Leadership Design

A guide to understanding your leadership design

Designing a leader

How would you design a leader?

There is a beautiful diversity when you look at leaders, each shaped by how they’ve been created and the experiences they’ve had. A Leader doesn’t fit a singular template to be copied. Leaders aren’t manufactured, they’re cultivated.

Leadership contains common themes, uniquely expressed in each leader. The design elements shape who we are as leaders, informing what kind of leaders we become.

This series explores six design elements that are not only important to visual design but to leadership design as well.

  1. Priority
  2. Alignment
  3. Proximity
  4. Contrast
  5. Negative Space
  6. Rhythm

As we dive into each element, I’ll provide tools to help you discover your own design and take the next steps of growth. Let’s get started...

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What is Leadership Design?

If you've read all the leadership books, watched the podcasts, taken the courses, but are still wondering what will influence the kind of leader you become, then I have a guide for you.

Most people either try to methodically construct their leadership ability or they take a laissez faire approach and hope for the best.

But you don't have to choose from those options.

You can intentionally apply design principles to your own leadership journey.

Woven within the diversity of leaders are common themes, uniquely expressed in each leader. The design elements shape who we are as leaders, informing what kind of leaders we become.

Design Elements of a Leader

What makes someone a great leader? What qualities do they possess?

Composition is how the design elements are organized and shapes how art is experienced. As a leader, you have key attributes, and their arrangement will influence how your leadership is experienced by others.

Self-awareness is a key ingredient to growth. Understanding our leadership design helps us know ourselves better and identify where we can grow. So we'll explore six qualities critical to the design of a leader.

We’ll explore six design elements that are not only important to visual design but to leadership design as well.

  1. Priority
  2. Alignment
  3. Proximity
  4. Contrast
  5. Negative Space
  6. Rhythm

Reflecting on your leadership design

It's hard to move forward if we don't know where we are. If we want to grow as leaders, we need to pause and reflect.

Take some time to think through these questions as you consider how these principles are influencing your design as a leader.

Priority

  • If someone asked you about the top 3-5 priorities for your life, could you answer without thinking?
  • How comfortable do you feel evaluating your life? Have you shared your priorities with those close to you? If yes, how did it go? If no, why not?
  • Who could you invite to help you grow in the area of priority as a leader?

Alignment

  • If your closest friend and I were both asked to write down your priorities, how closely would the lists match?
  • What are your strengths? How do these influence your leadership? What opportunities do you have to leverage these strengths to a greater degree?
  • What moments in leadership have felt effortless to you? What were you doing in those moments? How can you make those activities a more central part of your role?
  • If you asked both a member of your work team and a member of your family to describe your leadership, how would they compare?

Proximity

  • Who are the top 10 people you spend the most time with?
  • Who are the people providing guidance and direction for your leadership?
  • Who are peers you can process leadership challenges and success?
  • Who are you helping to grow as a leader?
  • When was the last time you received honest and informed feedback? How did you respond?
  • Who could you ask today that could give you quality feedback on your leadership?

Contrast

  • Do most of the people in your circle see the world in the same way as you, or do your views differ?
  • When is an example of you and someone with a contrasting perspective mutually helping one another to grow?
  • What skills or strengths are needed for your team to succeed? How are these strengths distributed across your team members?
  • How often do team members voice a different perspective than you or solve a problem using a different approach than you would?
  • What step could you take today to increase your proximity to those with contrasting perspectives or strengths?

Negative Space

  • What percentage of your week can you allocate to uninterrupted focused deep thinking and strategy work? In an ideal world, what percentage would you want this to be?
  • What habits can you and your team implement to escape a tyranny of the urgent inbox?
  • What needs to go on your not-to-do list?
  • How many days a week does work spill over into personal life?
  • Describe what margin in your life would look like.
  • What is needed to take a personal planning weekend and look at how you could restart?

Rhythm

  • What time of day is your best time for creative work?
  • If you we're to pick 4 themes to group you weekly activities, what would they be?
  • If you had a blank slate for your schedule and could arrange it however you want, what factors would influence how your would design it?

A 5-day journey to living from your priorities

It’s easy to spend our day reacting to what comes at us. What if you could be proactive, intentionally making decisions based on your priorities? It is possible!

Our five-day short course guides you through the process of identifying your life priorities and scaling them day to everyday decisions. You’ll learn how to establish a rhythm to build good habits and grow a team that will be with you in the journey.

The leader design short course packages all of this into a 7-day personal guide.

You’ll get daily content, including action steps, resources, and worksheets for you to further develop your design as a leader.

Action Plan

Wondering how to identify your priorities? Try my 5 day priorities challenge, where I explore how to design think your everyday life.

Want help taking the next step in your leadership? Book a free discovery session and we'll explore your leadership journey together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Team Leadership

What is team leadership?

Team leadership is a management approach focused on leading and guiding a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. A team leader is responsible for providing direction, support, and guidance to the team members, while fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Team leadership involves setting clear goals and expectations for the team, communicating effectively, and building trust and relationships with team members. It also involves empowering team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their unique skills and perspectives to the team's success.

Some key characteristics of effective team leadership include:

  1. Communication: Team leaders communicate clearly and effectively with their team members, keeping them informed about goals, expectations, and progress.
  2. Vision and strategy: Effective team leaders have a clear vision for what they want to achieve and a strategy for how to get there, while also being flexible and adaptable when necessary.
  3. Empowerment: Good team leaders empower their team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work, while also providing support and guidance as needed.
  4. Trust-building: Team leaders build trust and strong relationships with their team members, creating a positive and productive work environment.
  5. Results-oriented: Finally, effective team leaders are results-oriented, focusing on achieving goals and driving performance while also valuing the well-being and development of their team members.

Overall, team leadership is a collaborative and empowering approach to management that values communication, trust-building, and results-driven performance.

Learn more about leadership.

What are the different styles of team leadership?

There are several different styles of team leadership, including:

  1. Democratic leadership: In this style, the leader encourages open communication and participation from all team members in decision-making processes.
  2. Autocratic leadership: This style involves the leader making decisions and taking control over the team's direction, often with little input from team members.
  3. Transformational leadership: This style focuses on inspiring and motivating team members to achieve their full potential, often by setting a clear vision and communicating goals effectively.
  4. Servant leadership: A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their team members, focusing on serving and empowering them to achieve their goals.
  5. Laissez-faire leadership: In this style, the leader provides minimal guidance or direction, allowing team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions independently.
  6. Transactional leadership: This style involves setting clear goals and expectations for team members and providing rewards or discipline based on performance.
  7. Situational leadership: This approach involves adapting one's leadership style to fit the specific situation or needs of the team at any given time.

Overall, each style of team leadership has its own strengths and weaknesses, and effective leaders may use a combination of different styles depending on the situation and the needs of their team.

Learn more about leadership.

What are the different skills required for team leadership?

There are several key skills required for effective team leadership, including:

  1. Clear: Team leaders must be to communicate effectively with their team members, setting clear expectations and goals, providing feedback, and keeping everyone informed about progress and changes.
  2. Active listening: Leaders need to be able to listen actively to their team members, hear their concerns, ideas, and suggestions, and work collaboratively to find solutions.
  3. Empathy: Good team leaders value empathy, recognizing and understanding the perspectives of their team members, and working to build trust and strong relationships
  4. Decision-making: Leaders must be able to make informed decisions based on available information and input from team members, while also being decisive when necessary.
  5. Problem-solving: Effective team leaders must be able to identify and solve problems that arise within the team, working collaboratively to find creative and effective solutions.
  6. Motivation and empowerment: Leaders must be able to motivate and empower their team members to take ownership of their work, overcome challenges, and achieve their full potential.
  7. Delegation and management: Team leaders must be able to delegate tasks effectively, manage resources and timelines, and oversee the work of the team to ensure quality and efficiency.

Overall, effective team leadership requires a combination of interpersonal, decision-making, and management skills, as well as the ability to inspire and empower team members to work collaboratively towards shared goals.

Learn more about leadership.

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.

A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:

  1. Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
  2. Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
  3. Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
  4. Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
  5. Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

Servant Leadership

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.

A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:

  1. Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
  2. Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
  3. Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
  4. Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
  5. Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

How can servant leadership be beneficial in the workplace?

Servant leadership can be beneficial in the workplace in a number of ways, including:

  1. Improved employee engagement and job satisfaction: When employees feel supported, valued, and empowered by their leaders, they tend to be more engaged and satisfied with their work.
  2. Increased collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize communication, collaboration, and trust-building, which can lead to stronger relationships and more effective teamwork.
  3. Higher levels of productivity and innovation: When leaders empower their team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their ideas, it can lead to higher levels of productivity and innovation.
  4. Reduced turnover and absenteeism: Employees who feel supported and valued are less likely to leave their jobs or call in sick, leading to reduced turnover and absenteeism rates.
  5. Improved organizational culture: Servant leadership can create a positive organizational culture that values growth, development, and well-being for all stakeholders, which can lead to improved morale and outcomes.

Overall, servant leadership can lead to a more positive, productive, and fulfilling workplace environment, benefiting both employees and the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

How does servant leadership differ from other leadership styles?

Servant leadership differs from many other leadership styles in several key ways:

  1. Focus on serving others: Servant leaders prioritize the needs and well-being of their followers over their own interests, while many other leadership styles focus more on achieving organizational goals.
  2. Empathy and listening skills: Servant leaders value empathy and active listening skills to better understand the needs and perspectives of their followers, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on asserting authority or making decisions without input from others.
  3. Collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize collaboration and teamwork, seeking to empower and develop their followers to achieve their full potential, while other leadership styles may be more focused on competition or individual achievement.
  4. Humility and accountability: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, prioritizing the well-being of all stakeholders and taking responsibility for their decisions, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on personal ambition or avoiding blame.

Overall, servant leadership is characterized by a focus on serving others, prioritizing empathy and collaboration, and taking a humble and accountable approach to leadership. While other leadership styles may be effective in different contexts, servant leadership can be a powerful tool for creating positive change and empowering others to reach their full potential.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

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