Outsmart Your Leadership Genes: Managing Your Work Environment to Help You Maximize Your Leadership Style
Dr. Renee Booth, a psychologist and executive coach who owns the Philadelphia human resources firm Leadership Solution Inc., defines "leadership genes" as those natural, change-resistant tendencies that shape a person’s management style. In her Thursday morning General Session, Outsmart Your Leadership Genes: Managing Your Work Environment to Help You Maximize Your Leadership Style, Booth shared tips for how to compensate for personality traits that might be holding you back on your way to the C Suite. Booth had participants fill out a questionnaire to find out which of five general leadership style categories they fit best. Were they a Guru, a highly knowledgeable manager focused on best-in-class expertise? A Stabilizer, who emphasizes discipline and accountability? A Guardian, a people-focused manager who strives for harmony at all times? An Olympian, an achievement-oriented person who is preoccupied with driving results? Or an Energizer, an idea person who likes to galvanize the team around new possibilities? Using the example of running a meeting, Booth talked about how organizational leaders with different personalities can tweak their environments and strategies to ensure the optimum outcome. For example, the people-pleasing Guardian who hates to appear bossy might record and distribute notes from the meeting to hold attendees accountable. The Energizer who finds it hard to stay focused should make a point of preparing an agenda and scheduling regular checkups on the status of deliverables. But for the Guru, who often finds it difficult to engage effectively with others in a group, Booth’s prescription is, "Find someone else to run the meeting." |
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