What sort of leader are you? - MAC010

If you imagine a medieval battlefield there were four main groups involved in the fighting.  There were the mele fighters who were the front lines -- the men carrying swords and spears or other similar weapons.  There was also the calvary -- men mounted on horse or later riding in chariots.  The next group fought with ranged weapons -- bows and crossbows and eventually siege engines such as catapults and trebuchet.  The final group were the lords and generals observing and commanding from an elevated position.  Each group needed a different form of leadership and I believe there are parallels in today's modern businesses.

The infantry was lead from the front.  These leaders were in the thick of the action with their men, shouting orders and inspiring their men by performing the same tasks that they were.  This style of leadership works well for short bursts such as times of crisis or when the team is inexperienced or just forming.  However, once the team is established and any crisis has passed, this same style of management becomes micromanaging which can demoralize a team.

The leaders of the calvary lead from the side.  They were not leading the charge but they were still there with their men.  From that position, they could adapt quickly and adjust tactics as opportunities presented themselves.  In the business world, this is a style that works well in an industry of constant change.  It can also be useful for a leader who has grown through the ranks; they have firsthand knowledge of the work, but are now in a position of management.

When it came to ranged attacks, they were lead from behind.  The leader was responsible for coordinating the attack.  From behind, they could see both the battlefield as well as those under their command.  Unleashing a volley of arrows or coordinating the activities of a siege engine required timing to ensure that everything went off without issue.  In the business world, this type of leader is one who trusts and empowers his team to act but ensures that they are coordinated on the project goals.  Managers who lead from behind amplify their team by seeing the big picture and remove the roadblocks so the team can progress.  When people talk about "good" managers they are often referring to people with this leadership style.

The final group of leaders, the nobility and generals, lead from above.  They are positioned where they can see the entire battle field and dispatch orders to the various groups via messengers.  Because of the time it takes for their orders to reach the various units, that necessitates that those orders are more strategic in nature; they can't react quickly and adapt to the changing conditions.  In a business, the directors and executives fill this role.  If a direct manager takes this approach the stand-off nature can lead to the team feeling lost and undirected.

Each style of leadership - from the front, from beside, from behind, and from above - all have their place in the corporate world.  The key is understanding when each style applies and being able to transition between them as the situation calls for.

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