Day 35: The 4 Types of Team Members (and How to Lead Each One)

Not every team member needs the same leadership.

If you coach everyone the same—you lose half the room.

High performers, new hires, steady rocks, and underperformers all need different things.

Here’s the breakdown.

Type 1: The Driver

  • They’re self-motivated.

  • They want to win.

  • They push themselves.

How to lead them:
Challenge them. Stretch them. Give them bigger goals—and room to run.

Related: The Leadership Lever: Why Your Team Mirrors You

Type 2: The Builder

  • They’re consistent, but quiet.

  • They want to grow, but need a little more guidance.

  • They thrive with structure and praise.

How to lead them:
Coach them patiently. Set clear milestones. Celebrate their growth publicly.

Related: Your Team Doesn’t Need a Boss—They Need a Coach

Type 3: The Watcher

  • They’re doing the job—but that’s it.

  • They’re unsure if they want to be here long-term.

  • They wait for energy instead of bringing it.

How to lead them:
Reframe the mission. Show them the opportunity. Give them a short window to engage—or move on.

Type 4: The Anchor

  • They resist growth.

  • They quietly drag down momentum.

  • They think they’ve already “earned” their place.

How to lead them:
Be direct. Set clear expectations and timelines. Protect your brand’s energy if they don’t shift.

What’s not working:

  • Coaching everyone the same way

  • Avoiding hard conversations

  • Letting anchors stay too long

  • Hoping loyalty will replace performance

What you’re looking for:

✅ A team that grows at different speeds—with a plan for all
✅ Leaders who can read the room and adjust
✅ Faster promotions for drivers and builders
✅ Faster exits for watchers and anchors
✅ A stronger brand powered by strong people

How we help:

We help brands design Custom Leadership Playbooks that:

  • Identify team types early

  • Build clear growth paths for each

  • Coach steady progress without burning out your leaders

One brand rebuilt their team leadership playbook—
Turnover dropped 30% and promotions doubled in 6 months.

Because smart leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Next Step:

Want help building a team leadership system that actually works?

Start by filling out this short form.
If we’re aligned, you’ll get access to book a 1-on-1 strategy call with me.

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Day 36: Why Meetings Suck—and How to Make Them Work

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Day 34: Your Team Doesn’t Need a Boss—They Need a Coach