It’s tough to adjust one’s preferences regarding one’s leadership style. However, this does not negate the need to give it a go. A better leader may benefit from learning more about their natural leadership style and how to use other types when they’re appropriate.
1. Know Your Employees
The way you interact with your team is a direct reflection of your leadership style. It’s critical to accommodate the diverse personalities of your team members and the unique requirements of every given project. Some team members, such as those who thrive on autonomy, may benefit from a delegating leadership strategy. In contrast, new hires or those who like clear orders may benefit from an autocratic approach.
2. Know The Leadership Styles
Know the different leadership styles so that you can be able to recognize your style. Take note of the different components of each style. For example, are you a leader who makes decisions and foresees the future? are you a leader who focuses on self-development? Learn about each type of leadership, so you can better identify your style when reading about it in other people’s literature.
3. Self-Evaluation
To create a stronger sense of your leadership style, you could also do something similar to what self-help guides ask their readers to take part in a self-evaluation. Do exercises like the Matisse exercise and write down everything you can think of that makes your leadership personality unique.
Take note of the aspects that you think may be important and note how often or under what conditions these behaviors appear (note if they are positive or negative).
4. Cooperate with Others
One of the best ways to learn is by working with other people. Decide on a leadership project, assign different roles to different people, and set goals. Work on finding a solution together and discuss how well your team overcame obstacles or changed direction if something seemed wrong.
After the project, reflect on how well you worked together. Which leadership styles did you use to make decisions? were there any that were more successful than others?
Individual team members and the current situation also play a role in determining an appropriate leadership style. You may improve your effectiveness by developing a trademark leadership style and adapting it to various situations.