What is your leadership style?
What's Your Leadership Style?
Early in my career, I remember being asked in interviews, "what
is your leadership style". At the time I thought I needed to
have a single style so I would have an answer to this question.
But it never seemed quite right to answer the question without
asking "who am I leading?" Today, I know that my little voice
was right, and as leaders we may have a 'preferred' style of
leadership, but the correct answer is that it depends.
Each of us begins by leading in a style that matches our
personality. If you are a control person you will start with a
more directing style, telling more showing and asking. If you
have a more laid back personality, you will begin with coaching,
where you spend more time gaining consensus and approval. But
there is a variable that comes into play that really forces
leaders to adjust their style, and that is PEOPLE.
When you put people into the equation, you have to consider a
few things. How much experience do they have? If you use the
directive style of leadership, telling every step of the way, on
a person that has been in their position for a long period of
time you will soon have an opening to fill. This person should
be provided with more room to make decisions on their own. A new
team member with little experience needs direction. They lack
knowledge and skills that you as the leader can provide.
You also need to find out just how your team members prefer to
learn. Do they like to receive general information and just go
out and do it? Do they like to have someone show them how to do
something? Conducting one on ones on a regular basis will help
in determining each team member's learning preference.
So the next time you are asked "what is your leadership style",
you can respond and say "it depends".