Differentiated Leadership and Crucial Conversations

Leadership involves the challenging task of regulating oneself at high levels of executive functioning. In addition to aligning various components towards common goals, leaders must possess a high emotional intelligence and be capable of separating themselves from others' emotions. This is crucial in helping individuals stay regulated, feel psychologically and physically safe, and work through challenges to achieve collective objectives.

Members trust leaders to facilitate the collaboration of diverse personalities toward collective achievement. It is advantageous for leaders to understand typical patterns of social behavior when faced with conflict, challenge, and stressors; and be prepared with knowledge and skills to nurture and promote desirable communication patterns while refining and recalibrating undesirable patterns of communication. Utilizing models such as those outlined in Differentiated Leadership (Kaufaman, 2013) and Crucial Conversations (Callibrain, 2015) assists leaders in defining an appropriate, responsive approach according to the group's needs.

Differentiated leaders who establish a culture characterized by productivity and non-anxious responses often engage in more "confrontational" communication compared to others. However, it should be noted that these confrontational conversations are typically highly emotionally charged attempts at effective communication. The fact that individuals feel safe to be vulnerable and express ideas that may conflict with others is an indication of effective leadership. (Kaufaman, 2013)

When leading organizational change or innovation projects, it is crucial for leaders to possess the skill of communicating through conflict, challenges, and emotionally charged situations. It is beneficial for all members to learn effective and respectful dialogue techniques, as outlined in Crucial Conversations, and develop the ability to recognize when conversations are becoming unproductive, as well as skills to course-correct while maintaining mutual respect. When the leader and other individuals in an organization possess these communication skills, overall organizational communication improves. As a natural result of applying effective communication skills, productivity toward collective goals, change initiatives, and innovation is enhanced. (Callibrain, 2015)

References

Callibrain. (2015, August 20). Video Review for Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/EFaXx3pgaxM?si=zEjROgn8vsc4_FA2

Kaufaman, A. (2013, August 24). Friedman's theory of differentiated leadership made simple [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/i9H-i9lHr28?si=YGkebSRJwBHqHebS