Your Sunlight is in the Mentor Pattern. Mentors like to come alongside you and develop you to be your best. They hone who you are, fanning the flame of your ability. Mentors build into you and help you realize your potential. They coach and guide you to help you discover your whole self. As trusted allies, they are friendly faces who encourage you to grow, develop and change.

As a Mentor, you do the above with relative ease, like using your dominant hand to sign a check. You won't have to give these things much thought as they flow naturally from your giftedness. President Dwight Eisenhower and Indira Gandhi were Mentor leaders. Eisenhower said: “I would rather try to persuade a man to go along, because once I have persuaded him, he will stick. If I scare him, he will stay just as long as he is scared, and then he is gone. Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”

Leaders with the Mentor Pattern not only select excellent subordinates but they provide an environment where subordinates can flourish in their giftedness—allowing them to perform at their highest capacity.

Eisenhower said, “The best morale exists when you never hear the word mentioned. When you hear a lot of talk about it, it’s usually lousy. The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” He was not a ‘hands on’ president, but delegated authority and insisted that his staff should bring only matters of the highest political importance to his personal attention. Eisenhower used his Mentor Pattern whether as a General or a President—building into people and empowering them to act. Gandhi said, “I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.” Mentors show others how to live.

Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

You will want to read about the Mentor leadership of Eisenhower, Gandhi and Jesus, as many can miss the unique interactive style of the Mentor. Yet, remember to use your middle areas and Shadows! As the German philosopher Goethe said, “Where there is much light, the shadow is deep.”

Your Sunlight is in the Relational Pattern. Relationals are people who are motivated by harmony and see the team as crucial. They want people to be whole and healthy, and so are good team builders. Relationals highly value grace and mercy, and can be quite loving and warm. People deeply matter to them. Decisions are guided by deep-seated values and personal connections to others.

As a Relational, you do these things with relative ease, like using your dominant hand to sign a check. You won't have to give these things much thought as they flow naturally from your giftedness.

President Jimmy Carter, Princess Diana, and Gandhi were Relational leaders. President Carter called for “a government that is as honest and decent and fair and competent and truthful and idealistic as are the American people.” In helping the nation be whole and healthy, Carter modeled emotional and spiritual health. He portrayed himself as an openly religious man, even calling himself “born again,” a new term for an American President. Relationals are motivated by harmony and see the team as crucial, and so it is fitting that in his inaugural parade, Carter walked down Pennsylvania Avenue. His fireside chats were an authentic part of his persona, as were the radio call-in shows. As one person said, “Carter tried to set a high moral tone. He stressed human rights in international affairs and opposed ‘pork barrel’ legislation at home.” Relationals know the rightness of their crusade and the moral imperative in their agenda.

Princess Di said, “I wear my heart on my sleeve. I don't go by the rule book … I lead from the heart, not the head. I am not a political figure, nor do I want to be one; but I come with my heart.” The decisions of the Relational Pattern are guided by deep-seated values and personal connections to others. This is often called “heart.” Relationals want to help others be whole and healthy. Diana said, “Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back … I’d like people to think of me as someone who cares about them.” Decisions for Relational people are guided by deep-seated values and personal connections to others. Diana put her care into action. She was not content to merely speak about love, care and concern. She was impelled by an inner force to put her words into actions.

Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

The Relational Pattern has a component of teambuilding and harmony among people. You will want to read that section about Carter, Diana and Jesus, as many people can miss the unique leadership style of the Relational. And, consider how to use your middle areas and Shadows! As the German philosopher Goethe said, “Where there is much light, the shadow is deep.”