THE INVENTOR LEADER
There are four leadership subtypes in the TALK2ME© positive and effective communication system. Of the four – Inventor, Seer, Intuiter, Leader – do you know which you are?
In my leadership development studies, I found that the INVENTOR leader was the most powerful producer of positive results. Everything we see – from the light bulb, to computers, to psychotherapy – is the large-minded innovation of an Inventor leader. Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, and Sigmund Freud are all Inventor leaders, but from far different fields.
WHAT ARE THE INNER STRENGTHS OF THE INVENTOR LEADER?
Inventor leaders want to cut to the chase. They are true visionaries with the ability to magnify results and take action when others are chewing their fingernails or sitting on their hands. Inventors have the uncanny ability to find the diamonds in a rock-strewn canyon. Key characteristics which Inventor leaders share:
INVENTOR LEADERS:
▪ ARE VISIONARY. You envision the next great leap which is necessary to create a higher level of success. You see when the world needs an improved light bulb or laptop, and you aren’t afraid to make it happen. You utilize the key help of the super-motivated souls with whom you surround yourself.
▪ ARE MASTER CREATORS. What you see in your innovative mind is quickly formed, expeditiously created from the vision in your mind’s eye. Your mind is like a powerful broadcasting station that sends out requests which are quickly answered by the universe. You’re accustomed to your mental powers, but others are awed when you envision a future reality that, by today’s standards, might seem like science fiction.
▪ ARE CHARASMATIC. You can’t help being a “people charmer,” though you might claim that you are not. People tune in to your station, listening carefully to your viewpoints, internalizing them and often repeating them as their own. People like to love you. This is a little hard for you to fully comprehend because you measure yourself harshly. If you are in an oppositional relationship, you shrug it off, hardly missing a beat.
▪ ARE MAJOR MOOD MAKERS OR MOOD BREAKERS. Because your mood is infectious, you are a major mood-maker. You can make people feel good or bad, although you contend that every person is responsible for his or her own feelings. You can bring people up by using carefully crafted words, or, with nothing more than a skeptical glance, you can squash the self-esteem of another like a bug underfoot. Yes, you do have that kind of interpersonal power.
▪ CREATE SIGNIFICANT RESULTS. You rarely create outcomes or events that are average or mediocre. You either do “A” or “F” work, but never “C” work in the field of your passions and with your family. What you create is either extremely positive or extremely negative, and your results are typically big-time. The Creation Equation: When you are in a good mood or are confident, your results are positive. But, when you are in a bad mood or feel insecure, results are negative.
▪ ACTIVATE THE INNER POWER OF OTHERS. Why do others love to work for you? You push people hard to go way beyond their self-imposed boundaries to achieve new heights. To be around you, all talents must be tuned up. Your people will be pleasantly surprised that they are able to achieve levels of performance they had only imagined, before they began interacting with you. And they do have you to thank for pushing them outside their comfort zones, which they now know could easily have become their coffins.
▪ ARE MASTER LOGICIANS. You are the master of the meta-message. Often, what you don’t say but what you imply carries more weight in the minds of those you seek to influence. Thus, you gently lead others to the conclusions and impressions you wish to convey to them. If so inclined, you could be the wizard of propaganda.
▪ DOMINATE DECISIONS. You are quite able to convince others that your way is the best way to go. You can be perceived as intimidating and overpowering through the tool of conversational coercion. However, you feel you know what’s best for the group as a whole and only have the good of all at heart.
▪ STRUGGLE WITH INTERPERSONAL CLOSENESS. Your life partner may perceive you as backing up or putting the brakes on when he or she is trying to get close to you by using effective communication. When confronted, you will go to your island to cool off. You intensely dislike being pushed to talk about vulnerable emotions or past mistakes, as you see this as a sign of weakness and a big waste of time. Your partner disagrees.
▪ HAVE STROKES OF GENIUS AND SEIZURES OF INSECURITY. Life is a two-sided communicator coin of both positive and negative life challenges. Chances are, as a child you might have been reared by a tyrant parent who was controlling, belittling, moody, strict, or harsh. As a result, you set the pole vaulting bar very high for yourself, and you loathe failing or being put under anyone’s thumb. Perhaps those tough foundational times of loss vs. gain are the fuel for your strokes of genius.
You may have noticed that not every statement above fits you nicely, like hand in glove. However, many of these insights ought to ring true for you as an Inventor leader. I also know what you’re thinking. “Yes, but, what about the negative side of the coin? This is all fluffy and comfy, but it doesn’t capture the facts of my personal relationship life.” And of course, you’re right again.