In a leadership team, everyone does something very well, sometimes too well.
Operational expertise, strategic thinking, and working with others are valued assets in the leadership team, yet when executives play to their strengths too strongly and resist the call to become a balanced player, executive teams struggle.
The functional fanatic defends their business function above everything. An executive that serves their function over larger organization interests hurts the business.
The committee comrade is everyone’s friend and values group harmony. Yet a need for harmony can prevent a leadership team from confronting difficult issues.
The pie in the sky strategist is creative and forward thinking, yet is often too far from reality to bring tangible opportunities into the team or business.
The operational addict is an executive that knows the business better than anyone else and steps too deeply, often demotivating those that report to him or her.
The balanced player, while recognizing the benefits of the four attributes, puts the interests of the overall business ahead of personal agendas, functional interests or their pathway to past successes.
What leadership types are present in your executive team?