collaborating with others to learn new processes that add to the whole.
The Coach is a standard-setter. He or she empowers others to lead and resolve problems. As a natural mentor, the Coach guides training and evaluates performance, helping others grow in the process.
The Manager is an excellent planner who knows how to direct resources, map daily priorities, lead action-oriented meetings, and keeps the team in order. A Manager also knows how to read the field and keeps workflow on a steady trajectory, day-by-day.
The Technician is a analytical mastermind, with technical expertise that allows him or her to troubleshoot issues and problem-solve under fire. The Technician has a deep well of knowledge to draw from and is able to make quick, diagnostic decisions.
So, what kind of leader are you? One management style isn’t inherently better than the other. We each have our strengths, personality types, and backgrounds that inform our leadership philosophy. Maybe you’d like to expand your skills, or maybe you’re not even sure where you fall on the spectrum. Either way, there’s plenty to learn from successful leaders and their methods, from the basketball court to the boardroom.
To find out more about your natural leadership style and how to continue your evolution, let me know. We have tools to decipher your natural leadership style and point you in the right direction. As always, Be the Delta and you too can take your team to new heights.
Laura Boyd has over 20 years of experience working with organizations to help them develop sustainable growth as organizations and the people within. She has been a leader on executive teams for large companies, emerging companies and non-profits, as well as, a business owner. She believes Leadership is the ultimate Delta for change, strategy and growth in an organization. She is now taking her years of experience helping businesses become high performance organizations.
Get in contact with Laura:
laura@leadershipdelta.com
612-481-0233
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