Dan Gingiss, CSP Identifies Two Leadership Styles: The Sledgehammer vs. The Bricks

In a recent LinkedIn post, Dan Gingiss, CSP explores a fundamental dichotomy in leadership styles that he observed during his extensive career in Corporate America. He posits that leaders, when faced with challenges their teams cannot overcome independently, tend to fall into one of two distinct categories, offering a framework for self-assessment and team observation.

The Leader’s Response to Team Challenges

Gingiss, CSP, frames this critical leadership distinction through a vivid analogy. He writes:

“When your team hits a wall they cannot get through alone, they are either standing there with a sledgehammer or they are standing there with more bricks.”

This powerful imagery, according to Gingiss, CSP, immediately categorizes leaders based on their approach to problem-solving and team support. He suggests that individuals can readily identify which type of leader they have encountered throughout their careers, implying a clear and discernible difference in their impact.

Analyzing the Two Leadership Archetypes

Gingiss, CSP, elaborates on the implications of these two archetypes. The leader who provides a “sledgehammer” is one who actively intervenes to break down obstacles, remove barriers, and enable the team to move forward. This approach is characterized by direct action and problem resolution, empowering the team by clearing the path ahead.

Conversely, the leader who offers “more bricks” represents a different philosophy. As Dan Gingiss, CSP points out:

“The question is: which one are you?”

This suggests a leader who, rather than removing the obstacle, provides the team with additional resources or tasks, potentially increasing the burden or complexity of the problem. This approach might be interpreted as a lack of direct support or a tendency to delegate challenges without fully clearing the way. Gingiss, CSP implies that this is a less effective, or at least a more challenging, way to lead.

The Core of Collective Lift

The distinction between these leadership styles ties directly into Gingiss, CSP’s broader philosophy, which he encapsulates in the concept of “Collective Lift.” He explains the underlying principle:

“That is what Collective Lift is about: making everyone around you better.”

In Gingiss, CSP’s view, true leadership, as embodied by the “sledgehammer” approach, is about enhancing the capabilities and success of the team. It’s about fostering an environment where collective potential is realized, and individuals are empowered to overcome challenges. The “bricks” analogy serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting leadership behaviors that may inadvertently hinder progress rather than facilitate it.

Gingiss, CSP’s post serves as a compelling call to action for leaders to reflect on their own behaviors and the impact they have on their teams. By understanding these two fundamental approaches, professionals can strive to be the kind of leader who provides the “sledgehammer” – one who actively dismantles barriers and fosters an environment of collective growth and success.

He also announced an upcoming keynote presentation offering a deeper dive into these ideas, inviting interested parties to register via a link shared in the comments of his original post.