'Seven Transformations of Leadership', Harvard Business Review

This influential framework categorises leadership into seven developmental "action logics" that influence how leaders interpret challenges and respond under pressure. These stages, from least to most complex, indicate increasing capacities for transformative impact.

The Seven Leadership Stages:

1. Opportunist: driven by self-interest and control, Opportunists seek personal wins and often resist feedback.
2. Diplomat: focused on harmony, Diplomats avoid conflict, aiming to gain acceptance but struggle with change.
3. Expert: confident in expertise, Experts focus on efficiency and precision, yet often resist collaboration.
4. Achiever: results-oriented, Achievers balance goals and relationships, leading effectively in stable environments.
5. Individualist: individualists question established goals and bring innovation, navigating conflicts and fostering unique perspectives.
6. Strategist: vision-oriented, strategists excel at leading transformation, integrating diverse viewpoints for organisational growth.
7. Alchemist: Rare and transformative, Alchemists can reinvent organisations, inspiring shifts in culture and long-term vision.

The article asserts the following key Insights:

• Leaders can evolve through these stages by seeking feedback, self-reflection, and embracing new responsibilities.
• Growth beyond the Achiever stage involves deep self-awareness and the ability to challenge underlying assumptions.
• Teams also benefit from understanding these stages, as Strategist-led teams are most adaptable to complex challenges.