Quick Look at R&T's List

R&T classification shows that there are precisely 7leadership categories.

…No, just 6—because one of these is not about leadership at all: the Diplomat. The Diplomat does not even want to lead, control or influence people. That surely rules them out of the classification by any reasonable definition. 

Read more about «R&T'sDiplomats» here.

THEE's Observation: R&T were looking at people who happened to be in posts where leadership is a requirement. That could be useful, but it does not enlighten us on leadership. For that we surely need to focus on actual leaders.

So there are just 6 R&T leadership categories.

…No, just 5—because one of these is a category of person who does not fit easily into organizations at all. This is the Individualist.  At most, such people will lead a rather small project team and usually only for a short period of time. 

R&T's example ('Sharon') confirms this observation: because R&T tells us that she left the firm to set herself up as a consultant.

Read more about «R&T's Individualists» here.

THEE's Observation: Leadership is not the only way to achieve and make a contribution within organizations. R&T seem to have equated the «personal capacity for group achievement» with a «suitability for leadership».

So there are just 5 R&T leadership categories.

…No, just 4—because one of these is rather strange.

We might call someone a Diplomat or an Achiever—but an Alchemist? There is something not quite right with that name.

R&T seem to have created a catch-all category for remarkable, charismatic people whose capabilities are well beyond the norm.

Read more about «R&T's Alchemists» here.

THEE's Observation: Unusually capable and charismatic people are certainly found in leadership positions, but they do not comprise a single category.

So we are left with 4plausible R&T leadership categories, Closedas follows:

Come with us as THEE looks at each by using specific terms and phrases from R&T's article to search its database.  After that we will try to make sense out of the three false positives.

Last Updated: 12-Jan-2012