Though Shirley had not been looking forward to the task ahead, she walked out of her boss’s office with vigor and determination to get the job done. Shirley was charged up, invigorated ready to slay the dragon. Why? What made the change in her disposition. After all, Shirley had been vocally dreading this task for two weeks. The difference came because Jane, Shirley’s boss, is a spark plug leader.
Jane understands human behavior and knows her employees. She has a caring personality and demonstrates it to those who work for and with her. Jane, it seems, can make any employee feel good about themselves even in undesirable circumstances. Yet, as Shirley explains, it is much more than making you feel good. Jane has a way to make you feel you can “slay the dragon” ahead of you. Five minutes with Jane and you’ll charge headlong into action, and you’ll complete the task you’ve been dreading for months. It has happened time and time again with her coworkers and employees.
Jane is a spark plug leader. A gas engine does not run without at least one spark plug. A spark plug’s purpose is to generate enough electrical energy to create an electrical spark which in turn ignites the fuel to run the engine. A spark plug leader must know his people well enough to understand what motivates him/her. This is the fuel that needs to be ignited. People are different. Therefore, the fuel that ignites one man’s work passion, will likely be different from the man working next to him.
The spark plug leader learns these motivators (fuels) and through passion and a caring attitude, builds the electricity needed to ignite the fuel in each employee to charge ahead into the task that awaits. Greater results are accomplished through spark plug leaders than high octane leadership. In other words, some leaders attempt to get the fires burning in their employees/volunteers work ethic, by dousing the situation with more high-octane fuel. High octane fuel ignites quickly, but also burns out quickly.
Don’t be a high-octane leader. Learn to be a spark plug leader. Effective production will increase along with morale and employee retention.
George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life.