What makes a great leader? A simple question to ask, a
complex set of variables; some intangible many critical, to actually answer. In
a day and age when there is a critical dearth of great leaders, John Mattone, a
veteran, global leadership consultant tapped into his years of experience
advising, consulting, and coaching Fortune 500 leaders to help them achieve
next level success has set out to draw a road map that answers the question.
The result is his new book, Intelligent Leadership:
What You Need to Know to Unlock Your Full Potential.
Mattone tackles the problem from many perspectives using a multi-faceted,
layered approach. Others have used charts, graphs and pyramids to approach the
answer; Mattone takes a swing with The Wheel of Intelligent Leadership. The layers
come in the form of inner and outer core principles that drive leaders.
The outer core competencies consist of:
1. Critical thinking
2. Decision making
3. Strategic thinking
4. Emotional leadership
5. Communications skills
6. Talent leadership
7. Team Leadership
8. Change leadership
9. Drive for results
Mattone contends that the hidden inner core is critical to
drive the outer core because people don’t observe the inner core values of
self-image, beliefs and values.
The critical advantage that Mattone uncovers comes when he
lays out the road map of the nine types of leaders and puts your leadership
skills to a self-test. It is my belief that truly great leaders have the
ability to distinguish themselves by being able to adapt and maximize the
impact they have by being able to play well in most if not all of the nine
leadership types. Mattone identifies them as:
1. Perfectionists
2. Helpers
3. Entertainers
4. Artists
5. Thinkers
6. Disciples
7. Activists
8. Drivers
9. Arbitrators
While I will leave the details of Mattone’s definitions of
those broad categories, if you are a leader, think about your day-to-day duties
and just how many of those roles you may be cast in a varying times and
situations. Truly great leaders have the ability to wear all of those hats when
called for by a given situation. With Intelligent
Leadership, John Mattone gives you the tools needed to maximize and make
seamless, your ability to not only do it yourself, but to help bring it out in
your leadership team.
