In order to create your ‘shape’ of leadership, you must understand your style. Why is this important? As I have mentioned before, a great leader can identify with who they are and can be flexible with others by meeting them where they are. Your leadership style is personal and typically comes naturally. Most must work at shifting their style as necessary. Without self awareness, however, a leader may not be as effective as they should. There is a myth that all leaders are great. Without recognizing how we are perceive by others will surely affect results. Leadership styles include, but not limited to:
- The Autocratic Leader or Authoritarian
- The Facilitator or ‘hands off’
- The Coaching Style or the trainer
- The Transaction Leader or the status quo
- The Situational Leader or flexibility
- The Servant Leader or the listener/follower
- The transformational Leader or the change agent
- The Charismatic Leader or the friendly
Do you know which one you are? Some would say they can vacillate between styles depending on the circumstances and what they are doing or who they are interacting with. As with shoes…taking time to create your design…will lead to the style that fits.
“The best leader is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” — Theodore Roosevelt, American President