Types of Leadership
Square Peg/Round Hole

There are many different types of leadership but, I have found that not trying to place a square peg into a round hole works best.

Sounds so basic doesn't it?

I can hear you saying now, "No Kidding"

Before you stop reading hear me out!

As you know I have been in a senior leadership role for many years and things that I take for granted may not be the standard out there anymore.

I began thinking about the round hole square peg theory again when I noticed the local high school football team practicing one day.

They had the starters all out on the field while the second and third stringers were all standing on the sidelines watching.

As I stood and watched longer and longer I became more puzzled that they hardly ever brought anyone else into to practice.

At the end of the practice session all players did some sprints and into the locker room they went.

I started asking some questions as to why the second and third string players only watched. The coaches all sang the same song in that they wanted to put the best players on the field to increase their chances of victory.

So my next question was what is your record of victories? The answer surprised me when they said this season it was 0 and 4. Keep in mind that these were paid coaches that were expected to win, yet they were losing. I was even more surprised when I learned that their record had not been very good for several years.

I spoke with some of the parents and players and found out that they were using the same techniques since they became coaches there. With yet some more questions I found out that the head coach was brought in because of his winning record at his last school. He even took the team to the state finals in his final year there.

I found out that he was using the same plays and schemes he had been so successful there with.

So why wasn't it working here?

I boiled it down to a very simple principle. Square Peg - Round Hole!

In business I have worked with all types of employees. Some very talented that can fit anywhere and others I have found only have a limited amount of skills.

My job as a leader was to find out what talents they have and use them to our advantage. In other words put people into a position that they can be successful at.

In the coach's case, just because the plays that he developed for the players at the last school were successful it was obvious that they were not going to be at the new one.

Tap into the talent that you have and find out what works and what doesn't. He should be developing his plays around his talent, not the opposite.

Secondly he had more than double the amount of boys standing on the sidelines doing absolutely nothing, while he had what he considered the best athletes on the field.

Question

What happens when someone gets hurt?

In business we don't have the luxury of failing for several years. Nor can we afford to let that much manpower sit idle on the sidelines while we try to fit a square peg into a round hole.

The coach was doing what many new leaders/managers do and that is trying to apply what worked for one individual and force it on another.

I have four kids and each one is different. What motivates one does not necessarily motivate the others, and each has different talents that help them stand out from each other.

Employees are different! Athletes are different! People are different!

Find out what makes them different and then use that to help make everyone successful! Even if it is a small role, it will all blend together in the end to everyone's benefit.

Don't force a square peg into a round hole!

Management By the Book is an excellent straight forward self study course that contains 12 terrific subjects.

I know the authur personally and the course itself is a very popular course. So popular that he has come out with a second course Management By the Book II.

You will not be sorry and for the cost it is a great resource.

Good Luck and thank you for reviewing this article on Types of Leadership!

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