Gabriel Penfield, Irmo Town Council

Leadership style

Everybody wants a coach. Nobody wants a boss.

It’s the standard for leading on Town Council, and the one every neighbor should hold their councilman to.

Where it comes from

A 2003 talk called The Coach Approach put it plainly: a boss uses people to win, and a coach helps people win. Most of us have worked for both, and we remember which one made us better.

Coach or boss? Score it.

Forty questions, one for every line of the original talk. Think of a boss, a coach, a pastor, a principal or an elected official. Or turn it around and score yourself.

  1. 1Does your leader make people feel good about their work?A boss: Makes you feel bad
  2. 2Does your leader look for what’s good in people?A boss: Looks for what’s wrong
  3. 3Does your leader stay positive, even on hard days?A boss: Always negative
  4. 4Does your leader bring real energy and excitement?A boss: All business
  5. 5Does your leader rally the team around a shared challenge?A boss: Just clocks in
  6. 6Does your leader make the work fun?A boss: Always serious
  7. 7Does your leader want you to win, not just to help them win?A boss: Wants you to help him win
  8. 8Does your leader let you be the hero?A boss: Wants to be the hero
  9. 9Does your leader care about you, not just the bottom line?A boss: Only the bottom line
  10. 10Does your leader fight for the people they lead?A boss: Plays politics
  11. 11Does your leader take a stand even when it’s unpopular?A boss: Afraid to rock the boat
  12. 12Does your leader want you to make a difference?A boss: Just wants the numbers
  13. 13Does your leader do the right thing, even when no one is watching?A boss: Does the right thing when it’s safe
  14. 14Does your leader stay tough when things get hard?A boss: Folds under pressure
  15. 15Does your leader build team spirit?A boss: Everybody for themselves
  16. 16Does your leader ask “What can I do for you?”A boss: Asks “What can you do for me?”
  17. 17Does your leader know what they believe, and stick to it?A boss: Changes beliefs when it’s convenient
  18. 18Does your leader praise people often, and mean it?A boss: Quick to criticize
  19. 19Does your leader try new things without fear of failing?A boss: Scared of failing
  20. 20Does your leader stay involved with their people?A boss: Distant and aloof
  21. 21Does your leader know how to get things moving?A boss: Doesn’t know how to start
  22. 22Does your leader keep the momentum going?A boss: Loses steam
  23. 23Does your leader set clear goals, so you’re never guessing?A boss: Keeps you guessing
  24. 24Does your leader put the best people on the field, with no favorites?A boss: Plays favorites
  25. 25Does your leader love to compete?A boss: Just likes to talk
  26. 26Does your leader put the good of the team first?A boss: Puts himself first
  27. 27Does your leader motivate and inspire?A boss: Drains your energy
  28. 28Does your leader pursue excellence?A boss: Settles for mediocre
  29. 29Does your leader always try to get better?A boss: Just tries to survive
  30. 30Does your leader live within their means?A boss: Lives beyond his means
  31. 31Does your leader win the honest way?A boss: Fakes it till he makes it
  32. 32Does your leader hold to their beliefs, even if it costs them a promotion?A boss: Changes beliefs to get ahead
  33. 33Does your leader set the example with a strong work ethic?A boss: “You work hard so I can get promoted”
  34. 34Does your leader push you hard so you can be your best?A boss: Pushes you so he can move up
  35. 35Does your leader give the credit to the team?A boss: Takes the credit
  36. 36Does your leader see the best in others?A boss: Sees the worst
  37. 37Does your leader want you to advance, even past them?A boss: Afraid you’ll pass him
  38. 38Does your leader get to know their people?A boss: Stays distant so it’s easier to let you go
  39. 39Does your leader make people feel special?A boss: Makes people feel small
  40. 40Does your leader communicate more than they self-promote?A boss: Master self-promoter
0/ 800 of 40 answered

Answer the questions to see the score.

Yes = 2 points, Sometimes = 1, No = 0.

Inspired by “Art’s Talk: The Coach Approach” (2003). Nothing you pick is saved or sent anywhere.

A council member works for the people of Irmo, not the other way around.That’s the whole job, in one sentence.

What that looks like on Council

Every message answered

Write in and you hear back personally, never a form letter.

Send a message →

Every vote in public

Each vote is posted so you can see where your councilman stood and judge for yourself.

See the voting record →

The facts, plainly

The voter guide lays out the choices so you can make up your own mind.

Irmo Voter Guide →

Neighbors first

Town halls and feedback forms come first, so decisions start with what neighbors want.

Town Hall →

Room to grow

Interns get real work and real credit. A good coach wants the team to go further than the coach did.

Internships →

Hold your leaders to it

Hear more boss than coach from anyone on Council? Say so. Every message gets read.

Send a message
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