Management is complicated. People can be complicated. I am definitely complicated.

Leadership is a science. In fact, you can get a leadership degree at more than 100 universities in the United States. I don’t know what those universities teach, and I will admit that I am a full-time student of leadership in daily life, not in the academic setting.

But I am a student of people. I want to understand those around me and what they care about. I want to lead people along a path where they are excited to be. I truly believe that when people like what they do, their chances of success are many fold higher.

I want to build a model for interpersonal relationships but, for now, people are more complex than an AI-assisted model, so I stick to studying and iterating my leadership style.

When I watch leaders, I see three different styles: shepherds, sculptors, and winemakers.

Certainly, this is a limited list, and even these three are not mutually exclusive. However, it is helpful for me to think about my own natural style — how that can be a strength or a weakness — and how to learn from others with a different natural style. I hope this will encourage you to do the same.

Shepherds: Protective of the Team

A shepherd’s job is to protect its flock; to guard them and guide them in a safe direction. In the work environment, politics or other pressures will inevitably have the predators coming for scapegoats (and sheep).

This kind of leadership style is interesting. As a team member, you will often feel safe and protected. You may see your boss fight on your behalf, taking on powerful leaders for the good of the team. The job of a shepherd is a tireless one, requiring long, hard hours and constant vigilance. The true shepherd knows the voice of each sheep individually, and this type of leader will develop close relationships with each team member.

If you lead this way, you will have a loyal team. But, eventually, stronger, more independent personalities will not want this safety. They will want to push the edges of the herd to discover new pastures. It will be up to you to bring them back to the shelter of the herd or let them expand their territory, and maybe even yours.

Sculptors: Visionaries and Team Transformers

Chisels, spatulas, and gouges are the tools of a sculptor. Being sculpted is not always an outwardly pleasant experience, and it can often be uncomfortable and explosive. Yet the result can be stunning beauty. Surely, that describes a leadership style you have seen.

A sculptor can see the future and finished product clearer than others. Others might not like the method, the madness, or the process. However, imagine the slabs of marble that Michaelangelo began with and the beauty that resulted. A sculptor is likely to work closely with a small group of apprentices. There may be detractors, doubters, and those who were carved out along the way. Steady attention on the final goal, with little patience for the obstacles, are the hallmarks of this type of leadership.

If you want to lead this way, you may need to focus less on the team members, former and current, who don’t appreciate this style. Conversely, for the apprentices who are willing to learn, you will also need to explain that woven among these seemingly harsh actions is a reasonable amount of patience to ensure the “carving” comes out as planned. Unlike many other forms of artistry and leadership, a sculptor’s actions come with a risk that cannot be undone.

Winemakers: Patient and Adaptive to the Team

Patience, art, and science meet in this blended leadership style. Winemakers won’t see their final product for years, and every vintage will be different. They also have little control over one of the most important elements of their process: the weather.

A winemaker in leadership is someone comfortable with a constantly changing environment and uncontrollable variables. They are also someone who looks at a lot of data, but who manages, leads, and decides from experience and gut feeling. The process of winemaking relies on numbers, but the taste of wine is not a calculation — it’s an artistic judgment call.

In contrast to the shepherd in a pasture, and sculptor with a slab of rock, there is no clear boundary or final shape in the expected result. This leadership style is adaptive, someone who convinces teammates that, although the weather is bad and there is too much or too little water, the end result will be great.

Someone with this leadership style will be very patient working toward an unclear ending. They will need to learn to move on to the next phase of the process and make tough decisions when the time for patience is done.

Finding a Leadership Style That Fits You

I’ve seen all these leadership styles, and aspects of all of them are important to balance. I identify with the winemaker the most because I am a very adaptable person who thrives in uncertainty. I also rely on data to find problems and to willingly adjust and adapt a strategy. I do sometimes actually need to guard against being too flexible. I also have a lot of the characteristics of a shepherd, as I have a strong affinity toward the well-being of the team. However, I also believe in giving autonomy and empowerment so that the team can push me (and us) to “different pastures.”

The sculptor is the mode that I operate in the least, so I need to put sculptors around me. I can take the harsh judgment when needed, but it isn’t natural. Having those in my circle who can take quick action in a tough situation, or encourage me to do so, is important. I appreciate their ability to change the shape of a situation abruptly with a long-term view of the benefit.

In the end, I believe all three leadership types are needed to work together in an organization, and I continue to try to bring characteristics of each into my style. I hope you can also see bits and pieces of yourself and others in these styles.