Blizzard Leadership: As We Celebrate the Start of Summer

Right now, some people in Texas reading this post may see a "blizzard," which may bring to mind the Dairy Queen ice cream summer treat.

Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard

A “Blizzard” leader creates an environment that is cold, overwhelming, and disorienting – akin to a white-out snowstorm where people struggle to find direction. While not as commonly referenced as hurricanes or storms, the blizzard metaphor has been invoked to describe leaders who instill fear and make their team seek cover. One commentary describes team members “searching for safe cover, fearing damage and expecting the worst” as if bracing for an oncoming blizzard – a telling sign that the leader’s style is dangerously oppressive, leadingwithtrust.com. In other words, if employees react to you the way they would to a sudden snowstorm – hunkering down and hoping to survive – you likely have a serious leadership problem, leadingwithtrust.com.

Blizzard leadership might involve burying employees under an avalanche of work or criticism, and giving off an icy demeanor (emotionally distant or unempathetic). Teams in this climate suffer from low visibility on goals and a lack of warmth in communication. In extreme cases, this crosses into toxic leadership: the leader is so harsh or erratic that everything freezes – innovation, candor, and morale can all grind to a halt under the deep freeze of fear.

Interestingly, one creative personality assessment casts “Blizzard” in a somewhat positive light, as a style of intensely determined leader. In a weather-personality quiz, Blizzard personalities were described as “strategic, visionary, and determined,” cutting through obstacles with powerful focus arealme.com. “Like a blizzard, you exude intensity and leave a lasting impression… a testament to your leadership qualities,” the description reads on arealme.com. This shows that the metaphor can be interpreted in multiple ways: blizzards are intense and formidable. In a beneficial sense, a “blizzard” leader might make a substantial impact and rally others in adversity, arealme.com. However, one must be cautious – real-world usage emphasizes blizzards' negative connotations (danger, disorientation). There’s a fine line between a powerfully intense leader and one who is destructively overwhelming.

The Science: 

Actual winter weather and cold climates do affect human behavior. Extended periods of dreary, cold weather can lower mood and energy. Seasonal Affective Disorder is an extreme example of winter’s toll on psychological well-being. record.umich.edu. If a leader’s style forces a “long winter” on the team (metaphorically speaking), you might see symptoms akin to seasonal depression in the workplace: low enthusiasm, withdrawal, and fatigue. On the flip side, cold-headed leadership can also imply rationality – being “cool under pressure.” The blizzard metaphor, though, usually stresses the pressure over the cool. There isn’t a proprietary framework explicitly named “Blizzard leadership,” so using this metaphor in your writing should be fine. Just ensure to clarify whether you mean it as a criticism (too cold and chaotic) or as praise for resilience and intensity, to avoid confusion.

What is your "cool" method?