First Level Leadership

Effective Leadership Style

The first step towards building leadership style.

Do you have a marshal’s baton in your knapsack? 

Napoleon believed that every soldier in his army had the potential to be a General. Now I don’t know what you think about that, but recognizing your skills is the first step towards building your leadership skills. 

The fact is -   leaders don’t just happen; in the same vein, no one has the divine right to lead or rule, unless he proves his mettle.

Developing a leadership style is a challenge for most young managers

As you read this section , you can make notes of key points arising out of our discussion. When you understand these ideas in your mind, they will help you to clarify and crystallize your thoughts; thus your leadership style will evolve. Soon you would realize that you will lead more and manage less. You may not have to be the boss all the time.

I would like to draw your attention towards the word “managing”

Managing comes from the Latin word for hand; it originally meant handling something - like a machine or a horse etc.

Do you notice something unique here?

Handling is linked to things. Isn’t it easy to transfer this thing mentality across to the people? In other words, there is a huge temptation to regard people as things that can be managed like machines.

Actually, armies introduced the concept of man management

There was a time that a British ruled colony had produced a pamphlet entitled, “Mule Management.” Leadership, after all is largely an issue of coaching people and their ability to communicate effectively with each other.

Originally, three leadership styles were identified:

autocratic, democratic (participative) and laissez-faire. When the focus shifts from decision making to motivating, other styles evolve. There are charismatic leaders, those who are visionary or transformational and many more, which are derivatives of these styles. Versatile leaders tend to employ a combination of all three styles consciously. Bad leaders stay with one style.

No single style or approach is fit enough to handle all situations

Maximizing results is partly a matter of knowing which tool to use. This translates into that it is simply dangerous to suggest that one style is more correct or effective or is appropriate for all situations, simply because there is a shift from control and direction to the coaching and mentoring.

Therefore, it emerges from this discussion that

you need a skill that is more appropriate to the urgency, complexity or difficulty of the prevailing situation.

Situation is the catchword here

Situational leaders are able to modify their leadership style to fit their followers and the situations in which they are working.The situational leader chooses his leadership based on the:

Competency (skills) and

Commitment (motivation)

of the person being led rather than on his preferred style.

Your leadership becomes effective when it is matched

with the skill sets and motivation of the follower. When the leadership style does not match the follower, it is likely to frustrate the employee and reduce his level of motivation.

Is your style effective?

I would say style describes a personal way of leading. It is your style of writing, your style of talking, and your style of presenting. However, the main issue is whether your style is effective - or not.

As a leader once said,

“Leadership is the most personal thing in the world for a simple reason - it is just plain you.”

However, the situation dictates your ability to take effective decisions, yet keep your people motivated. Well, it is very easy to read sitting in your comfortable living room with a cup of coffee in your hand. The real world is difficult.

As a famous thinker once remarked, “In war it is very difficult to keep things simple; so is it with leadership.”

Therefore, you can safely conclude that

there is no one right style of leadership. Leadership style varies with personality and situational needs. Leadership style is partly decision-making and partly a way of motivating employees. When it comes to style, it is good to combine the consistency of character with the flexibility of method. Parting Shot:

The style is you, the man, and you cannot obscure yourself in any disguise of words or appearance. Everyone will somehow gather what sort of a man you are within it. Have substance in your leadership, and don’t just become fried chicken southern style!

Is it time to feed you with some more information!

Before I sign off, let me give you a perfect piece of dialectic, wherein there is no escaping from the conclusion... [Click here to read more]

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