What style of leader are you? Are you a leader? Are you sure? Not sure? Don’t care?
I’d say you all are leaders to some extent, regardless if you either feel like one or know you are. A parent, a spouse, a coach, a member of a PTA, church group, etc. all require leaders. As I’ve written before, being a leader doesn’t require you to be ‘in charge’, it simply means you have to be a part of leading a change or supporting someone who is.
It’s almost like being a good follower is tantamount to being a good leader. But that’s a topic for another time.
Today I’d like to discuss 4 simple styles of leadership and allow you to ruminate on them. As always, I’m open for discussions via DM or email.
Ken Blanchard and Paul Hersey defined four leadership styles that help people address and define the type and style of leader they either are, or need to be. I think that good leader encompasses all of these, dependent on situation and audience. Let’s see what you think.
Directing. This is defining roles and tasks and requires close supervision of work. Typically consist of one way communication, from the top down. While this seems authoritarian, it may be the best approach for people lacking skills and knowledge
Coaching. In this style, leaders set the approach and direction but allow others to manage the details. This is an opportunity for seasoned leaders to offer experiences and thoughts while allowing followers to learn and practice.
Supporting. Leaders allocate tasks, provide the direction and allow subordinates full control over performance. In this case, leaders provide mostly motivation and confidence building.
Delegating. Probably the easiest form of leadership. Subordinates do the work, require little supervision and the leader takes the hands off the wheel. In this case, however, the leader has to be mindful of delegation versus abdication. Someone will always be accountable for both success and failure.
So, which style have you used lately? Which style do you think you could apply to a situation coming up? Give it a try. Experiment. The best way to be sharp is to practice and implement. Think about your situation, apply the principles and then be receptive to feedback.
Go be a leader.
Semper Fortis,
Chief Chuck