Discovering Your Personal Leadership Style as a First-Time-Manager

As a manager, it's important to be aware of the tendencies and typical behaviors you have when leading, called leadership style, and how it can affect your team's productivity and motivation. We all represent different styles and all are useful depending on the time and context. However, we do have a dominant tendency towards one of them.

Situational Leadership for First-Time-Managers

One of the most popular leadership models, Situational Leadership, identifies four basic styles:

• Supporting

• Delegating

• Coaching

• Directive

According to situational leadership it is important for leaders to adapt their style in order to fit the development level of their team members. The goal of situational leadership is to provide the right amount of direction and support to team members to help them develop and succeed.

Explore the 4 leadership styles

Here is a brief overview of each style, its advantages and disadvantages, and some famous role models to help you think about where you might lean towards more:

• Supporting Style

In the Supporting Style, the manager provides support and encouragement to team members, allowing them to take on more responsibility. This style is effective when team members have the skills needed to complete a task but lack confidence.

The key advantage of such a management style is that it motivates your team members and gives the team a sense of trust in you. However, the key disadvantage is often seen in the potential for micromanagement and the lack of clarity about the manager's expectations.

In its excess it can have exactly the opposite effect, i.e. weakening your people and delaying their personal development and initiative. As a manager in the excess of this style you risk becoming the google manager who knows everything and works for everyone.

A famous role model of this style is Oprah Winfrey, who was known as a mentor with the primary goal of empowering her team members to face new challenges and achieve their goals.

• Delegating Style

In the Delegating Style, the manager provides minimal guidance and allows team members to make most of the decisions. In essence, he delegates the outcome rather than how to achieve it. This style is effective when team members are highly qualified and motivated or if they do not require dynamic monitoring by the manager.

The advantages of this style include increased autonomy and a sense of ownership and responsibility among team members. However, disadvantages include the possibility of lack of communication and control and in excess of distancing eventually the manager.

Famous examples of this style include Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, who empowers his team members to take risks and make decisions on their own. Another example is Mark Zuckerberg who delegates decision making to his team members and encourages them to own their work.

• Directive Style

In Directive Style, the leader provides specific guidance and closely supervises his team members. This style is effective when team members are new to a task or lack the necessary skills to complete it.

Even in such cases it is usually only recommended for extraordinary tasks and short deadlines.

The advantages of this style include clear direction and a sense of structure among team members.However, disadvantages are the potential for a lack of creativity and innovation, as well as a possible lack of trust between the leader and team members.Furthermore in its excess it is considered the least developmental leadership model and often leads to micromanagement.

Famous role models of this style are Steve Jobs, who was known for his hands-on approach and attention to detail in managing his team members.

• Coaching Style

In the Coaching Style, the manager provides both guidance and support to his team members. This style is effective when team members are still developing their skills and are motivated to grow.

A key advantage of this style is increased knowledge and skill development with geometric progression, as well as a sense of collaboration between the leader and team members. However, disadvantages include the risk of slow decision-making and in its excess the lack of direction from the leader.

Famous role models of this style include Bill Campbell, who was known as "The Trillion Dollar Coach" for his effectiveness in mentoring Silicon Valley executives including Steve Jobs and Larry Page and Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, who prioritized coaching and development for her team members.

Taking the first step by understanding your Leadership Style

In conclusion, understanding your leadership style and the context of using each style can significantly impact the success of your team as well as your personal brand and your position within the team or close to management.

As a leader, it is important to adapt your style to meet the needs of your team and the context of the situation.

In First-Time Managers training you will discover your personal leadership style, the tools you typically prefer to use, their advantages and disadvantages so that you can consciously behave in order to maximize your team's performance.