Leadership Types
The Teacher

One of the many different leadership types, is the Teacher.

Someone that truly enjoys passing along their knowledge to those that report to them, can be a good leadership attribute to possess.

Almost every leader must be able to teach to a certain degree, but I am speaking of the one that dedicates a large amount of their time doing this. As an example, a coach of a sports team must be able to teach, and should be spending a significant amount of time doing this. If they are not a good teacher, they will probably not be successful.

On the other hand, a Chief Executive Officer is most likely not going to be spending very much time in actually teaching any employees. They fit more into a role of directing.

Then we come to the everyday supervisor/manager of a department.

As an example the manager of an accounting department should be someone that is a good teacher. Most of the employees would be working alone and this sets up the perfect opportunity to spend the necessary one on one time teaching new accounting techniques.

This would also mean that you, as the leader, should be continually learning as well.

I have worked with leaders that thought they could teach, but were not good at it. It is definitely a skill.

If you are the teaching type, try never to talk down to someone.

Never make fun of them!

Never make light of their ability!

Never teach in an effort to make yourself look smart to others!

Don't always look for the wrong in something so that you can teach!

Don't always correct someone every time you see them!

Don't mistake correcting someone with teaching. Certainly correcting them in the right way is teaching, but continually correcting them becomes annoying to most people. You will soon lose their respect.

As an example if you wanted to show someone a different way to approach a problem/situation, address them in a way that builds them up. Say something like, "This looks great, but may I show you a little trick I learned from my supervisor?" Providing of course you did learn it from your supervisor. But you get the point.

Don't say, "That takes too long to do it that way, let me show you the right way." Or any version of this!

Being the type of leader that teaches is definitely a good thing. Don't overdo it though. Know what you are talking about! Do your home work!

Most importantly you need to be a good student as well. Be willing to learn also!

Don't fall into the trap where you are the only one that knows best.

That's called arrogance, not leadership!

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