Welcome back if you are continuing from Chapter Three or Chapter Two, and welcome if you are new. If you haven’t done the first step in this process, I would recommend you start at Chapter One first. Although, like leadership itself, you can start from wherever you are.
Chapter Four focuses on your leadership style. I like the definition provided by www.imd.org on what is a leadership style: “A leadership style refers to a leader’s methods, characteristics and behaviors when directing, motivating, and leading their teams.” It is how we demonstrate our leadership consistently in our engagements with our teams and colleagues.
There is a lot of literature out there on leadership styles, and one can spend a lot of time reading, taking tests and seeking feedback. My thoughts on this are that, like all things, becoming aware that there is a leadership style is a good first step on your leadership journey. And if a leadership style hasn’t emerged for you as yet, one will in due course. Remembering that there is no “right” or “wrong” style. It’s about what is most effective at delivering the impact you need.
The exercise and questions below are here to help you uncover what your leadership style might be today and how to utilise it for successful leadership.
As always, if you invest in yourself, the rewards will be unfathomable.
Chapter Four of Five
Exercise: If you don’t already know your leadership style, you might consider taking a free leadership style assessment tool on the internet. I like this one – What’s Your Leadership Style? – Leadership Training From MindTools.com. I am not affiliated with this site and have no connections to them. I like their work.
If you have done previous leadership identification work or you already have a good feel for your leadership style based on feedback or insight you have, then please head to the questions.
Please grab a blank paper sheet, journal, or other non-technology-based writing tools (here are some benefits you can read).
Now answer the following questions.
If you did the test or have a view of what your leadership style is, then consider the following:
How is this leadership style suitable for where you are today? Is it working for you, and in what ways?
What feedback have you received from your team about your leadership style? Is it serving you and your team? If not, why not? If yes, how?
How does this leadership style serve your future aspirations? If it doesn’t, what might you need to learn?
Bonus
If you are still not sure and neither the test nor the feedback you might have received is helping or ringing true for you, then the following questions might be useful.
What leadership styles have you seen or experienced that you admire? Why do you think these styles are effective?
Using the work on values from Chapter Two; how do you show up with your values every day as a leader? (This will give you clues on the type of leader you are. For example, relationship and people-focused, task and results-orientated, or any other combination.
How do you handle decision-making or stressful situations? What style do you think you default to? This is critical to uncover. We all have a default style when under stress, and this style might derail the kind of leader you want or need to be. To be a truly authentic leader, we must understand the style we go to when things are not going our way. That might be or could become a dominant style and not serve you the best.
Write down your answers and go back to your day.
Until next time.
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