Much of the imposter syndrome and anxiety about work and leadership come from thinking that every worker and leader must be the same to be effective. The truth and your well-being are more diverse than this. Find your style, a healthy environment, and the courage to be yourself. The syndromes and anxiety will melt away leaving a functional core of skills, competence, and ability. How about a fun way to illustrate this point? Enter the Annual Christmas Party Planning Committee!
Imagine a world where six leadership types—Charismatic, Pragmatic, Visionary, Managerial, Destructive, and Constructive—exist as animals lion, beaver, eagle, ant, dolphin, and hyena.
In a prestigious boardroom, the regional directors of a well-known company gathered to decide how to organize their annual Christmas party. Four leadership types were present in the room – Charismatic, Pragmatic, Visionary, and Managerial before the start of the meeting. The Destructive leader was not present in the room.

Being the leaders they are, the leaders began talking casually about their ideas. The Charismatic leader, Alex, proposed a grand and extravagant party with live performances, an ice-skating rink, and an appearance by Santa Claus himself. The Pragmatic leader, Claire, suggested a cozy and intimate party in the company's penthouse, complete with a fireplace, carolers, and homemade gingerbread cookies. The Visionary leader, Brian, argued for an outdoor adventure-themed party, transforming the company's vast rooftop into a winter wonderland with ice sculptures, snow machines, and a zip line. The Managerial leader, Leslie, suggested a beach-themed Christmas party, complete with sand, palm trees, and a steel drum band.
The Constructive Leader

Suddenly, a new presence entered the room. It was Emma, right on time. The director, known for her constructive leadership style, wore an elegant tie adorned with a graceful dolphin.
Emma observed the chaos and tension in the room and decided to bring her unique perspective to the table. With a calm and empathetic voice, she acknowledged the strengths of each idea proposed by Alex, Claire, Brian, and Leslie. She recognized the vision, practicality, innovation, and organizational skills that had been demonstrated.
Drawing inspiration from the cooperative nature of dolphins, Emma suggested combining the best elements from each idea to create a truly memorable Christmas party. She proposed a grand and elegant ballroom party, like Mr. Thompson had suggested, with live performances, a cozy fireplace lounge, and a small outdoor ice-skating rink, as proposed by Alex, Claire, and Brian, respectively.
Furthermore, Emma emphasized the importance of building positive relationships, fostering collaboration, and supporting the growth and development of their team. She suggested organizing the event with a strong emphasis on employee involvement and participation. Employees would have the opportunity to contribute to the party planning, share their ideas, and even perform during the live performances. This collaborative approach would help create an environment of trust, open communication, and mutual respect among the team members.
As the regional directors listened to Emma's suggestion, they began to see the value in her constructive leadership style. They realized that by embracing collaboration and empowering their team members, they could create an even more exceptional and inclusive Christmas party.

With a newfound spirit of unity and excitement, the regional directors unanimously agreed to incorporate Emma's constructive leadership approach into their party planning. Together, they worked diligently to organize the ballroom event, ensuring that it became a celebration that not only reflected their individual leadership styles but also fostered camaraderie and growth among the entire company.
And so, the company's Christmas party became a resounding success. The ballroom sparkled with lights, laughter, and the sound of employees showcasing their talents on the stage. The spirit of cooperation and teamwork filled the room, much like the harmonious interactions seen within a pod of dolphins.
The regional directors, wearing their ties representing their unique leadership types, stood side by side, proud of the party they had created together. They realized that by incorporating constructive leadership, they had not only organized an unforgettable event but also fostered a sense of unity and belonging among their team members.
And as the Christmas party came to an end, the regional directors found themselves inspired by the constructive leadership style represented by Emma's dolphin tie. They vowed to bring this style into their future endeavors, knowing that by empowering and collaborating with their team, they could achieve remarkable results and create a positive work environment for everyone involved.
The Destructive Leader

A presence was still missing – Derek, the director known for his destructive leadership style. However, little did they know that Derek's absence was actually due to his pursuit of a unique opportunity.
As the discussions were underway, a sudden commotion echoed through the hallway outside the boardroom. The sound of a truck's brakes screeching in the snow-filled parking lot caught everyone's attention. Curiosity piqued; the directors rushed to the nearby window to witness an unexpected scene.
There, they saw Derek, wearing his hyena-adorned tie, engaged in an intense negotiation with a party supplies truck driver. The truck, packed with party favors and decorations, had been snowed in and unable to make its scheduled delivery to another company. Sensing an opportunity, Derek seized the moment and managed to strike a deal with the supplier. In exchange for freeing the truck, he secured all the party favors and decorations for their own Christmas party — completely free of charge!
Derek, embodying the opportunistic nature of the hyena, had leveraged his skills to capitalize on the situation, ensuring their party would be even more spectacular. Despite his absence from the boardroom discussions, his actions showcased his ability to spot and act upon opportunities, even when his organization wasn't fully prepared.
Minutes later, dressed in a disheveled suit with a victorious smile, Derek entered the boardroom. He shared the exciting news of the free party favors and decorations that he had managed to secure. The other directors were initially taken aback by Derek's absence but soon realized the value of his destructive leadership style.
While constructive leadership emphasized collaboration and involving the team, Derek's opportunistic approach added an unexpected and exciting element to the Christmas party planning. Recognizing the need for both constructive and destructive leadership elements, Mr. Thompson, the wise owl, urged the directors to incorporate Derek's finds into the already envisioned ballroom event.
With newfound enthusiasm, the regional directors embraced Derek's contribution. They brainstormed ways to incorporate the extra party favors and decorations into their grand ballroom party. In true teamwork fashion, they assigned tasks to different team members, ensuring that each structure created by Derek's opportunity would be effectively shepherded and utilized.
As the party preparations continued, a harmonious balance emerged between the constructive and destructive leadership styles. The directors understood that while constructive leadership fostered collaboration and personal growth, destructive leadership had the potential to capitalize on unique opportunities and push boundaries.
The Christmas party, as a result, became an enchanting blend of elegance, collaboration, and surprises. The ballroom sparkled with the decorations secured by Derek's opportune action and every employee embraced the festive spirit.
Derek's destructive leadership had proven its worth, demonstrating that, when harnessed positively, it could lead to magnificent outcomes. The hyena tie that Derek wore was no longer seen as a symbol of aggression, but rather as a reminder of the importance and value of seizing opportunities and taking calculated risks.
On the night of the Christmas party, as the company's employees danced, laughed, and reveled in the joyous atmosphere, they couldn't help but appreciate the combined efforts of their diverse leadership styles. The power of blending constructive and destructive leadership created an unforgettable celebration, showing that even in the face of adversity, opportunities could be seized, and success could be achieved through collaboration and innovation.

[AI media generated by Adobe Firefly.]
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