Two Kinds of People

There are 2 kinds of people in the world: those that think there are only 2 kinds of people and those that don’t. Now I need to explain what this somewhat non-sensical statement means and how it applies to leadership. Type 1 is quick to assess and label others. They waste no time in determining whether a person is good or bad, for us or against us, helpful or hurtful. This rapid-sorting process enables a Type 1 to decide how to treat the people that they encounter and lead. They ask one person to lead a team, another to be on a team, and they try to keep a third person off the team. Type 2 sees each person as a rich tapestry of traits and talents and possibilities. If they apply labels at all, they do so slowly. Everything is a shade of gray, not black or white. They’d rather think of the people they encounter as potential allies or potential leaders. That potential will only be proven (or disproven) over time. Suppose you’re a leader who is a Type 1 with good instincts. You’re probably good at getting things done, but you may leave a trail of damaged relationships, confused people, and untapped potential in your wake. If you’re instincts are less reliable, you may experience a higher rate of failure than necessary. Type 2 leaders are less likely to bruise the feelings of others, but they don’t advance the vision as quickly. Some people may get frustrated at the Type 2’s tendency to “withhold judgment” or “wait and see.” Which is best? Both and neither. What’s actually best is for a leader to know his or her tendencies, and to work to minimize the corresponding risks. Besides, I don’t really believe that there are only two types of people. It’s easy to receive my blogs by email. Just sign-up on Feedburner by clicking here.]]>