It’s a question we all must ask ourselves when we’re put in charge of a team or we’re getting ready to plan our own flag in the business world. Assessing our leadership qualities, and whether we need to adjust them, just makes good business sense. If we’re not cognizant of the type of leaders we are and what qualities we need to work on, we run the risk of high turnover, low productivity and poor results. The reality is that not everyone is cut out to take the leadership reins in their professional lives and would rather contribute to their team than actually guide its course. Whether we’re acting as lead counsel on a team of attorneys or we’re in charge of dozens of laborers on a construction site, there are a few distinct leadership styles to which all tend to gravitate.
Hands On – Some of us tend to be micromanagers and want to immerse ourselves in the day-to-day details of the projects of which we’ve been put in charge. The wisdom here is that if we’re knowledgeable and informed regarding all the project’s little details, we’ll be more apt to act in the event of a problem.
Laissez Faire – On the other side of the coin, some leaders give their employees a little more room in the progression of the project and take a less active approach in the details. This frees leaders up to more effectively make big-picture decisions while keeping their finger on the pulse.
Developing and implementing one’s own distinct leadership style is critical to the success of any team and project. This development usually comes only with working experience and deciding what kind of professional relationship we kind of have with our employees. Whether we’re starting our own business or we’re placed in a position of authority at our companies, deciding what kind of leader we want to be is critical to our mission.
