Not all people are the same. Leaders are also people and, as a result, are also not the same. Every leader has a different personality, worldview and disposition on different things.
The common thing to all leaders is that they exist to lead [Click to Tweet]
That is why they are there. This leaves how to lead somewhat optional. You can train leaders on the principles and strategies of leadership but you may not be able to completely shape who they become as leaders. This is because every leader has a different personality and something about it will color their leadership.
Personality profiling or strengths assessments, such as Strengths Finder, Myers Briggs, DISC and Insights, highlight different strengths people have. Leadership style has impact on those you lead and ultimately on your enterprise.
Different leadership styles are effective in different contexts. For example, leaders can take into account the personalities they lead. A relational leader may find it easier to lead and may be able to succeed in getting results from their team.
On the other hand the relational leader can put relationships ahead of results. Some leaders are more focused on the tasks, strategy and ideation. There are myriad ways of assessing and labeling leadership styles.
It is not that leaders have one leadership style per se. What is called ‘leadership style’ is generally their primary and predominant response(s) or disposition as they lead.
Which leadership style is best? Which leadership style is better than the other? Or, which is the best leadership style? None.
There is no one leadership style that is best. Neither is there one leadership style that is better than another. What makes the difference is how leaders manage themselves in leading. One of the reasons teams get frustrated with leadership is not leadership style but the context it which a particular style is employed.
Different leadership styles get better results in different contexts. The most important thing for leaders is to understand themselves and the context in which their predominant tendencies work best.
Leader, where you have shortcomings, it is prudent to lean on those on your team whose leadership styles are stronger than you in the Ares you will need.
The only instances where one leadership style is better than another is when another leadership style could be used to get best results. Screwdrivers are great but are ineffective when you need to knock a nail in.
In conclusion, no one leadership style is better than another per se. Context is what you should use to determine which leadership style will be best.
The best leadership style is the one that best fits the context [Click to Tweet]
It is not the leadership style that matters, but that it is appropriately leaned into in each context. As part of developing a healthy organization factor in discerning the leadership style needed for contexts you encounter.
Your thoughts?
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Love that your tagline is “Just a guy changing the world.” I think I’m learning that the best leaders have a gentleness about them. They find a way to inspire action in those they lead not by traditional leading, but through serving their community and by being an example of what is possible. Thanks for sharing. :)
:-) thank you so much. I’m just glad to contribute in whatever ways I can. Continue doing what you’re also doing… Everything makes a difference, sometimes it is not always obvious.
sometimes people are made to feel bad by their leadership, when the problem is really how they use their style
true. the challenge of leadership is understanding context first before responding.
sometimes people are made to feel bad by their leadership, when the problem is really how they use their style
true. the challenge of leadership is understanding context first before responding.