Rowley Associates

What kind of leader are you and how do you compare to some of the best in the business?

After 25 years of conducting our own research and working with leaders from Fortune 500 companies we believe leadership is the combination of two factors – Conviction and Connection.

Leaders with high conviction provide a compelling vision of the future; understand what is happening in their industry; are passionate, authentic and committed to understanding and servicing the needs of their customers.

The connected leader understands how their behavior impacts others; they communicate with power and authority; and bring the best out of those who work with them. These leaders build and sustain high quality relationships, are trusted and radiate confidence and belief to those around him.

The combination of Conviction and Connection provides the following leadership styles.

C1: High Conviction-Low Connection. The C1 leader is high on action and low on communication. They are likely to diminish the importance of relationships and partnerships and fail to balance a fierce desire to succeed with self-reflection and feedback.

C2: High Conviction-High Connection. The C2 leader is asser¬tive, confident, and can communicate her ideas effectively. These leaders balance their drive to succeed with the realization that it is others who get the job done.

C3: Low Conviction-Low Connection. The C3 leader has withdrawn from the leader¬ship role. This may be a result of ‘burnout’ – a feeling of having nothing more to give - a desire to remain invisible, or an inability to develop a strategic plan that provides clarity and direction for people.

C4: Low Conviction-High Connection. This leader tries to avoid conflict. They are often driven by the need to obtain approval rather than provide leadership. The C4 leader is often liked as a person but disliked as a person to work for.

Which one are you?