Free leadership style quiz
What's your leadership style under pressure?
Most leaders lead well when things are calm. When the pressure goes up, your default style takes over, and every style has a signal it tends to miss.
This leadership style quiz is 10 quick questions about real situations, and it takes about three minutes. Pick the answer that's closest to what you'd actually do, even if none of them is perfect, and you'll see your style, the signal it tends to miss and one thing to try this week.
Your answers stay in your browser. When you reach a result, the site adds one to a count for this tool, with no answers, names or cookies attached.
Leadership style under pressure, a quiz by Rory Nicol · rorynicol.com/leadership-style-quiz
Your leadership style under pressure
The Driver: you lead by moving
When something's stuck you're the one who gets it going, and people trust you to make the call. Moving can also keep you from sitting with what you feel when things are uncertain, so under pressure you push past your own tiredness and the doubt in the room, and you can end up a long way down the road before you notice the team stopped following.
Try this week: Next time you feel the urge to push, stop for a breath and notice what's there just before it, whether that's worry, boredom or something else. You don't have to change what you do next, just see what was driving it.
Your leadership style under pressure
The Analyst: you lead by understanding
You see problems other people miss, and your decisions tend to hold up. Gathering more information can also keep the risk of being wrong at a distance, so under pressure you wait for one more data point when part of you already knows the answer.
Try this week: When you catch yourself reaching for more data on a decision, ask what you'd have to face if you decided right now, and notice what your gut says before you go back to the numbers.
Your leadership style under pressure
The Peacekeeper: you lead by keeping people together
You read the room well, and people feel safe bringing you problems. Keeping things smooth can also spare you the discomfort of conflict, so under pressure your own disagreement goes unsaid and comes back bigger later.
Try this week: Notice the moment you decide to let something go to keep the peace. Notice what your jaw, chest or gut does right then, and what you would have said.
Your leadership style under pressure
The Carrier: you lead by taking it on
People know that if you've got it, it's handled. Taking it on yourself can also mean you never have to depend on anyone, so under pressure more and more lands on you and your team doesn't get the chance to grow into it.
Try this week: Next time you reach for something you could hand off, notice what you'd feel if someone else did it, and whether that feeling is about the work or about you.
A 30-minute conversation, online
Want to talk through what came up? I coach founders, engineers and executives, online by video.
To keep a copy, choose "Save as PDF" in the print window. You might also like the Signal Check, a free self-assessment that shows where your signals get lost.
Questions
What are the four leadership styles in this quiz?
The Driver leads by moving, the Analyst by understanding, the Peacekeeper by keeping people together and the Carrier by taking things on. Each one is a real strength, and each one has a signal it tends to miss when the pressure is on.
Why look at your leadership style under pressure?
Most people lead well when things are calm. It's under pressure that your default style takes over, and that's when the signals you usually catch start to get lost. Knowing your default helps you notice it while it's happening.
Is this a personality test?
No. It's a short reflection quiz for leaders. It isn't a validated measure and it doesn't assess your mental health. If you're struggling with your mental health, talk to your doctor or a registered mental health professional.