The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast
Published: March 26, 2025
In this episode, we’ll explore four distinct leadership styles—the Expert, the Connector, the Driver, and the Strategist—and reveal surprising findings about which approach yields the best results. We’ll also connect Joe’s research to Daniel Goleman’s six leadership styles featured in last year’s popular Harvard Business Review article, giving you practical insights on how to leverage your natural leadership strengths while avoiding common pitfalls. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or a seasoned executive, today’s discussion will transform how you think about effective leadership.
1. No One Leadership Style Is Universally Better
Despite longstanding debates and popular frameworks like Daniel Goleman’s six leadership styles, the research from Zenger Folkman found no statistically significant difference in overall effectiveness among the four styles studied—Expert, Connector, Driver, and Strategist. What matters more is how well a leader executes their chosen style, not which one they use.
2. Each Leadership Style Has a Distinct Pattern of Strengths
Each style brings its own unique set of advantages:
Experts excel in problem-solving, innovation, and technical depth.
Connectors shine in relationship-building, inclusion, and collaboration.
Drivers focus on performance, results, and integrity.
Strategists are strong in future-focused thinking, change management, and external awareness.
These patterns help leaders understand where they naturally thrive and what areas might need more attention.
3. Effectiveness Comes From Developing Key Strengths, Not Mastering Everything
Highly effective leaders consistently have three to five well-developed leadership competencies, often ranking in the top percentiles in those areas. Trying to master every leadership behavior is neither realistic nor necessary. Instead, leaders should double down on their strengths and ensure they don’t have any major “fatal flaws.”
4. Self-Awareness and Style Alignment Are Crucial
The research reinforces the idea that leadership effectiveness improves when people lean into their natural style—whether it’s technical expertise, relationship-building, results-orientation, or strategic thinking—and work to elevate it intentionally. Leaders don’t need to change who they are, but they do need to be aware of potential blind spots and proactively manage them.
5. Leadership Development Should Be Individualized, Not One-Size-Fits-All
Rather than pushing everyone toward a single “ideal” leadership model, organizations and leaders benefit more from identifying natural styles, cultivating standout strengths, and filling in critical gaps. This approach encourages authentic leadership and allows for diverse leadership profiles to succeed in different organizational contexts.
Connect with Joe Folkman
Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.
Is One Leadership Style Better Than Others? Forbes Article by Joe Folkman
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:45 — 15.4MB)
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Podcast — 2025