Leadership Styles

Your style of leadership and your decision of whether to lead or not affects every area of your company. Your leadership affects the success of your company and the fulfilling of your purpose. Overwhelmed leaders, (me) leaders who want to be friends, micro-manager leaders, direct feedback leaders, role model leaders, they're all examples of leadership styles.

1. Which one are you?

2. What is your nature and does your nature work?

The overwhelmed leader is the default style that we all drop into from time to time but do you slow down and dial it back when you recognize your overwhelm? Those who lead by wanting to be the nice boss, those who want to engender friendship or loyalty use the currency of friendship. 

Just because you chose to have a company, and you're the leader doesn't mean you're the best fit person for leading. I am a mediocre leader who has to work hard to be a good leader. I'm good at purpose and pushing people to getting their work done, but that doesn't translate to me naturally being a good leader. But, I chose to start a business so I don't get a choice as to whether I get to lead or not.

Micro-managers usually focus on integrity, loyalty, and quality and they micro-manage because they care about the output of their employees being exact. If you get defensive when people tell you you're a micro-manager, think about what bothers you about that and why you are that way. Micro-managing gives your employees a strong sense of direction and there are some employees who need to be micro-managed. Most people don't need it though, and it can be dis-empowering to them, so figure out what you're trying to ensure gets done right and figure out how to change your leadership style. 

There are two types of athletic coaches. There's the coach who puts his or her arm around their player and encourages them and there's the type who lets their players know when they've messed up and corrects them publicly. There are players who excel with both coaching types; no single stype or style will fit every player on a team. Employees need different kinds of feedback.

Role modeling is the style that says, "I've done every job here, I know what it's like, I've been on the front lines, I'm there with you guys. I show up for meeting and remember your birthday and I want you to do the same." You're being the best person you can be and you want your team to model your role.

A servant leadership, as described by author Robert Greenleaf, focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power byone at the top of the pyramid. Servant leadership flips the traditional leadership structure on its head by sharing power, putting the needs of others first, and helping people perform as highly as possible. This isn't about letting your employees walk all over you. You are there to empower through acknowledgement and accountability; you lead the vision and you're there at the beginning and the end.