Why Leading People Isn’t Like Baking Cookies

What do you do if you want all of your cookies to turn out exactly the same? You use a cookie cutter. Voila! You’ve got 3 dozen exact replicas of the same adorable (and delicious) design. The consistency is beautiful, the process efficient, and the results predictable.

If only leading people were this straightforward.

Many leaders fall into the cookie-cutter trap. They discover a leadership approach that works well with one team member and replicate it across their entire team. Soon enough, they learn a fundamental truth about leadership: what inspires one person to reach new heights might leave another feeling disconnected, and what motivates one could actively discourage the rest of the team.

This reality stems from our inherent complexity as human beings. Each person walking through your office door (or showing up on your at-home screen) brings with them a lifetime of experiences, beliefs, fears, and aspirations. Some team members thrive on public recognition, while others prefer quiet acknowledgment. Some need detailed guidance, while others flourish with autonomy. Some are driven by competition, others by collaboration. Applying a single leadership approach to everyone would inevitably fail the majority of them.

The challenge

The challenge for leaders lies in developing a personalized approach while maintaining fairness and consistency. It requires treating people differently while treating them equitably. This means investing time to understand what makes each team member unique; in aspects like:

• Communication preferences
• Learning and working styles
• Career aspirations
• Sources of motivation
• Personal challenges and strengths
• Values

The real art of leadership

You might be wondering, If I change the way I work with each person, won’t I come across as disingenuous, unpredictable, and even untrustworthy? The real art lies in adapting your leadership style while staying authentic to yourself. It’s about finding ways to flex your approach without becoming a different person for each interaction.

A personalized leadership approach demands time, energy, and emotional intelligence. It requires regular reflection, flexibility, and sometimes even admitting when your chosen approach isn’t working. However, the results – engaged employees, stronger relationships, and better outcomes – make your investment worthwhile.

Remember, your goal isn’t to become a chameleon, constantly changing your fundamental leadership principles. Instead, think of yourself as a skilled musician who can play the same song in different keys, tempos and styles to suit different audiences.

Want to be an exceptional leader (or even just better than most)? Take the time and make the effort to lead your team members as individuals, not cookies waiting to be shaped into identical forms.