Posts Tagged ‘leadership styles’

When people go for a job interview it is pretty commonplace to be asked how others would describe you. In the interview you probably trot out a good answer that ticks the boxes in the mind of the interviewer.

The trouble is, beyond the interview situation few people ever really give much thought to this question and this is a lost opportunity.

The question is great in many ways:

1. It gets to the heart of the type of leader that you want to be.
2. It shapes how you interact with others, behave, set an example and go about undertaking your role as a leader.
3. It keeps you constantly conscious of what it is that makes you perform at your best.
4. It gives you a marker or frame of reference against which you can check before getting into a difficult conversation or making a difficult decision.

When your team is asked this question I guess that you and most leaders and managers would like to hear things like:

1. They are highly supportive of me and the team.
2. They encourage us to try new things and provide the safety net to allow us to do this.
3. They are approachable and I can go to them if I have a struggle.
4. They are honest with me.
5. I trust them completely.
6. They are a great role model and someone from whom I can learn.

By contrast, few leaders or managers would like to hear the following:

1. They are totally autocratic and never involve us. They might best be described as the Nike boss who says “Just Do It”.
2. They put excessive demands on the team and we feel like we are collapsing under the weight.
3. The only person that matters to them is themselves.
4. They take all the glory when things go well and never acknowledge the contribution of others.
5. They blame and try to pass the buck when things go wrong.

And here is the good news. You get to determine for what you have a reputation as a leader or manager. So what choices will you make?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people become great leaders and managers. Sign up for his free audio e-course Leadership Success at www.goalsandachievements.co.uk.

There are many different styles that a leader can adopt and one size rarely fits all. So what are the key traits of leaders who adopt a coaching style?

1. They are great listeners.
2. They help others to solve their own problems.
3. They use questions to deepen understanding.
4. They don’t fix everything personally.
5. They encourage balanced risk taking.
6. They are supportive.
7. They empower.

I wonder what other traits you would add. Why not leave a comment with your ideas?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to achieve success and realize their professional potential through being highly effective leaders and managers. For more information and to sign up for his free audio e-course click here

There are many differing views on leadership styles.  What differentiates styles is the degree to which one directs rather than involves.  There are 5 key styles of leadership:

1. Telling or the just do it style which is good to use in times of crisis or emergency.
2. Telling and selling where you tell what needs to happen and why.  It is a good style to use when significant change is needed.
3. Consultation where you want ideas and views but retain the final decision making authority.  This is used significantly by public bodies who need to formally consult with all stakeholders.
4. Participation where a group or team takes collective responsibility for the problem and decisions.
5. Empowerment where you state the outcome you want and leave it to one or more people to work out how to achieve it.  Works well with highly skilled and experienced people.

We all have our preferred style.  What’s your preferred style and what are the benefits and drawbacks of it?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps highly effective professionals to become great leaders and managers.  You can sign up for his free audio e-course here