What’s Your Leadership Style?
From charismatic visionaries to democratic facilitators, leaders come in all shapes and sizes. But what about you? Have you ever wondered what your leadership style is? Discovering your unique approach to leadership can help you harness your strengths, communicate effectively, and inspire those around you. Together we will explore practical steps to figure out your leadership style and introduce you to some common leadership styles.
Let's dive in and uncover the leader within you!
Reflect on Your Values and Beliefs: Leadership is deeply rooted in personal values and beliefs. Take some time for introspection and ask yourself: What principles do you hold dear? What qualities do you admire in leaders? Reflecting on your values will provide insights into how you approach decision-making, motivate others, and navigate challenges.
Seek Feedback: One of the best ways to understand your leadership style is by seeking feedback from those who have experienced your leadership firsthand. Ask your team members, colleagues, or mentors for honest feedback. Their perspectives can shed light on your strengths, areas for improvement, and the impact you have on others.
Observe Your Interactions: Pay attention to your interactions with others. Are you naturally inclined to take charge and provide clear directions? Or do you prefer to facilitate collaboration and empower others? Observe how you communicate, delegate tasks, and make decisions. Recognizing your default tendencies can help identify your leadership style.
Assess Your Preferred Leadership Models: Study various leadership models and theories to gain a broader understanding of leadership styles. Here are a few common leadership styles to consider:
Democratic Leadership: Democratic leaders involve their team members in the decision-making process. They value input and seek consensus to promote collaboration and shared responsibility.
Pacesetter Leadership: The pacesetter leadership style is characterized by setting high standards of performance and expecting team members to follow suit. Pacesetters lead by example and demonstrate excellence in their work. While this style can drive results, it may also put significant pressure on team members to keep up with the pace.
Visionary Leadership: Visionary leaders have a clear and inspiring vision for the future. They communicate their vision to their team, motivating them to work towards a shared goal. Visionary leaders foster innovation, encourage creativity, and inspire their team members to think big and embrace change.
Coaching Leadership: Coaching leaders focus on the growth and development of their team members. They provide guidance, support, and mentorship to help individuals reach their full potential. Leaders who identify with the coaching style are leaders who excel at listening, asking questions, and providing constructive feedback. They create an environment that promotes learning and personal growth.
Commanding Leadership: Commanding leadership is characterized by a decisive and authoritative approach. Leaders who adopt this style take charge, provide clear instructions, and make decisions with confidence. They set strict expectations, delegate tasks, and ensure compliance. While effective in urgent or crisis situations, this style may limit open communication and collaboration, potentially hindering innovation and employee morale.
Collaborative Leadership: Collaborative leadership centers on fostering positivity and empowerment within a team. Leaders using this style focus on acknowledging and appreciating individual and collective efforts. They build a supportive environment, encourage autonomy, and celebrate successes. By boosting motivation and self-esteem, Collaborative leaders enhance team cohesion and overall satisfaction. However, an overemphasis on positivity might overlook constructive feedback and challenges, impacting growth and development.
Consider Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Self-awareness is a key component of effective leadership. Identify your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Are you great at inspiring and motivating others? Do you struggle with delegation or decision-making? Recognizing your areas of strength and areas that need improvement will shape your leadership approach.
Experiment and Adapt: Leadership is not a fixed concept. It's an evolving journey that requires flexibility and adaptability. Experiment with different leadership styles and techniques. Embrace opportunities to lead diverse teams or take on new projects. Through experimentation, you'll gain insights into what works best for you and the people you lead.
Embrace Authenticity: Authenticity is a powerful aspect of leadership. Embrace your true self and lead with authenticity. When you stay true to your values, beliefs, and strengths, you create a genuine connection with your team. Authentic leaders inspire trust, foster open communication, and encourage others to be their best selves.
Figuring out your leadership style is an exciting and enlightening journey. By reflecting on your values, seeking feedback, observing your interactions, and embracing authenticity, you can gain a deeper understanding of your unique approach to leadership. Leadership is not about adhering to a predefined mold but rather leveraging your strengths to inspire and empower others. So, embark on this exploration, embrace your leadership style, and make a positive impact on those around you. Lead with passion, purpose, and authenticity!
Disclaimer: Leadership styles are diverse, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The suggestions provided in this blog post are meant to be general guidelines to help you understand and explore which leadership styles come most naturally to you and which ones are most challenging. Your team’s needed leadership style might not align with your strengths! You might need to get a coach to help you flex your style to what they need in order to get the desired results.
Note: The above blog post is derived from the Harvard Business Review article by Octavia Goredema titled, “Are You Ready to Become a Manager?”. This is the first step you can take and work on to improve to ensure you are ready to be a manager.
CITE: Goredema, O (2023, June 20) Are You Ready to Become a Manager? Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2023/06/are-you-ready-to-become-a-manager