As a business owner, effective leadership is essential for accomplishing business goals and promoting innovation. There are two unique leadership styles that can have a big impact on the trajectory of your business: driven leadership and drawn-to leadership. Understanding these leadership styles can help you to choose which will work best for the growth of your organization.
In our Wednesday mastermind group this week, we had a long and rich conversation about the difference between being a driven leader vs. drawn-to leader.
Let me start by defining each.
What Is A Driven Leader?
A person who pushes and pulls their way forward in order to meet and exceed goals. A driven leader actively pushes and pulls their way forward to meet and exceed their business goals. This leadership style is often defined by an unrelenting drive for progress, where motivation comes from a desire to exceed expectations and obtain results.
What Is A Drawn-To Leader?
A person who claims enough creative space to let new ideas formulate and draw them in. A drawn-to leader creates an environment that allows for creative space, allowing for new ideas to formulate. This leadership type embraces the organic formulation of new ideas, fostering an environment where innovation and creativity can thrive.
Which Leadership Style Should You Have?
A member of our mastermind group recently expressed, “I should be more driven.” This statement resonated deeply with others in the group. As entrepreneurs and business owners, we often feel pressured to continuously push ourselves and our employees to achieve goals and come up with new ideas. These “shoulds” trap us in a cycle of negativity and self doubt.
Conversely, other members of the group had the sentiment, “I should take more time to read, learn, and dream.” Both statements emphasize the conflict between the two leadership styles and often lead us down a path of fear and worry. The key question is: Which leadership style is more effective for moving my business forward – driven or drawn-to?
Exploring Business Leadership Styles Through Personal Stories
When our mastermind group tackles questions such as the one above, each member tries to share insight based on their personal experience with the question at hand. To illustrate the impact of driven and drawn-to leadership styles, let’s take a look at two stories from members of Business Builder Camp who have navigated these challenges.
Story 1: The Power Of Being A Driven Leader
One group member shared, “As a driven and constantly pushing leader, I lean towards assertive tactics to keep my business moving forward.” They described a period of poor performance in one of their company’s divisions. The team had become complacent, merely going through the motions and completing tasks as needed – just enough to get by. The group member sharing this story realized that change was necessary and acted accordingly.
The director of the division was not a natural leader and hadn’t faced a challenge like this before. With the help of an executive coach and well-defined objectives, the director transformed from a passive team member to an active leader who inspired his team. Over time, the department became one of the company’s best performers. Our group member reflects, “By pushing and pulling to improve, our business is better and our leaders are happier.”
Story 2: Being A Drawn-To Leader
Another member of Business Builder Camp shared their experience being a drawn-to leader: “The last two weeks have been light. I haven’t had as many meetings or projects to work on. At first I went through the same pattern I typically do when this happens – I panic. ‘Oh no, what if it’s all falling apart?’ Then, I pulled myself back and just enjoyed the slower days.”
This intentional shift led to new ideas and unplanned conversations, leading to a flow of creative energy that shed light on new paths forward for this member’s business.
Finding Balance Between Leadership Styles
So, which style is best? The consensus is obvious: both are essential. As leaders, we find the path to progress in various ways. At times, leaders need to push through daily tasks and lessons. Other times, they need to step back to dream before finding a plan and experiencing results.
The key for most business leaders is to find the time and space for both styles of leadership. While it is important to drive results, it’s equally as important to create space for innovation and new business ideas. Schedule time during your day to focus on strategic thinking and creativity, just as you would on other business related tasks.
Embrace Your Unique Leadership Style
Whatever your natural leadership style, consider putting effort into exploring the alternative style. By embracing both driven and drawn-to leadership styles, you can unlock new levels of productivity and creativity within your business and among your employees.
Contact Wayne at Business Builder Camp for one-on-one coaching, specially designed for business owners and entrepreneurs. With his coaching, you can discover your natural leadership style, how you can use your strengths to your advantage, and foster growth for your business.