Leadership Personalities – Part 1
INTRODUCTION
The significant task of this presentation is to identify the most important personality traits and tendencies impacting effective leadership in a spiritual/ministerial context.
The traits and personality qualities associated with a sense of well-being are essentially unrelated to socio-economic status, income, level of education, gender, or race. Even though clinical depression has been rated as more prevalent in women than men, women score at least as high as men on scales of happiness or subjective well-being.
Some studies show that religious conversions or special spiritual experiences will greatly increase the sense of well-being for a period of time, and then even very religious people tend to drift back to their normal set-point level of well-being. This finding supports the importance of spiritual disciples, spiritual renewal, and a true commitment to self-evaluation and accountability.
Leaders can be found in all of the major descriptions of personality types. Leadership styles vary because each personality type has unique strengths and weaknesses. There are many excellent models of personality types, such as Myers/Briggs, Process Communications, and the DiSC personality profile. All of these models are harmonious and uniquely valuable. DiSC is the more basic, foundational profile to understanding the structure of personality. A more in-depth study could link all of the models in a unified picture, which would be especially valuable for all who are very involved in counseling and chaplaincy ministries. For our purposes we will begin with a review of the major personality types using the DiSC model.
PERSONALITY TYPES – DiSC
1) DiSC PERSONALITY PROFILE
Using the DiSC behavioral model, we will look at the four major styles of behavior and describe the personality profile of a spiritual person. The DiSC personality profile is a behavioral model developed by William Marston in the early 1990s and centers on four basic styles:
D = Dominant
i = Influence/Interacting
S = Steadiness
C = Cautious/Compliance
The DiSC model has been well researched and tested for validity and is considered one of the best human resource tools available anywhere.
A clear understanding of Christian theology shows that Jesus Christ was fully man and, in his humanity, manifested behavioral or temperament styles, yet always modeled balance and order.
Research shows that the most effective people are those who know themselves, know the demands of each situation, and adapt strategies to meet those needs. No human being is able to always be versatile, consistent, and pure in his/her actions and attitudes.
As we look at human behavior, even that of many Bible characters, we see the imbalance of actions and behavior that could be out of control.
The DiSC model is based on a “trait theory”, which classifies or characterizes people. According to this theory, one can describe a personality by its position on a number of scales, each of which represents that trait. The DiSC profile lists a series of twenty-eight traits on four scales, from high intensity to low intensity.
Graph I on the profile measures behavior in a given situation. Graph II measures a person’s instinctive core behavior and response to pressure. Graph III is a summary of the first two.
The profile of Jesus would show that He possesses all of the positive elements of all of the scales. His behavior would be perfect without imbalance, in complete control, and instantly able to take on whatever style is necessary to meet the need of the situation.
2) THE LEADERSHIP PERSONALITY PROFILE
A) High D
A high D individual imposes powerful control over the environment and the people with whom he/she comes in contact. They often produce in others fear and respect. They often intimidate people and seem detached or confrontational. They are action oriented, self-confident, and high achievers who focus on the task or on their goals.
Description of a High D
Someone with a high D style wants:
- Prestige
- Challenge
- Opportunity for advancement
- Accomplishments; results
- “The bottom-line”
- Wide scope of operation
- Direct answers
- Freedom from controls, supervision, and detail
- Efficiency of operation
- New and varied activities
Strengths to be used:
- Getting immediate results
- Making quick decisions
- Persistence
- Solving problems
- Taking charge
- Self-reliance
- Accepting challenges
Weaknesses to be avoided:
- Insensitivity toward others
- Impatience
- Overlooks risks and cautions
- Inflexibility and unyielding
- Taking on too much
- Being inattentive to detail
- Resenting restrictions
- Being too demanding of others
B) High i
High i’s are characterized by a desire for involvement with people. Typically, they are excellent communicators, using picturesque verbal imagery to express their ideas and feelings. In others, they produce reassurance and feelings of acceptance. They encourage others and demonstrate a caring attitude.
Description of a High i:
Someone with a high i style wants:
- Popularity; social recognition
- Noteworthy rewards
- Public recognition of their abilities
- People to talk to
- Favorable working conditios
- Group activities outside of job
- Casual warm relationships
- Freedom from control and detail
- Approval and friendliness
- Identification with others
Strengths to be used:
- Optimism
- Enthusiasm
- Being personable
- Making a good impression
- Being verbally articulate
- A desire to help others
- Creating an entertaining climate
Weaknesses to be avoided:
- Lack of follow-through
- Over-estimating anticipated results
- Misjudging capabilities
- Talking too much
- Acting impulsively
- Jumping to conclusions
- Over-committing
C) High S
The high S is characteristic of an individual possessing incredible patience and constancy. Even in adversity, the high S has the tendency to be extremely loyal to friends or team members. The high S produces harmony and security in relationships. They are the people you can count on to be a true friend.
Description of a High S:
Someone with a high S style wants:
- Status Quo
- Security of situation
- Covering references
- Happy relationships
- Simple, repeated procedures
- Sincerity
- Limited territory
- Longer time to adjust to change
- Genuine appreciation
- Identification with others
- Recognition for service
- Opportunity to specialize
Strengths to be used:
- Being supportive
- Being agreeable
- Loyalty
- Self-Control
- Consistency
- Being a good listener
- Performing established work patterns
Weaknesses to be avoided:
- Resisting change
- Trouble meeting deadlines
- Being overly lenient
- Procrastinating
- Being indecisive
- Holding a grudge
- Lack of initiative
D) HIGH C
High C tendencies are characteristic of an individual who is committed to accuracy and quality control. High C’s pay close attention to details and procedures. They are committed to excellence and conscientiousness.
Description of a High C:
Someone with a high C style wants:
- Known operating procedures
- Limited exposure
- Controlled environment
- References, verification
- Reassurance
- No sudden or abrupt changes
- Personal autonomy
- Personal attention to their objectives
- Selective involvement
Strengths to be used:
- Orderliness
- Conscientiousness
- Discipline
- Preciseness
- Thoroughness
- Being diplomatic with people
- Being analytical
Weaknesses to be avoided:
- Indecisiveness
- Getting bogged down in detail
- Rigidness on the how-to’s
- Avoiding controversy
- Low self-esteem
- Being hesitant to try new things
- Sensitivity to criticism
- Pessimism
True spirituality in the child of God manifests itself in Christ-like character, behavior, and thinking. What made Jesus unique was that whatever style He expressed, it was the right one for the specific situation. As we look at the behavior of Jesus during the three and one-half years of His public ministry, we have observed something that can be said of no other person in history. Jesus was able to be both flexible in the temperament He projected and to always select the behavioral style that was exactly right for the situation.
SPIRITUAL PERSONALITY
As children of God, we must grow spiritually and emotionally so that our responses in life are consistent with the character of Jesus Christ. We need to transcend our natural tendencies. When old ways of responding/coping are inadequate, we need to shift from our usual responses into something highly unusual. This process is called transformation.
Paul said: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2, NIV).
Before we began a spiritual and personal relationship with Christ, the only resource for behavior modification available to us was sheer willpower. Some people have had a measure of success in changing unpleasant personality traits on their own, but in Christ, we have the divine source for experiencing change within us. Transformation ceases to be our responsibility alone and becomes our response to His divine ability to work in us. An example of each major personality type is as follows:
D – The apostle Paul, who was a fiery high D learned that “My grace is sufficient for you, My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 19:9a). Paul wrote, “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. “ (2 Corinthians 12:7).
Paul made what has become one of the more incredible statements of a high D: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10).
i – Simon Peter also went through a transformation that allowed him to rise above some natural tendencies of his personality style. When under pressure, Peter (the high i), would often say things he would later regret, or make commitments that he did not follow through. Peter became the diligent proclaimer of Christ who would not back down or deny Christ (Acts 4:8-12).
S – Abraham, a high S, manifested a spiritual transformation when God gave him the ultimate test, to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2). The natural action for a high S in Abraham’s situation would be to avoid the situation or ignore the request. Instead of Abraham becoming distressed and pleading with God out of loyalty, Abraham did the following:
“So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. (Genesis 22:3, 9-10).
Abraham went against his “S” tendencies and risked obeying God. Abraham’s actions demonstrated that his faith was stronger than his fears.
C – Moses, the high C, who needed an environment that was controlled and safe, also experienced a transformation. Moses’ style was to closely follow the directions of the Lord and proceed cautiously. God revealed His glory to Moses and gave him the faith and courage to obey God.
God loves us as we are, but He also loves us too much to keep us that way. Spiritual growth, development, and transformation are truly God’s plan for us all.
CONCLUSION
In Part II of this presentation we will continue our study on Leadership Personalities by focusing on four primary position styles of leadership along with the opposite negative styles. This information will be based on the Life-Styles of Leadership Inventory (LSLI).
