Recognizing Leadership Style:
Welcome to the Emerging Leaders Blog series. Center for Work Life put on thinking caps to determine a method for reaching out and assisting leaders in the local Orlando community. The Emerging Leaders blog series based on the SPM (Spony Profiling Model) is the result. Not only has this series assisted notable female professionals who have participated, but these posts are also designed to help readers assess their own style and leadership qualities. Each blog post reveals a leadership style, discusses that style’s characteristics and features a local leader who embodies the style.
Based on the SPM (Spony Profiling Model), created by Dr. Gilles Spony, at Cranfield School of Management, Presentation Trainer Marion Chapsal, developed a model of 12 leadership styles. The purpose of determining one’s fit in the model is to understand their strengths and learn from a mentor with the opposite leadership style.
The Pioneer Leadership Style:
Enthusiastic, expressive, bold, risk-taker, not discouraged by failures, daring, independent, and ambitious are all descriptors of pioneers. They do not hesitate to change their minds to adopt a new course of action. “Full of confidence, brimming with energy, pioneers bring to their organization a capacity to initiate change and an ability to deal with the unexpected” (Spony Profiling Model Feedback Guide). According to Chapsal, the following individuals embody the Pioneer Leadership Style: CEO of Tempstaff, Yoshiko Shinohara, Founder and CEO of Entheo, Natalie Turner, Author of Play like a Man, Win like a Woman, Gail Evans, and CEO of Audur Capital, Halla Tomasdottir.
Once a leader understands their style, they also understand an ideal sponsor for them would be someone with the opposite style. Maintainers are the opposite of Pioneers. Obedient, watchful, cautious, loyal and modest are often qualities of Maintainers. They value stability, sincerity, morals and traditions. Seeking a sponsor of the opposing leadership style will enable an individual to learn from a different style and improve on their own weaknesses, while still growing as a leader by building their strengths.
An Orlando Pioneer:
Within the Orlando community, Center of Work Life identified Body Bi Vi Promoter, Karla Head, to have a Pioneer Leadership Style. Karla considers some of her greatest personal achievements to be raising her daughter, losing 40 pounds and focusing on health, working out and enjoying a healthy lifestyle. With a background in customer service and sales, Karla has proven to be a self-starter. She is passionate about her work with Body Bi Vi, an innovative company in the health and food industry.
Karla Head
Promoter
Body Bi Vi
www.karlasbodybyvi.com
Facebook
info@karlasbodybyvi.com
When asked to describe a leader, Karla responded “A person that is inspiring to others who can share vision and work toward a common goal.” What are some of Karla’s pioneer actions? Karla told us “Set an example.” She both tells and shows team members how to move forward. With a creative approach in her business efforts, Karla shares through social media. After attending events, she passes on learned knowledge to her team. Karla also hosts challenge parties for customers and team members to share testimonies and encourage each other. She explains that leaders “have to be teachable and coachable.”
Leaders like Karla make a big difference everyday and it takes all types of leaders to make the business world function. Achievers need facilitators, innovators need analysts and so on. Congratulations to Karla and all the pioneers out there for their hard earned accomplishments. Never stop investing in your personal development as a leader and look for mentors who can facilitate growth. In Karla’s words “Success will come, you have to stick with it. Step out of your comfort zone. Be the innovator and be the leader.” Those are innovative words from an inspiring pioneer.
Related Reads:
Emerging Leaders Introduction
Emerging Leaders, The Facilitator, Cori Powers
Emerging Leaders: The Moderator, Sandi Vidal
Mark Zuckerberg’s Leadership Qualities
This Blog has been featured by the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. Sources such as HLN have also been home to publications by Dr. Farnaz Namin-Hedayati and she has been cited by the Orlando Business Journal.
Center for Work Life of Orlando, Florida is an award-winning executive development firm providing leadership and management training to executives and organizations. Our main services include executive coaching, leadership development, executive succession planning, emotional intelligence training, career planning, staff development, and communication in the workplace.
