Leadership Styles. How do you Lead Best?

Have you ever played the role of a leader?  Did you choose to step up, or were you placed in the role by someone else? And, when in the role, did you intentionally choose a leadership style and mindset that produced results?

What? Choose a style?  Don’t people in leadership positions get there because they already have what it takes?  This is a common question when it comes to leadership: are the skills needed to lead effectively inherent or learned. Today, there is general acknowledgement that while some people may be more comfortable being in a leadership role and seem to be a “natural born leader”, the skills and styles for leading can be learned. Further, effective leaders choose to apply or adapt certain styles to fit different situations, based on specific objectives and the strengths, skills and needs of the group being lead.

Consider the different requirements of someone leading during and crisis or emergency situation from the skills and styles needed when leading a complex community change effort.

This raises the question of what makes an effective leader and how can we lead at our best?

“One of the qualities that all the leaders have is a voracious appetite to learn whatever they do not yet know and understand, coupled with an openness to new experiences.” Warren G. Bennis  Source: http://www.azquotes.com/author/1232-Warren_G_Bennis

There are many different types of leadership styles. Over the next couple of weeks we will look at four, beginning this week with: Servant Leadership and Transformational Leadership.

Servant Leaders have the desire and actions of serving first, as revealed in six key characteristics of servant leader behavior: empowering and developing people, humility, authenticity, interpersonal acceptance, providing direction, and stewardship. What does it take to become a great servant leader? Consistent and appropriate demonstration of: compassion, patience, motivation, and the authentic desire to serve.

“A servant leader works tirelessly to develop his or her people and is focused on what they can do for others.” Cheryl Williamson, Community Voice, Forbes 2017

“The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”

Because the focus is on others’ well-being and success, servant leaders often see good results, with group members performing at their best, as they have witnessed their leader doing, setting the example.

When we change our leadership perspective to serving first, it can inspire others to do the same.

Transformational Leadership is designed to change individuals and social systems. It can create valuable and positive change in the followers on the way to achieving the larger, shared goals including developing them into leaders. Not surprisingly, this leadership style has been proven effective by associating positive outcomes with team members. When using this approach, it is crucial to establish rapport and build good working relationships. Relationships motivate workers and increases morale, which will result in meeting goals and achieving positive outcomes. Things that need to be changed or improved must be carefully identified first; from there, a plan is created to reach the common goal.

Leaders who use the Transformational Style must possess and demonstrate qualities that will inspire followers to over-perform and exceed expectations (including their own). They become leaders that others can trust, respect, admire and be loyal to because they set positive and attainable goals and continuously work with the group to ensure completion.

While we can apply the Servant Leadership Style to help set a good example, Transformational Leadership is appropriate in fast changing situations, where people have high levels of skill and where the leader can work with the team down to the details. Transformational Leadership can help build relationships and remind us that we should work together to identify what needs to be changed.

Overall, leadership styles are simply guides for us to follow. We must always remember that being a leader is more than just the style or approach. It is within your capability to build healthy and complex relationships to achieve results. Learning, practice and working with others to grow your skills can help you become an even better leader in your work, community, home and life.

Regardless of the leadership style chosen, stop and realize the most important ingredient is human relationships. No matter how big or small, each of us play our own special role by touching other people’s lives. Let us always show gratitude to our co-workers, neighbors, family and friends for making our lives meaningful each day.

In line with this, we encourage you to join our Gratitude Challenge for December! We hope you come back each day, during this final month of the year, to receive your new challenge. There’s no guarantees, but we promise that taking two minutes will have you feeling refreshed, in a more positive and grateful mindset. So, let’s get ready to do this!

If you miss a day or two, don’t fret, just make them up at the next opportunity. Good luck!

P.S. If you don’t have time to join the challenge today, sign up to receive it starting January 1^st, 2018. Click here: https://sarahboxx.com/gratitudechallenge/

Join us for our next blog, Part 2, where we discuss more Leadership Styles. Make sure that you sign up to get the blog in your inbox so you don’t miss it!