Leadership Challenges: Is it Style or Skill?

As executive leaders, we often see teams struggle with performance, motivation, or communication, and our first instinct may be to diagnose the problem as a lack of leadership skills. However, the issue may not always be about missing skills—it could be the?leadership style?that is out of sync with the needs of the team.

Recognizing the difference between?leadership skills?and?leadership style?is critical for effectively addressing leadership challenges. But how do you figure out which one is causing the problem? It starts with asking the right questions and observing how leaders engage with their teams.

Warrior’s Courage?is a core principle in?LEADJITSU?that emphasizes having tough but necessary conversations. It takes courage to dig deep, confront issues, and guide leaders toward growth. As an executive, asking the right questions and making keen observations can lead to transformative results for your leaders and teams.

Here are?five powerful questions?you can ask to help identify whether the issue is a leadership?style?issue or a?skills?gap.

1. How does your team respond to your approach in different situations?

Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. Observing how leaders adapt—or fail to adapt—their style to the needs of their team and the situation can be revealing. If their approach is rigid or always the same, it could be a style that needs adjustment. Flexibility in leadership style is key to inspiring and guiding teams through various challenges.

2. When faced with difficult decisions, how do you engage your team in the process?

This question gets to the heart of both?collaborative leadership?and decision-making skills. If leaders are struggling to engage their team in meaningful ways or are making decisions in isolation, it may point to a need for better collaboration skills or a re-evaluation of their leadership style. How a leader brings the team into the decision-making process can reveal a lot about both their?style?and?skills.

3. How do you handle conflict or disagreements within your team?

Conflict is inevitable, but how leaders manage it reveals much about their ability to navigate team dynamics. Are they addressing issues head-on, or are they letting them fester? If conflict resolution is a constant problem, it may point to a?skill gap?in emotional intelligence or?conflict management, or it could indicate an overly controlling or laissez-faire?leadership style?that isn’t working.

4. In what ways do you motivate and inspire your team to achieve their goals?

Motivation is essential to team success, but it’s also one of the areas where leaders often struggle. Ask your leaders how they actively motivate and inspire their teams—if the answer is unclear, it might suggest a gap in?motivational skills?or a lack of alignment between their leadership style and the team's needs. Sometimes, a simple adjustment in leadership style can re-energize a team.

5. When feedback is provided, how do you respond and implement it into your leadership approach?

Leaders who are open to feedback demonstrate both?emotional intelligence?and self-awareness, essential skills for growth. Observing how leaders respond to feedback can show whether they are willing to adjust their?style?or develop their?skills. If they dismiss feedback or fail to make meaningful changes, it could point to a deeper issue with either their approach or competencies.

Observing Team Dynamics

In addition to asking questions, take the time to?observe?how the team interacts with their leader. Are they engaged and motivated? Do they trust the leader and feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns? Are there signs of burnout or frustration? Team dynamics often reveal whether a leader’s style is working or whether skill development is needed.

LEADJITSU Leader's Code #4 Warrior’s Courage - Why it Matters

Having these conversations requires?Warrior’s Courage—the bravery to address difficult issues with empathy and the strength to support leaders through their growth. Sometimes, leaders themselves aren’t aware of the disconnect between their style and their team’s needs, or they might lack the self-awareness to identify missing skills. It takes courage to guide leaders through this discovery process, but it’s essential for long-term success.

By asking these questions and observing team interactions, you can determine whether your leaders need to adjust their style, develop new skills, or both. The right combination of style and skills allows leaders to not just manage, but inspire, motivate, and lead their teams toward sustainable success.

Interested in a breakdown of leadership styles vs leadership skills? Read the full blog here.

I invite your leaders to enter the dojo!