• Editor’s note: This is the ninth in a series of columns discussing leadership on Kaua‘i — a place where leaders discuss the qualities and expectations of leadership specific to the Garden Island. For his sixth birthday my son Jacob
• Editor’s note: This is the ninth in a series of columns discussing leadership on Kaua‘i — a place where leaders discuss the qualities and expectations of leadership specific to the Garden Island.
For his sixth birthday my son Jacob received a “beginner’s” tool set and a book of age-appropriate construction projects from his Grandpa Jake. Jacob excitedly chose to build a go-cart, complete with a rope steering assembly, as his first project. Having delivered the gift, Grandpa Jake promptly departed for home leaving me to supervise the project. Jacob’s plan was that he would figure out what materials were needed and I would pay for them. He would cut half of the lumber with his tools; I would cut the other half with my tools. We would then assemble it together under his direction. Fair enough.
We got the materials and Jacob enthusiastically began to make his cuts. He was using a kid-sized hand-saw — the kind that requires a strong arm and a lot of patience. With great effort Jacob succeeded in cutting his half of the lumber — it took him most of the afternoon. Sweaty and proud he announced that it was my turn. I went to my workbench and grabbed my skill saw. Less than five minutes later, I was finished. The look on Jacob’s face was priceless. He looked at the now silent skill saw gripped in my hand, down at the crosscut saw dangling at the end of his exhausted right arm and back at my nifty saw. The expression on his face said both, “Dude that is so unfair,” and “Can I have one of those?” I’m pretty sure I laughed out loud. Jacob learned a valuable lesson that day: Use the best tool for the job.
Effective leaders understand that leadership styles are like tools in a carpenter’s toolbox or surgical instruments in the operating room. Authors Goleman, Boyatzis,and McKee describe several leadership styles, their characteristics and their effectiveness in the book “Primal Leadership.” The styles described are: visionary, coaching, affirmative, democratic, pacesetting and commanding. Using a style that is not appropriate to the situation causes more problems than it solves. Using the proper style can make the difference between success and failure.
Using a poorly effective style of leadership is like cutting wood with a dull hand-saw compared to using the “power-tool” of effective leadership. In order for you to be a capable and effective leader, you may have to step outside of your comfort zone to experiment with styles that are not as familiar to you. Keep in mind though that leaders do not work in isolation. Seek advice, coaching, mentoring and feedback if you want to improve your chances for success. You may have heard the saying, “Practice makes perfect.” A truer statement is, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” Consider enrolling in a formal leadership development program such as those offered by Leadership Kaua‘i. By the way, Jacob’s go-cart worked great but did not come equipped with brakes. That is a story for another time.
• Ken Pierce is a Leadership Kaua‘i graduate, 2006. He currently serves as a medical consultant. Pierce is also author of, “Wise at Heart.”
