What management style is the most effective at getting results?
But just what are the factors of an effective management style, and does it depend on the company culture and sector? Well, there are certain variables at play, and what works in one situation may have disastrous results in a different environment. As a starting point, though, understanding your leadership style and appreciating both its strengths and weaknesses will provide you the opportunity to evaluate its effectiveness within your business setting. Show
What Is a Management Style?A management or leadership style is how a manager exercises their authority to ensure that objectives are achieved. So, that means it includes how a manager plans and organizes the workload within their area of responsibility and how they communicate with and manage their team. But it's not just about what they do because key components to a management style also come from the attitude and behavior they adopt. Historically, a management style was all about how a manager wielded their authority to get work completed. There was also the perception that there was one key management method, which would lead to the best results, no matter the task or work environment. 'Command and Control' was then seen as the most effective way to manage a group of employees, with a definite emphasis on the 'stick' rather than the 'carrot.' Thankfully, the tide has turned, and it's generally recognized that a more collaborative and coaching style of management will achieve better overall results for the business. It's also well known that no one management style is suited for all situations. Instead, the manager needs to find an approach that is authentic to them but which they will also need to adjust according to the organization's culture, the type of tasks to be completed, and the expectations of the team members. It's not unusual to now see the term Leadership Style rather than Management Style. Perhaps this pushes the collaborative team approach required by a company instead of the micromanagement of individuals who needed to be controlled. The Wrong Management Style Hurts EveryoneNow let's be clear here, when we're talking about the wrong types of management styles, we're not referring to managers who are vindictive or just downright mean. Instead, we simply mean that the wrong approach was taken when leading that particular group of people or in that specific situation. Many employees are promoted to a managerial role because of their technical knowledge and experience and not because of their leadership skills. Suddenly they're expected to manage a team, conduct appraisals, and handle challenging situations, none of which their previous expertise has prepared them for. This, in turn, then creates a no-win situation for everyone. You're unlikely to keep people in the organization if they feel that their manager isn't up to the job. The organization then suffers the cost through the loss of experience and then the recruitment and training of new employees. And it doesn't take long for word to get out within the sector about managers and companies to avoid. Then there's the impact on the manager. No one wants a hard time at work or a team that doesn't support them or achieves their potential. The outcome for all involved is looking bleak unless the manager can recognize the issues that their management style is creating. Now, after that slight doom and gloom assessment, it's also important to realize that the situation is entirely salvageable. Management styles are not set in stone, and more often than not, it comes down to a lack of training and self-awareness, both of which can be turned around, given time. What are the Different Styles of Management?A quick search on Google is going to show you that there are dozens of theories relating to management styles. A booming industry in itself, there are endless organizations that will assess and report on your management style according to the latest 'buzz' definition. For starters, there is transactional, transformational, and authentic leadership, and we shouldn't forget inspirational and intellectual. However, before we get carried away, there are similarities in many of these, and most revolve around four key management styles which were largely defined by psychologist Kurt Lewin back in 1939. 1. Autocratic (Coercive Management Style)Autocratic managers take complete control of the situation. They believe that they are the best person to take responsibility for all decision making and are unlikely to ask the team for their input; this is a one-way management style. The autocratic management style results in a very structured company environment with little opportunity for creativity or innovative thinking. Advantages
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2. Democratic (Participative Management Style)The democratic management style encourages a more collaborative way of working. Guidance is provided, but group members are encouraged to contribute their thoughts and ideas to the decision-making process. This is a consultative management approach, which is generally considered one of the most effective management styles. Advantages
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3. Laissez-faire (Delegative Management Style)A French term, which means to 'leave alone,' presents a style that is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum to that of the autocratic manager. Because that 'leave it alone' is precisely what the laissez-faire management style is all about. This is a hands-off approach that provides everyone with the complete freedom to decide how to meet their objectives without seeking agreement from managers. As a result, it requires the manager to have a great deal of trust in their staff. It also requires them to have the confidence in their team that they have the skills and knowledge to make the decisions and follow through to get the work done. It is questionable though, whether the laissez-faire management style involves any management of the team! Could it just be the manager neglecting some of their responsibilities? And who takes the blame if a decision made proves to be the wrong one? This does have a reputation as the least productive of the three management styles; however, many multi-national organizations utilize the laissez-faire management style to encourage creativity and innovation. For example, Google introduced "20 percent time" to allow their employees time to focus on whatever project they wanted, free of management oversight. Advantages
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4. Persuasive (Charismatic Management Style)In this style, managers make the final decision but then use their persuasion skills to convince their team that the correct outcome has been achieved. A persuasive management style can explain the logic behind the decision and then encourages everyone to ask questions to understand the rationale. This in turn means that employees feel as though they are a trusted and valued part of the organization. They become involved in key business decisions which then leads to lower levels of resentment and tension between management and staff. Advantages
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While there are advantages and disadvantages to each one of the four approaches, it would seem that the democratic management style offers the strongest benefits to the manager and the team. However, that doesn't mean to say that it's always going to be the best strategy. There are times and situations when different management styles would be preferable. This is the sign of an effective manager; that they can recognize the most suitable management style for that particular team in that specific moment. What are the 6 Management Styles?In 2000, Daniel Goleman published an article in the Harvard Business Review on his research into leadership styles. From reviewing the management approaches of over 3,000 executives worldwide, he identified six distinct leadership styles. Two of the six are either the same or very similar to those already discussed, so that's the democratic and coercive management styles. The remaining four are: 1. The Affiliative Management StyleThe affiliative leader promotes harmony and conflict resolution among their team. They aim to create groups that work well together and, as a result, meet the organization's objectives. Affiliative leaders are essential when an organization is going through a period of change such as redundancy exercises or business buy-outs. It can also be a hugely beneficial approach to take when working with a new team as the affiliative leadership style creates trust and a sense of belonging. Advantages
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2. Pacesetting Management StyleThe pacesetting management style is when the manager achieves very high performance, pace, and quality and expects his team to do exactly the same. Results are everything in this team, and the manager's high level of motivation can be contagious. Advantages
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3. The Coaching Management StyleThe coaching style of management is focused on the development of each individual within the team. This is a long-term strategy that acknowledges that quality and productivity may drop as skills and knowledge accumulated in the short-term. Advantages
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4. The Visionary Management StyleThis is a manager who will be well known for their creative ideas and solutions. They tend to have high levels of self-confidence yet still be empathetic to others. These leaders can see the bigger picture, and they communicate this with their team, who can then see how they fit into the business goals and objectives. Advantages
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Leadership Style AssessmentSo how do you now work out which is your current type of management style? Well, there are dozens of assessment tools, each one associated with a particular theory of management styles. While each one will have slight variations in the names used for the style and their descriptor, they are usually based on the six styles we're already discussed within this article. An important consideration is that your type of management style will change according to the business environment that you find yourself in, and that too can change depending on the phase that the business is in. For example, an organization that must meet objectives to survive will need you to adopt an authoritarian style while developing a new team that may need a strong emphasis on coaching. All assessments of this nature can be influenced by your mood and the events of that day. Just come out of a planning meeting? Then, your traits relating to vision can surface. So, it is recommended to take leadership assessments at least twice and ideally two different tools to balance these influencers. Which is Right for You?While you may feel like you need a defined management style, it's essential to know that most managers have elements of a wide range of different approaches that they used when leading their teams. That means that you need the flexibility to identify the most effective style required for that particular instance or for that specific employee. Different types of management styles are needed within a company, depending on whether the emphasis is on problem-solving, innovation, decision-making, or a persuasive feedback session to motivate and encourage employees. While there is an argument that the best style is the one which feels authentic, you should be aware that it may not be the one which your company needs right now. How to Improve Your Management StyleWe have identified three key ways in which you can develop your management style: 1. Develop Your Self-AwarenessWhen you become aware of how you tend to respond and react, you can select the most effective way of responding to a situation rather than letting a knee jerk reaction be your default response. Self-awareness is key to developing your management style as, without it, you won't be able to formulate a base point from which to move forward. One of the best ways of doing this is to ask for feedback from both employees and other managers. Ask staff from other teams how you can develop relationships and lead your team more effectively. Do remember, though, that you've asked for the information, so don't get all defensive! 2. Get a Mentor or CoachWhose management style do you admire? Could they take on the role of mentor or coach and share their experiences? Ideally, this would be someone from outside of your own organization. This means that they're not in a position of seniority, and you, in turn, can be completely honest without fear of repercussions. 3. Ask for IdeasYour own team will know what works well and what can be improved. The chances are that they will have a whole range of ideas on what works and what doesn’t and usually also have some good ideas on how to improve the team's effectiveness. Trying out suggestions, seeking out better ways of doing things can be one of the best ways of shaking things up. Now you are forced to manage differently, and in a way, your staff finds to be more effective. Being aware of management styles could be the key to enhanced engagement from your team and hitting those business goals. And if you've already identified areas for improvement do be aware that change doesn't happen overnight. Still, with commitment and attention, it's highly achievable, and it could just provide that boost that your career is needing. What leadership style is most effective for organizational success?Democratic leadership is one of the most popular leadership styles because it involves input from the entire team and fosters employees' sense of ownership in their work.
What are the 4 types of management styles?Today, there are a variety of leadership styles in business, but the four primary leadership styles you'll be exposed to include:. Autocratic.. Democratic.. Laissez-faire.. Transformational.. |