MIT Sloan Management Review Article on The Mindsets of a Leader

Leaders rely on a portfolio of approaches, ranging from serving no one to serving society. Knowing the strengths and pitfalls of each mindset — and which ones you rely on most heavily — can help you create better teams and have a greater impact.

One of the most revealing questions leaders can ask themselves is “Whom do I serve?” Their answers to that question say more about their style of leadership and field of influence than their personality traits or emotional intelligence does. And if they make that choice thoughtfully, it snaps their efforts into focus, helping them put together better teams, avoid disasters, and create lasting impact within the organization and beyond.

About the Author

Modesto A. Maidique (@modestomaidique) is president emeritus and the Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Eminent Scholar Chair in Leadership at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami. Nathan J. Hiller is an associate professor of management at FIU and academic director of the university’s Center for Leadership.

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