What is Your Leadership Style?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I blow it as a leader emotionally. I am not calm when I should be or not tough enough when I need to be. Years ago author and researcher Daniel Goleman introduced the concept of emotional intelligence.

Simply put this is the ability to understand our emotions and regulate them. After introducing this idea he later wrote the book Primal Leadership which is a worthwhile read if you want a deeper dive into how emotional intelligence impacts our leadership.

Within the pages of this book Goleman introduces us to six different styles people may use in their leadership. I have outlined them below.

Visionary

Moves people toward a shared goal/dream

Used when a clear direction is required
Example – your team motto, win state, go to college

Coaching

Connects peoples desires with big picture goals

Used to help someone improve performance by building long-term skills
Example – learn how to manage time better so can have skills to do well in school and go to college or start a business

Affiliative

Connects people to each other

Used to help motivate in difficult times, build bonds in team or heal “rifts”
Example – being the middle person in a fight between two friends and you help them be able to hear each other out

Democratic

Listens to other’s input and develops a plan as a group

Used to get people on board with a plan
Example – team participation in goal setting, class participation in establishing classroom rules

Pacesetting

Goal setter

Used to get results
Example – Coach expecting you to go undefeated, parents expecting straight A’s

Commanding

Gives clear direction in emergency

Used in crises situations or where clear direction is needed for change
Example – coach calling a time out and setting up a play with 10 seconds left and you could win the game

At different times and in various situations each of these may be appropriate. Typically we have a default style. Which of the above styles is yours? How well does it serve you?

Personally, under stress I can default to a commanding style. At times this serves all those around me well, but at other times it creates more problems. I prefer to operate in a visionary or coaching approach so I can help people connect their goals to what the team needs to accomplish.

Look at the list again and ask yourself or those you lead which approach you tend to use and how you need to adjust to better serve those you lead. That change can be challenging and if you need a thinking partner to help you in the process let me know. Don’t be the lid on your leadership, keep growing. Lead well!