You're struggling to lead your team effectively. Which key leadership styles should you consider adopting?

Sometimes it's not about adopting a different style of leadership. In fact we should be using different styles for different people all the time. There shouldn't be a one size fits all style of leadership as the people working for us aren't all the same. Start by understanding your team and what motivates them and what their personality style is. Then flex your own style to continuously challenge them to be their best self by using what you've learnt about them.

This style can be particularly effective in situations where quick decision-making is crucial, such as during a crisis or when deadlines are tight. It ensures that tasks are completed efficiently and that there's no ambiguity about who's responsible for what. For example, if you're managing a project with a tight turnaround, an autocratic approach can help keep everyone focused and on track. An autocratic style works best when combined with other leadership styles, allowing for flexibility based on the situation at hand. Effective leadership isn't about sticking to one style but knowing when to apply the right approach.

Autocratic Leadership: Characteristics: Makes decisions independently, with little or no input from team members. Benefits: Can be effective in situations where quick decision-making is critical or when team members need clear direction.

To lead your team effectively, consider these leadership styles: Transformational: Inspire with a shared vision. Democratic: Encourage team participation and input. Situational: Adapt to team needs and situations. Servant: Support and empower your team. Coaching: Develop skills through guidance and mentorship.

By involving your team in decision-making processes, you tap into a wealth of ideas and perspectives that can lead to more innovative solutions. For example, if you're brainstorming a new marketing campaign, inviting contributions from your team can result in a more creative and effective strategy. This approach not only boosts creativity but also enhances team morale and engagement. However, the democratic style isn't without its challenges. Decision-making can be slower due to the need for consensus, which might not be ideal in time-sensitive situations. As a leader, it's essential to strike a balance between seeking input and making timely decisions.

Embracing this leadership style yields numerous benefits: Empowers team members: By involving them in the decision-making process, you display appreciation for their insights and promote a sense of personal investment in the shared goals. Enhances collaboration: Fostering a collective approach to decision-making strengthens team cohesion and encourages open communication. Stimulates creativity: Diverse perspectives yield innovative solutions to challenges, contributing to the team's overall success. Increases morale: Demonstrating trust in your team's expertise and promoting shared ownership of decisions lifts morale and improves job satisfaction.

Characteristics: Involves team members in decision-making processes, encourages open communication, and values their input. Benefits: Can lead to higher job satisfaction, increased collaboration, and better team morale.

As a transformational leader, your role is to inspire and energize your team. This involves setting a compelling vision, encouraging creativity, and supporting personal and professional development. For instance, if you're leading a financial advisors, encouraging your team to think outside the box and pursue groundbreaking ideas can drive significant innovation and growth. Transformational leadership is characterized by high levels of communication and transparency. By sharing your vision and goals openly, you create a sense of purpose and direction that resonates with your team. This approach not only motivates but also fosters loyalty and trust.

In environments where change, innovation, and personal growth are valued, transformational leadership can be particularly effective. By inspiring enthusiasm, fostering creativity, and empowering individuals, transformational leaders create conditions that enable their teams to achieve extraordinary results and adapt to evolving challenges effectively.

Effective team leadership is all about choosing the right style for the situation. There are many options, from directive leaders who make quick decisions to collaborative leaders who involve the team. The best approach considers your team's experience and goals, so you can adapt and empower them to succeed!

Transformational Leadership: Characteristics: Inspires and motivates team members by creating a vision for the future, fostering an environment of trust, and encouraging innovation. Benefits: Can lead to high levels of employee engagement, creativity, and loyalty.

As a servant leader, your main goal is to support and serve your team. This means actively listening to their needs, providing resources, and removing obstacles that hinder their performance. For example, if a team member is struggling with a particular task, you might step in to provide guidance or additional training. One of the key challenges of servant leadership is finding the right balance between serving your team and achieving organizational goals. It requires a high level of empathy, patience, and the ability to put others' needs above your own at times.

As a situational leader, you assess the maturity and competence of your team members and tailor your style accordingly. For instance, with a new or inexperienced team, you might adopt a more directive approach, providing clear instructions and close supervision. With a seasoned and capable team, you might take a more delegative approach, giving them the autonomy to make decisions and take ownership of their work. One of the strengths of situational leadership is its versatility. By being flexible, you can effectively manage diverse teams and handle various situations. However, it requires a keen understanding of your team and the ability to switch between different leadership styles seamlessly.

In essence, situational leadership recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. Instead, effective leadership involves thoughtful consideration of the task, team, and context, and adjusting one’s style accordingly to achieve optimal outcomes. This dynamic approach enables leaders to navigate challenges effectively and capitalize on opportunities as they arise.

1. Experienced Teams: Laissez-faire leadership is most suitable for teams composed of highly skilled and experienced members who possess a deep understanding of their roles and responsibilities. 2. Autonomy and Trust: This style promotes a high degree of autonomy, allowing team members to make decisions and execute tasks with minimal guidance or interference from the leader. It fosters a sense of trust between the leader and team members. 3. Innovation and Creativity: By giving team members the freedom to set their own deadlines and solve problems independently, laissez-faire leadership can stimulate innovative thinking. It encourages individuals to explore new ideas and approaches without feeling constrained by rigid guidelines.

Always authentic leadership, be open, transparent and clear. Don’t be afraid to show vulnerability and your true self. Leaders are so often too concerned with wearing their superior armour that it often leads to people being unable to emotionally connect to them.

I think it all comes down to environment for me. Leadership styles can be different but actually a leaders job in my opinion is to create the environment that stirs up desire in people to want to perform. I believe that everyone has an intrinsic desire to do well, to work hard and succeed but often the environment they are operating within makes it hard to have the desire to work. People have the choice to work for an organisation, it’s a leaders job to ensure they want to work for their organisation. Trust is the foundation to all of this.

Listening with the intention of understanding. Give those that report to you a safe zone to share ideas and give feedback. Trust them to want what's best for the organization and your team.

When struggling to lead effectively, consider adopting key leadership styles like transformational leadership, which inspires and motivates through vision; situational leadership, adjusting your approach based on team readiness; and democratic leadership, fostering team involvement in decision-making. Each style adapts to different situations, promoting team engagement and achieving collective goals effectively.