The insights shared in this article are drawn from my personal work experiences, where I’ve had the privilege of leading teams as well as working under various leaders. I strongly believe there are nine distinct types of leaders, but in this blog, I will focus on three of them—their characteristics and how to effectively manage or work with such personalities.
I would love to hear your thoughts after reading this article, as your feedback is invaluable to me.
1. The Puppet Leader
A Puppet Leader is essentially a messenger between the senior management and employees. They implement decisions and strategies dictated by higher-ups without questioning their validity. Such leaders often lack the courage to voice employees’ concerns to the senior executives. They passively follow orders, even if those decisions adversely affect the team.
Example:
Senior management decides to implement a 6-day workweek instead of the current 5-day schedule. Employees are unhappy and approach their leader, but the Puppet Leader refuses to address their concerns, citing lack of authority.
How to Deal With Them:
- Build direct rapport with senior management, as they hold decision-making authority.
- If you’re part of a team, ensure you voice concerns collectively or through other channels, such as forums or HODs.
- Focus on creating value in the organization by consistently delivering excellent performance and earning credibility.
- Personal Experience: I faced a similar situation where my team was asked to work all Saturdays. By voicing our concerns to senior management and demonstrating our value, we successfully negotiated a compromise, reducing Saturday work to just two days a month.
2. The Hire-and-Fire Leader
These leaders are often found in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) or micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), where HR processes are less structured. They are highly ego-driven and expect work to be done exactly their way, leaving little room for creativity or flexibility. They have a monopolistic approach, and firing employees over minor issues is common, creating a lack of stability and trust within the team.
How to Deal With Them:
- Understand and Adapt: Study their working style and adjust your behavior accordingly. Treat them with the same care you’d give to an important client.
- Patience and Performance: Be patient and perform exceptionally well to gain their trust. Once you’ve earned their confidence, you’ll have more freedom to operate creatively.
- Tactical Communication: If you manage a team, bring up issues tactfully, keeping expectations realistic.
- Personal Experience: I once worked under such a leader. Initially, I followed his instructions blindly for six months to build trust. Over time, I started making independent decisions, and he allowed me greater freedom as he recognized my value.
3. The Pressure-Cooker Leader
Pressure-Cooker Leaders are workaholics who thrive on urgency and demand the same level of intensity from their teams. Even when given realistic targets, they inflate expectations, making them appear nearly impossible. They are authoritarian in their approach, using harsh communication to push their teams to the brink. However, beneath their tough exterior lies a soft-hearted individual who genuinely cares for the team’s welfare.
Example:
A leader is given a target of ₹1 lakh but assigns ₹3 lakh to the team, creating immense pressure to perform.
How to Deal With Them:
- Be a Performer: Exceed expectations to gain their respect and appreciation. They reward high achievers generously.
- Master Data Analytics: Keep relevant market data, competitor insights, and updates at your fingertips, as these leaders value well-prepared and informed team members.
- Be Honest and Transparent: They appreciate honesty and dislike dishonesty, so maintain integrity in all interactions.
- Personal Experience: I worked under such a leader and was rewarded multiple times for exceptional performance. My preparation and data-driven approach helped me earn his trust, and despite his tough demeanour, he always supported me.
Final Thoughts
The corporate world presents a variety of leadership styles, each with its challenges and opportunities. Learning to adapt and handle different types of leaders can significantly impact your career growth and job satisfaction.
Stay tuned for my next blog, where I’ll discuss three more types of leaders and strategies to work effectively under them.
I would love to hear your opinions and experiences—please share your thoughts in the comments. Your feedback helps me understand your perspective and improves the quality of my content.