Why Knowing Management Styles Is Important
Different leaders have different management styles. It is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all method, since there are different situations that warrant different management styles. By finding out your primary leadership style, you can better understand the types of approaches that you tend to take, and how it can impact your team’s success.
Issues To Be Solved / Expected Outcomes
Knowing your management style allows you to identify your strengths and weaknesses as a leader, and how you interact with others. For example, you can better identify which personalities will clash with your management style. When job searching, knowing your leadership style will help you find the right position and company to work for based on their work environment (Raines, n.d.).
Types of Management Styles
Autocratic
- Authoritative and dictative of rules and processes
- Do not consult team members for feedback or input
- More effective when dealing with unskilled workers
- Does not help employee engagement and morale if done extensively
Coaching
- Motivates employees to grow and develop their strengths
- Provides employees with helpful tools and resources
- Emphasizes relationship building with team members
- Usually enhances employee engagement and morale
Affiliative
- Strives to create harmony for everyone on the team
- Friendly approach that prioritizes people over tasks
- Does not maintain accountability for results
- May result in inability to confront employees or managing conflicts
Participative
- Empower employees to be involved in decision making processes
- Instill sense of ownership in all team members
- Increased self esteem, pride, and loyalty to the team and results
- Willingness to release some control to employees
Pace-setting
- Acts as a role model for all the employees to follow
- Exemplifies highest standard of performance to encourage employees to meet up to
- Emphasizes continuous improvement and growth in results and productivity
- Can lead to employees feeling overwhelmed or overworked
Implementation (Duncan, 2018)
A leader’s relationship with their employees can determine level of engagement and productivity in results. Good leaders are able to implement different elements from the various management styles that tailor to different situations.
Leaders should:
- Look for the right tools to fulfil team roles and responsibilities
- Assign team members with exciting opportunities
- Give employees appropriate responsibilities and autonomy
- Engage members in leadership development programs
- Include members in developing the team mission, vision, and objectives
- Communicate the value added and results of your employees’ efforts
References
Raines, S. (n.d.). The Advantages of Knowing Your Leadership Style. Retrieved April 08, 2018, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-knowing-leadership-style-18924.html
Duncan, J. (2018, April 04). How to Refine Your Management Style and Boost Employee Engagement. Retrieved April 08, 2018, from https://blog.bonus.ly/how-to-refine-your-management-style-and-boost-employee-engagement
