As a new leader, you’re probably wondering what you need to do to be successful. After reading dozens of business books, debating with hundreds of colleagues, and ruminating on this for many years, I’ve boiled down it down to three things. You need to have a clear understanding of people, process, and performance.
What Leadership Style Do You Major In?
Purpose, process, or performance?
February 10, 2023
HBR Staff; Mustapha GUNNOUNI/Getty Images
Summary.
Successful leadership requires you to have an understanding of three things: people, process, and performance. Most leaders major in one style and minor in another. The major is what they naturally lead with and deem most valuable, while the minor is often a skill they’ve honed over time. You need to be aware of your majors and minors to build and communicate with your team in the most effective way.
- Performance-driven leadership: Performance-first leaders value results at all costs, which is helpful because high performance can solve most business-related problems. These leaders are most commonly action-oriented and very quick decision makers. They spend more time looking at results and less time reviewing how they got there.
- Process-driven leadership: Scalable organizations need sound processes in place, and this type of leader is great at envisioning and implementing them. They believe that adherence to these processes is more conducive to long-term success and will take the time to understand all of the necessary implications of a decision.
- People-driven leadership: People-driven leaders create enormous value for a company by consciously and proactively improving their teams. They create a psychologically safe environment where employees feel supported and valued. When employees feel connected to their workplace culture and their managers, they’re more likely to be productive and motivated.