Ep 83 Leadership: Your leadership maturity level, persona and communication style

Show notes

After a short break and a deeply personal confidence episode, Stephen returns with a powerhouse masterclass on leadership—breaking down what makes a strong leader beyond just titles and job descriptions. This episode explores how to assess your leadership maturity, define your style, and navigate the complex dynamics of communication. Whether you’re leading a team, aspiring to, or just trying to make sense of leadership dysfunction, this is a roadmap built from hard lessons and coaching insights.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The five levels of leadership maturity—and how to assess where you actually stand

• Why leadership failure often stems from mismatched styles and lack of self-awareness

• How to identify your leadership style across five categories: Order, Action, Relationship, Change, and Creativity

• Why communication style is as critical as your leadership style—and how to spot and adapt to others’ styles

• The importance of team dynamics, and why complementary leadership styles build the strongest cultures

Leadership Maturity Model:

1. Title: Leadership by role, not influence. People follow because they have to.

2. Permission: Built on relationships. People follow because they want to.

3. Results: Credibility through outcomes. You deliver for the business.

4. People Development: You invest in others’ growth and delegate with purpose.

5. Respect: You’re followed for who you are and how you show up—even after you’re gone.

Leadership Styles Framework:

• Order: Change Catalyst (loves chaos and fixing things) / Processor (thrives in optimizing structure)

• Action: Transactor (deal maker, outward-facing) / Builder (entrepreneurial, vision-driven)

• Relationship: Coach (people-first, culture-builder)

• Change: Strategist (visionary, chess master) / Communicator (influencer, brand-builder)

• Creativity: Innovator (idea machine, unconventional problem-solver)

Communication Styles (based on Atlassian’s DISC model):

• Dominant: Task-focused, results-driven, blunt. Wants brevity and confidence.

• Influencer: People-focused, upbeat, high-energy. Craves collaboration, not structure.

• Steady: Loyal, consistent, patient. Needs time and clear expectations.

• Conscientious: Precise, analytical, even-keel. Wants facts, not feelings.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership isn’t just about what you do—it’s about how you show up and communicate.

• Most dysfunction comes from blind spots in self-awareness or misaligned styles.

• You need to evolve your style as your context changes—what worked in one company may not in the next.

• Being deliberate about leadership is just as important as being deliberate about design.

• Growth starts with conversation and education, not accusation or judgment.

There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all leader. And being promoted doesn’t mean you’re ready—it just means you’re starting. This episode gives you the tools to assess yourself honestly, lead with purpose, and grow with intention. Because creative leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real, self-aware, and willing to keep learning. Do the work. Ask the hard questions. Stay crazy.

Tagged as:
communication styles concr effective leadership improving leadership leadership development leadership insights leadership maturity leadership persona leadership style measuring leadership Stephen Gates team communication The Crazy One podcast