Rock, Paper, Scissors: Three Leadership Styles for Success

In leadership, there's no one path to success. Each leader uses different styles, and has strengths suited to specific challenges. We can think of leadership like the game of rock, paper, scissors, where each move—Rock, Scissors, and Paper—offers unique advantages based on the situation.

Rock: The “Out of the Mud” Grinders

Rock represents resilient leaders who achieve success through grit and resourcefulness rather than resources or formal training. These leaders might not have the best tools or funding, but they make an impact with creativity and hustle. Guerilla marketing exemplifies this approach—finding innovative ways to maximize results with minimal resources.

Advantages:

Adaptability and resilience help Rock leaders thrive in unpredictable environments.

Their ingenuity creates significant impact even with limited support.

Limitations:

Methods may be time consuming and less precise than others.

Why Rock Beats Scissors:

Scissors leaders need the right conditions or training to use their tools effectively, but Rock leaders find unconventional ways to succeed, adapting to shifting challenges without specialized tools or expertise.

Scissors: The Precision Players with the Right Tools

Scissors symbolizes leaders who work with precision, using tools and specialized knowledge to accomplish tasks efficiently. When equipped with the right resources, they excel in roles demanding accuracy, efficiency, or scalability.

Advantages:

Precision and efficiency reduce waste, maximizing results.

Skilled leaders excel in specialized tasks requiring focus and accuracy.

Limitations:

Relying on tools can be limiting if those tools become unavailable.

Less adaptability in chaotic or unpredictable situations.

Why Scissors Beats Paper:

Money alone can't replace the precision of Scissors leaders, who can use their tools and skills to get the job done effectively, often without needing a large budget.

Paper: The “Buy Your Way” to Solutions Approach

Paper represents leaders who use financial resources to tackle challenges. They can pay for tools, expertise, or workforce, achieving largescale results more quickly. For example, outsourcing to a high end agency exemplifies this style.

Advantages:

Financial power enables fast solutions by buying tools, talent, or scale.

Money offers advantages where funding is essential.

Limitations:

Relying on money alone can reduce adaptability.

Without funding, Paper leaders may struggle to operate.

Why Paper Beats Rock:

While Rock leaders work with limited resources, Paper leaders can use money to achieve in minutes what others might take years to build from scratch.

Just like in rock, paper, scissors, each style has strengths that shine in the right situation. Great leaders recognize the benefits of each style and adapt based on the challenge at hand, balancing the strengths of resourcefulness, precision, and financial power.