Those of us in leadership roles want to do a good job. We want to lead our teams to success. But not every team requires the same kind of leadership. Here’s a quick breakdown of the five different leadership styles you can develop and employ to keep your team running at peak performance.
1. Structural Leader
The Structural Leader is all about organization. The efficiency and energy of the you’re the team comes from everyone knowing their responsibilities and to what standard they are being held. Everyone knows what to do and why. This is a great leadership style for teams full of experts already excelling or that just need a little push.
2. Participative Leader
The “friend and boss” archetype is at work here. The leader makes their team feel needed and included by interacting on a personal level and showing interest in their out-of-work lives. When making decisions, the Participative Leader asks for input from the team. This style is great for times of stress or when trust needs to be built.
3. Servant Leader
The Servant Leader abides by the idiom “lead others the way you want to be led.” This leadership style focuses on providing your team with all the tools they need to succeed. Any extra training, counseling, or mentoring can go a long way here. This style shows the team that you can be a flexible and caring leader. It will also boost performance.
4. Hands-Off Leader
The Hands-Off Leader allows their team members to perform tasks however they see fit. Once you assign a task or a duty, you let the team member handle it however they would like. This style is best for teams made up of experienced professionals that don’t need a lot of supervision. Simply provide the team’s vision and let the employees figure out how to achieve it to the best of their abilities.
5. Transformational Leader
The Transformational Leader inspires diligence and excitement for the job by leading through example. This leader provides a clear, exciting vision of the future to get their teams pumped up for work. This style can help build strong teams with lasting individual strengths. It’s great for building cohesion.
Use any of these five styles to lead your team to success! Remember, a good leader always can change up their leadership style when it’s necessary. Don’t feel bad about trying these all out and switching between them as needed! Good luck!
Originally posted on FlavioAlmeida.org.