Mounting talent to task...

The leader’s first task is to mount talent to task. -David Keirsy

This week I’ve spent time reading David Keirsey’s Please Understand Me II. It’s a fantastic read that delves into the intricacies of personality assessment. My favorite chapter (ch. 9) is titled: “Leading and Intelligence” and goes into detail about the different leadership styles of each of the 16 types.

Naturally after taking in all this information, I wanted to come up with a metaphor for all of it; a way for me to bring the information down to ground level and actually use it. I began to think about a ship on a journey to the Arctic Circle. As with any organization, it is absolutely imperative that people’s God-given talents and abilities be used at their maximum potential. The following is my take on how to use those talents. (DISCLAIMER: inside each type there are 4 more types, creating 16 total types. If you don’t fit neatly into one of these categories do some research. I promise you can find information on your temperament).

At the helm, driving the ship, would be the tactical Artisan (Myers Briggs SP). Artisans can see the next step and react to it with the utmost speed and agility. When navigating a ship out of port, twisting and turning between other vessels and staying clear of dangerous shoals, there is no better guide than the artisan. He will become bored after this and likely complain about the lack of excitement between the port and the “important” work in the Arctic; however, he will be able to master the technique of navigating icebergs like no other. For this reason, I want him at the helm.

Taking inventory of supplies, scheduling times at port to refresh the crew, and overseeing ship maintenance stands the logistical Guardian (Myers Briggs SJ). Guardians are the gatekeepers of society, making sure that the rules of tradition are recognized and followed to the tee. No detail will escape him and as a result it is the Guardian who will ensure that the combined efforts of the Rational and Artisan don’t land the ship in the Arctic with no food, water, or means of staying warm. He will constantly go back and forth, inspecting work and delegating tasks to ensure that the voyage can go on. As steadfast as an oak, the Guardian will ensure that the ship has what it needs to accomplish its goal.

On the bridge, watching and planning the course would sit the strategic Rational (Myers Briggs NT). Rationals can see the most efficient route between port and the arctic, always tailoring plans for effectiveness based on current situations. Always driving forward this strategic thinker will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal, often irritating the Guardian with his perceived lack of care for the needs of the ship and crew. It is also likely that the rational will be found out on the deck acting as a field marshal directing the crewmen, always looking for inefficiencies and correcting them as he goes. The rational will mastermind the voyage.

Never forgotten is the irreplaceable role of the diplomatic Idealist (Myers Briggs NF). It will be the Idealist who motivates the crew to get on board the ship and buy into the importance of reaching the arctic in the first place. The value of the Idealist can often be overlooked by more utilitarian types, especially the Artisan, for what seems to be a lack of concrete skill; however, their value emerges when things become tough. It is the idealist who will keep the other types from having a psychotic breakdown while on a ship for months at a time. When the Guardian has a problem with the Rational’s lack of interest in the details of day-to-day operation, the Idealist will get between them to solve the conflict. The Idealist will show the Rational that while the other types don’t have a plan, they do have a brain and should be treated as human beings. This is why the Idealist is irreplaceable in any voyage to the arctic.

All four types will add value to almost any group. I’m completely sold on the idea that if you can mount talent to task with those you lead, you can keep them happy in their role and be extremely efficient in what you do. What more can a leader ask for?