What influences the style of leadership. the three identified styles – steering, engaging and facilitating – are straightforward in principle, but it is never as easy to apply the styles in practice.
So many factors have an influence on the approaches you adopt that it is impossible to provide guidance on every potential scenario that might arise. However, in deciding which styles to use on any given occasion, there are a number of common influences to consider:
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Personal capabilities and preferences:
Obviously, to be flexible in your approach requires particular attributes and skills on your behalf and, in particular, the ability to read situations, judge people, communicate effectively and remain calm and in control. Without these qualities and talents, you will find it difficult to shift smoothly from one style to about. Equally, it is through personal preference that you decide which style or styles you wish to apply; some people are more comfortable maintaining high levels of control all the time, whereas other likes to involve their people. What influences the style of leadership.
Team effectiveness:
Where your team lies in terms of its overall effectiveness plays an important role in influencing the predominant style you adopt with them as a unit. If your team is well-established and performing well, you are more likely to apply engaging or facilitating styles more often, because you know the teams are ready for this. On the other hand, for new teams, or when you take over an existing team for the first time, you must use the steering style initially until you establish your establish yourself among them and get them operating to a high level. Over time, as the team develops in the way that you want, you can move towards engaging or facilitating styles.
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Individual performance:
Different team members perform at varying levels and even good team members can have low points; you always must adjust your style in response. This change is subtle but, as a rule, higher-performing team members warrant less direction and control than poor performers and require the application of engaging or facilitating styles more frequently. Equally, a new team member who is still learning the ropes naturally requires more direction and control than someone who has been doing the job for a long time and thus requires you to use the steering style. What influences the style of leadership.
Situations:
Different situations require the application of different styles. For example, when time deadlines are tight, you may have to use the steering style to ensure outcomes are met, whereas if changes are required to work practices, this may allow for greater involvement of your team in the decision-making process and so the engaging or facilitating styles are more appropriate.
The ability to develop the required level of flexibility makes the application of leadership style a skill that takes time to develop and improve. Like any skill, you get better at it with practice, if you do the right things of course. What influences the style of leadership. All leaders say they are committed to flexibility but not all have the capacity to do so to the extent required in the modern workplace.
