What’s Your Hip Pocket Model For Leadership?
You know, the one you pull out when you need to get from point A to B in a life or business situation.
I came into the leadership development field from a business background. My thinking and approach are underpinned with real business outcomes in mind. Too much focus on theory and research makes me a bit itchy. I need practical and common sense. Something I have in my hip pocket that is easily accessible.
A model is only good when applied to context. I find a great starter question for context is “why leadership, and why now?” This brings clarity and intention to the coaching conversation. It keeps things relevant and allows a richer deeper conversation about advancement to the business goal.
OK, you say, business, goal, and context are important, but what about the behaviors? This is where the leadership development field can get wrapped around its own axle. The very models that are supposed to clarify, get too complicated for their own good. If you can’t remember the model, it’s a fail. If there is no resulting action, it’s a fail!
A great leadership model Is like a custom-tailored suit. It’s form and structure have been tried and tested. You try it on, and it feels pretty good. It’s the tailoring to you that makes it 100%. As I’ve used the Leadership Circle model, more and more, I find myself playing with the language. Hemming, adjusting, cutting cloth for an exceptional fit and feel for the client.
Just as a tailor works with you - your size, your shape, just as you are - a great coach does the same. They ask great questions provoking thought and inspiring action. They listen deeply and reflect back the potential for a higher expression of self. The Leadership Circle Profile, is a tremendous reflection tool. At its core, is pretty simple – creative, reactive, relationship, task. However, remembering 18 creative competencies and 11 reactive tendencies is more work than my brain needs. Fortunately, Bob Anderson, and Bill Adams recognize this and bucketed the five creative dimensions and three reactive dimensions as a shortcut for our memory.
Here is my cheat sheet/shortcut to remembering the five creative dimensions. It’s framed up as two-part questions with some keywords to help your memory.
Five Big Questions
As a leader, am I:
Relating
Am I building positive vital healthy relationships?
Am I relatable? Do others relate to me?
Keywords: connection, coaching, collaboration, caring, team play.
Self-Aware
Do I really know myself? What are my traits, triggers, values, etc.
Am I aware of how others experience me? The impact of my actions / inaction?
Keywords: EQ, curious, learner, composed, balanced, selfless.
Authenticity
Am I showing up as my own true, authentic self? The real deal?
Do others experience me this way?
Keywords: integrity, credibility, values, courageous authenticity.
Systems Aware
Do I see the big picture? How it all fits together?
Do others experience me as a whole system leader who gets to the root cause and not just the symptoms?
Keywords: community concern, sustainable, productivity, whole systems thinking, reduce complexity.
Achieving
Do I have a clear vision and a big outcome that I am leading towards?
Do others understand, become inspired and take-action on your purposeful and strategically focused direction?
Keywords: purpose, alignment, results, excellence, action, opportunity.
I invite you to keep these questions and keywords in your hip pocket as an easily accessible guide for your leadership journey—one that is practical, memorable, insightful, and actionable.