
Commander
“All the best things that I did come from not having money and not having done it before.”
—Steve Wozniak
Role description
The Commander is able to solve problems that are complex, undefined or constantly changing. They are excellent at managing groups of people in high stress, dangerous or crisis situations.
The Commander is practical and creative and can solve things ‘on the hop’. The Commander is the natural leader when the right emergency action is needed without preparation.
The Commander balances structure with spontaneity and has an excellent ability to intellectually process data or ideas. They work efficiently and always to a plan although it may not always be written down.
The Commander can be relied upon to get things done. Once a plan is in place they become highly enthusiastic, productive and very conscientious. The Commander can adapt what they have seen elsewhere and apply this vision to their situation. Their strength is in creating the right process.
They are extremely cooperative, willing to contribute and very supportive of others, especially to those that are as efficient as the Commander. They like to take responsibility for a team, to organise activities and to solve problems.
Commanders cope well with change. They love new ideas and are happy to adopt them as long as there’s a problem to solve. They are often more flexible in thought than in deed.
They resolve conflict by finding a solution or workable plan. If someone becomes angry, the Commander will use logic to justify their position. They will not usually become angry in response, except in extreme cases where they can purge built-up anger on someone who is unlikely to fight back.
Commanders are mostly tolerant of others as long as they are efficient, friendly and want to achieve. They are generally highly determined individuals who expect the same level of determination and creativity from those around them.
They are not motivated simply by the desire to be successful and can be considered self-paced rather than competitive.
They are more interested in experimenting than point scoring. Their confidence soars when they are showing their ability to solve problems laterally.
As leaders, they enjoy new ideas and new initiatives. They are organised, structured and keen to keep people working efficiently while making time to listen. Often their judgement may be clouded by their desire to keep things systematic.
They are quick-witted, enthusiastic communicators and are renowned for their clever use of puns. They will generally sense how their listeners respond to them and seek their feedback. Commanders love spontaneity both at work and at home. They enjoy surprises and ‘spur of the moment’ decisions.
Commanders are very loyal to people until they are crossed. They are extremely sensitive but are selective as to when they show it. They are generally optimistic; they may, however, become depressed or bored if there is not enough urgency. They like it when there are problems to solve.
They have a good memory for solutions and how to deal with people, but don’t easily retain facts. They are unlikely to exaggerate and will deceive only if they feel they have been deceived. A Commander has an excellent ability to negotiate.
A Commander is a formidable problem-solver, organiser and performer during times of crisis, and can mobilise entire teams with unquestioned authority.
If not present in the team
Everything becomes bogged down at key bottlenecks, there is no courage, no heroes and no decisions
Characteristics of Commanders
Stands up for what they believe is right
Stands by their actions without fear of reprisals or consequences
Acts justly and fairly in all dealings with colleagues
Solves problems as they arise without fuss and drama
Encourages the team to innovate or adapt if necessary to ensure a quality result
Encourages other team members to be courageous in thought and deed
As team members, Commanders make the best contribution when:
They are trouble-shooting and problem–solving
They have complex issues/problems to solve
They are in a deadline-driven environment where the situation needs a cool and calm head
Benefit for the team
Breaks down bureaucracy
Commanders best manage themselves by:
Taking time to plan ahead and set agendas and priorities, rather than always taking things as they come
Accepting that people are as important as functions and that most people need to understand why initiatives are being taken
Disciplining themselves to be on time for meetings and deadlines
Being organised
Powerful questions asked by Commanders
What control systems do we have in place to keep implementation on track?
How can we make more courageous decisions?
How can we use ingenuity to address some of the aspects of this problem?
What does this solution enable us to do?
What can we do to increase the harmony around this table?
How you can recognise and bring out the Commander
Plays with problems that may be vague and changing to create innovative solutions (e.g. Thomas Edison). Instinctively 'gets their hands dirty' and dives in to experience the problem first-hand. Turns stalemates and apparent barriers into a next step of experimentation. Ideal for trouble-shooting and keeping momentum.