Finding the leadership style that works best for you and your workplace is crucial because there is no one “perfect” leadership style. The style you choose to adopt can influence not only how your group maintains itself, but also how it performs to reach its goals. You need to keep in mind that when making the decision, it is not what you believe your style to be, but how your team perceives it that is important.
Importance of knowing your leadership style
It is essential for those in positions of leadership to understand the importance of knowing their own leadership style. Knowing your leadership style can have a profound impact on your success as a leader, and it is important to recognize the different styles, so you can identify which one best suits your own needs and abilities.
Leadership styles come in many forms, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some leaders are more authoritative, while others prefer to be collaborative. Some prefer to provide guidance and support while others are more hands-off. Understanding the various styles of leadership can help you determine which approach will be most successful for you and your team.
Being aware of your own strengths and weaknesses in terms of leadership style is key to being able to manage yourself effectively. You may find that certain styles work better in certain situations, or that different approaches are needed depending on the situation at hand. This knowledge can help you create an effective plan for leading your team through any challenges they may face.
Important skills for a good leader
Here are the most crucial skills if you want to be a good leader:
- Communication: Effective communication is the cornerstone of good leadership. A good leader should be able to clearly and concisely communicate their vision, goals, expectations, and feedback to their team.
- Strategic thinking: A good leader should be able to think and plan strategically, keeping in mind the organization’s goals and objectives in deciding their approach.
- Problem-solving: Good leaders should be able to identify problems and obstacles, and come up with effective solutions quickly and efficiently.
- Empathy and emotional intelligence: Good leaders should have empathy and emotional intelligence to build trust and manage relationships with their team members.
- Ability to delegate: A good leader knows how to delegate tasks efficiently while considering the individual strengths and expertise of their team members.
- Time-management: Excellent time-management skills allow a leader to prioritize tasks that have the most significant impact on their goals and objectives.
- Adaptability: A good leader should be able to adapt quickly to changes with ease, whether it is a change in policy, staff members, or other circumstances.
Factors that affect your leadership style decision
Multiple factors will affect your decision in the style that you choose to adopt. Some of these factors include:
- Your personality as a leader: It is human nature to gravitate towards what is comfortable to us. Many leaders adopt a style and use it in all situations. This is because it is easier to lead a team as ourselves rather than if we were putting up a front.
- The power you hold over your team: The amount of power you hold over your group often dictates the choice of which style is best for you. This power is largely dictated by the circumstances of your group.
- Group maturity: This is the measurement of group growth and development. Depending on the level of dependency, growth, and development of a group your leadership style should be different.
- Time allocated for decision-making: If time is critical, it is probably wise to adopt more of an authoritative style of leadership since decision-making through group involvement will be more time-consuming.
- Member satisfaction: Having satisfied team members is important to the health of your overall team. The style of leadership you choose to adopt can have a great impact on this.
Robert House, a psychologist, developed a leadership theory called Path-Goal Theory. The theory focuses on encouraging leaders to adapt leadership styles to each team member’s unique needs. According to House, you should be flexible in your approach rather than adopting a single style of leadership. By doing so you can adjust your style according to the person’s needs and thus experience progress.
How to recognize your true leadership style?
Good instincts are a need for leaders, and many people concentrate on their own habits and experiences as they establish their leadership style. You might wish to take notes as you begin your route to leadership. Note down the precise difficulties or scenarios you would manage. By doing this, you can develop your leadership skills and confidence. However, if you realize that things aren’t going as planned, you might want to change course.
Your leadership style will always be influenced by your habits and instincts. However, you might want to consider other leadership styles if you frequently find yourself in ambiguous leadership circumstances. For instance, you would want to practice active listening if one of your team members is timid and you are an extrovert. You might need to acquire new techniques to encourage, support, and motivate your team if you’re an introvert managing an outgoing group of people.
Can you alter your leadership approach?
You may always alter your leadership style and enhance your procedures; however, it could take some time and work. Recognizing the need for change is the first step in implementing it. Finding this is the first step, whether it comes from direct employee input, observing that goals aren’t being fulfilled, or noticing that individuals appear to be experiencing burnout.
The next step is to get ready for changes. For instance, your leadership approach might work well for your team, but communicating with stakeholders may be more difficult for you. In this situation, identifying what is and isn’t working is more important than abandoning your current style. Then, start to be curious and start making changes to the way you lead.
How to choose the right leadership style for you?
Finding a leadership style that works for you can be a challenge. To start, it is essential to understand yourself and recognize your values and challenges.
1. Get to know yourself
Investigate the depths of your being, from taking risks and trying new things to carving out alone time for writing exercises and self-assessment. Alternatively, engage in physical activity or spend time with others – any activity that will help you understand yourself better is a great start.
2. Outline your values and challenges
Once you have a better understanding of who you are, map out your values and pinpoint the areas where you struggle. Being aware of these will help you make decisions quickly and effectively, so take the time to look back at pivotal moments in your life, recognizing trends and common themes to create an outline of what matters most to you.
3. Glean from the greats
Gleaning wisdom from leaders you respect can help you find your own unique leadership style. Study them closely in meetings, conversations, and presentations to take note of what resonates with you. You can also try examining their actions through different leadership styles to figure out which one best fits your preferences.
4. Experiment with different approaches
If you want a more hands-on approach, why not experiment with different leadership styles? Create an outline of what sounds intriguing and review it before your next meeting to see how you can incorporate it into your interactions.
5. Seek out advice from a mentor or business coach
Having a mentor or business coach in your corner can be incredibly helpful when it comes to perfecting your leadership style. Look for somebody in the workplace who has earned your respect and would provide valuable feedback, such as another leader or a trusted colleague. If that doesn’t feel like an option.
6. Seek out the insights of colleagues and leaders
Your colleagues, leaders, and team members can be invaluable resources in helping you find the best style for your needs. Before you reach out, be sure to map out what you want to ask and why to get the most useful feedback. Additionally, establish clear parameters and expectations so everyone is on the same page. Once you receive their feedback, take the time to really listen; it will provide invaluable information about your strengths and weaknesses that can help you determine where you need to make improvements and what style will help facilitate said improvements.
7. Unlock your potential with a leadership style assessment
Leadership assessments are great tools for both self-reflection and understanding how teams work together as a whole. A leadership quiz can uncover habits or qualities that may have gone unnoticed while giving you a clearer idea of where to focus your growth effort.
