Directional Leadership

Directional Leadership

Which Way Is the Wind Blowing?

Open Ended

The Leadership Compass draws from a Native American Indian–based practice called the Medicine Wheel or the Four-Fold Way. In the Four-Fold Way, the four directions are described as warrior (north), healer (south), teacher (west), and visionary (east). All directions have profound strengths and potential weaknesses, and every person is seen as capable of growing in each direction. Each direction has a primary “human resource,” including power (north), love (south), wisdom (west), and vision (east), as well as primary struggles, associated with loss or difficulty. Each person can access the gifts associated with each direction; through work, ritual, a variety of practices; in order to become more whole.

North

• Values action-oriented phrases, “Do it now!”, “I’ll do it”, “What’s the bottom line?”  

• Assertive, active, decisive

• Thinks in terms of “bottom line”  

• Perseveres, not stopped by hearing “No,” probes and presses to get at hidden resistances  

• Enjoys challenges presented by difficult situations and people  

Results

Open Ended

What do you find difficult about working with the North leadership style?

Style Taken to Excess

• Can easily overlook process and comprehensive strategic planning when driven by need to act and decide

• Can get defensive, argue, try to “out expert” others  

• May go beyond limits, get impulsive, disregard practical issues 

• Has trouble relinquishing control - find it hard to delegate, “If you want something done right, do it yourself!”  

• Can be autocratic, want things their way, has difficulty being a team member

Open Ended

Given what you have learned about someone whose directional leadership style is North, what is the best way to work with him or her?

Best Ways to work with a Action Oriented Leader

• Present your case quickly, clearly, and with enthusiasm and confidence

• Establish timelines and stick with them

• Use them to complete tasks that require motivation, persuasion, and initiative 

• Give them positive, public recognition 

• Let them know they will be involved – their payoff and their role

East

• Visionary who sees the big picture 

• Very idea-oriented; focuses on future thought  

• Likes to experiment, explore

• Looks for overarching themes, ideas

• Generative and creative thinker, able to think outside the box

Vision

Open Ended

What do you find difficult about working with the East leadership style?

Style Taken to Excess

• May put too much emphasis on vision at the expense of action

• May lose focus on tasks

• Lose track of time

• Enthusiastic early, burns out over time

• Overwhelmed or frustrated when outcomes do not align with vision

Open Ended

Given what you have learned about someone whose directional leadership style is East, what is the best way to work with him or her?

Best Ways to work with a Visionary Leader

• Share their passion, enthusiasm, and drive.

• Get clear on the criteria for moving forward. 

• Give actionable plans with specific steps, job responsibilities, and deliverables

• Be comfortable being honest