The Pioneer

Overview:
The Pioneer is a direct, results-oriented manager who believes that performance should be measured by the achievement of numeric targets. To achieve these targets she realizes that you can't please everyone all the time and as a result, she excels in "tough" environments where a firm, unyielding approach is required.

She is less comfortable in environments where a great degree of people-orientation is required, for example, where she needs to reach consensus frequently, get buy-in with respect to decisions, or where she has to deal with what she considers "high maintenance" individuals.

Motivating:
The Pioneer is highly focused on numbers and results, a fixation that she will convey to her staff on a regular basis. Over time, the team will share her urgency and bottom-line focus. She will state things very clearly and is not afraid to wield authority to get her team on board, an approach that some of her staff might find intimidating.

She is quick to offer critical commentary but she may not be as comfortable providing positive feedback. Typically, her employees will know where they stand and appreciate the fact that she is forthcoming, but her sometimes blunt approach can leave scars.

Delegating: The Pioneer will delegate tasks freely, presenting information in a factual, straightforward manner. She may not always pay attention to the subtle responses of the individual that she is delegating to, and, as a result, she may miss signals that the recipient is not completely on side.

Additionally, The Pioneer's self-confidence and high tolerance for ambiguity may result in her providing insufficient detail or timeframes that are unrealistic.

Decision Making:
The Pioneer is a decisive individual who will use a logical approach when making decisions. She makes decisions she feels will achieve the best bottom-line results and, realizing that not all decisions are going to be popular ones, she is fully prepared to deal with the fallout that may ensue.

The Pioneer is not particularly interested in past precedence and is not afraid to make out-of-the-box decisions. She seldom sees the need to seek input from others, which may isolate her at times.

Dealing with Conflict:
The Pioneer is challenging by nature and will tackle conflict and difficult issues head-on. She is determined to win and will fight for what she believes in.

When resolving conflict among her staff, she is likely to provide a fair solution based on the facts. However, her rational approach to conflict may be somewhat insensitive to the emotional issues involved and result in little attempt to "sell" her resolutions. As a result, all parties may not see her solution as a win-win.

Developmental Recommendations:
To develop a more people-oriented approach, she would be well-served by coaching in the following areas...