What do you do if your leadership style fails to inspire and motivate others?

First and foremost, it's essential to engage in honest self-reflection regarding our leadership style. This involves introspection to identify any shortcomings or areas for improvement. Are we genuinely leading with authenticity and empathy? Are we effectively engaging with our team?

Being true to yourself is the key. Other than anyone else you would very well know what are your shortcomings. Assess how your actions and communication is impacting the morale of your team. Are you being a good listener and responding to your team's needs effectively? Also you need to be clear with your intentions so that they're perceived correctly. This process helps in pointing out areas for personal growth and adjustment, making sure that your leadership approach sets more closely with your team's expectations and enhances overall motivation and engagement.

En primer lugar salirse del rol de "superheroe", admitiendo que uno puede no estar capacitado y/o no tener habilidades para realizar esa tarea. Poder asumir honestamente la vulnerabilidad es una fortaleza imprescindible del líder. Una vez asumido esto, buscaría referentes para adquirir conocimiento e intentar incorporar en mi día a día sus métodos evaluando la efectividad. De no resultar efectivo, admitiría que la posición y el rol que me fue asignado, no se alinea con mis capacidades y buscaría alguien que pueda realizar esa tarea con mejores resultados.

I have experienced this situation both as a leader as well as a subordinate. My lessons from all of the experiences in this issue, the pivotal step that reinstated the faith in the leader was honest and open communication- seeking feedback, then working on the feedback and most importantly continue the feedback process till the individual and team got aligned. Seeking feedback makes a leader perceived as honest, humble and authentic. There are times when leaders are assigned to teams that they have never worked with - new role, new job etc., it’s important that leaders spend the first few weeks to understand the underlying dynamics of the team to invoke a sense of trust and confidence in the team.

Seeking feedback is key to understanding how our leadership is perceived by others. Actively solicit feedback from team members through one-on-one conversations, surveys, or utilizing the services of a professional coach. Honest feedback can provide valuable insights into areas where adjustments may be needed.

Engage with your team members and peers to understand the impact of your style of working. Build a process for open and honest communication by using thoughtful questions that encourage constructive feedback. You can also go for one-on-one or group sessions as people will be more open. Listening without being defensive, and if someone criticizes you take it as an opportunity. This openness will make your team believe that you value their input and are ready to improve, this will develop a culture of continuous growth and mutual respect.

In this case, seeking feedback would be a great help in understanding where my leadership style is failing to inspire and motivate. It's a humbling tactic, but yields great results when feedback is accepted and implemented properly.

Based on the feedback received, be willing to adapt and adjust our leadership approach accordingly. This may involve refining communication methods, decision-making processes, or how we recognize and address team efforts. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial for effective leadership.

Team loves the manager who is adaptable. Look into different strategies that could better meet your team's needs, such as adopting a more feedback oriented decision-making process, or transparency in communication. If your team believes that you are willing to change it will positively influence them and change their behavior towards you. And most important is that you continuously evaluate the impact of the adjustments you have made and fine tune if needed.

As a leader, it's important to regularly reflect on your approach and how it's resonating with your team. If your leadership style is failing to inspire and motivate, seek open feedback from your employees. Use this feedback as an opportunity to adjust your style - be more participative, delegate more, or provide clearer direction. Tap into your team's intrinsic motivations by aligning work with their personal values. Enhance communication, offer meaningful recognition, and model the behaviors you want to see. Effective leadership requires flexibility and a willingness to learn. By adapting your approach based on employee feedback, you can become a more inspiring and impactful leader.

Leadership is a journey of continuous learning and growth. Embrace opportunities for professional development, such as workshops, courses, and relevant readings. Additionally, learn from past experiences—both successes and failures—to refine leadership skills and strategies.

Be Curious Maintaining a curiosity drives you Its not just about formal education but learn from every interaction and if you find something interesting don’t feel shy to ask about it even to an entry level team mate or the top most designation of your company. Stay informed about the industry trends and what is going on in the market. Outside the professional world kids are the best teachers they would teach you things that you can’t even think about. Try to implement new learnings combining them with your experience. Interacting with your peers and seniors will give you tremendous learning opportunities.

By dedicating yourself to personal and professional development, you not only enhance your own skills but also set a positive example for your team. Create an environment where asking questions and exploring new ideas is valued. Make it a habit to share what you’ve learned with your team. This could be through informal discussions, formal presentations, or collaborative projects. Encourage your team to reflect on their experiences and learn from both successes and failures. Pairing less experienced team members with mentors can be a powerful way to transfer knowledge and skills. By integrating these practices into your leadership approach, you can help create a dynamic and adaptable team ready to face new challenges. ??

True leadership involves empowering others to reach their full potential. Delegate responsibilities, provide necessary support and resources, and encourage professional growth and development among team members. Empowering others fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and motivation.

TRUST !!! That's the word and that is something you need to reflect in your behavior while interacting with your team. By granting team members meaningful responsibilities and minimal micro management will give them power to make their own decisions, you instill a sense of ownership and pride in their work. You need to make sure that you are always there for them when they need help. Encourage new initiative, offer necessary support and resources, and make it a point to celebrate their achievements. Such actions not only make them feel their value of importance in the team but also contribute to a more motivated, innovative, and satisfied team.

I had a t-shirt that had this quote - "I am not bossy, I just have better ideas". And I stopped wearing it when I realized that it doesn't reflect the idea of a leader that I aspire to be. If your leadership style doesn't inspire others, it's absolutely the time to do a course correction and take better ideas from people around you including the team you manage. A good approach for course correction would include open communication with the team on their expectations, receiving the feedback with an open mindset, working on their feedback and ensuring you have that channel open for communication forever. It's also important to be transparent with your team about your actions.

Adjusting Leadership Style In instances where your leadership style falls short in inspiring and motivating your team, it's imperative to pivot your approach. Begin by soliciting feedback from team members to grasp their perspectives. Focus on refining emotional intelligence and communication skills to foster deeper connections. Embrace a collaborative leadership style that empowers team members and cultivates a positive atmosphere. Stay open to continual growth, seeking mentorship or professional development opportunities to enhance leadership effectiveness.