Each leader has different styles of leadership. If you’re in a leadership role then you’ve come to the right place. In fact, just by reading this page, you've taken your first steps toward greater success.
Over the years I’ve helped many people recognize their different styles of leadership. More importantly, I’ve mentored them in optimizing their performance, making them more successful managers. When it comes to different styles of leadership, where are you? Do you put the organization's interests ahead of your own?
It may surprise you, but the different styles of leadership that you use directly impacts the behavior of your employees. Take for example the dishonesty that's so common at work. Employees learn what's allowed and what isn't by watching what you do.
If you take pens and paper home, then they will, too. If you "fudge" your expenses, so will they. If you come in late, or leave early, or go for extended lunches, they will, too. You can't have one standard for yourself (rank has its "privileges") and another for everyone else. To coin a phrase, "we all put our britches on the same way."
Ethics in business has become a major problem, so much so that courses on the subject are now required as part of the curriculum in colleges and universities. It seems that our desire to instill honesty into people via the schools has permeated our entire education system so that instead of teaching people to be ethical in the home, we expect our schools, from infants through higher education to do it instead.
The fact remains, however, that whichever you choose from among the different styles of leadership, honesty and integrity are indispensable to all of them. None of them permits, never mind endorses unethical behavior.
The situation, circumstances, ramifications, people involved, ends - whatever - simply do not matter. If you make your ethics at work contingent on any of these, you are telling everyone around you that they, too, can "bend the rules" if they want to, and that when and where to do so is entirely up to them.
Leadership is about influence, and your behavior influences others. You can't choose which behaviors will influence others and which ones won't. You are constantly on show. Anything and everything that you do or don't do sends messages to those around you about the kind of person that you are.
Of course, it's possible that you're so senior in the company that no one will challenge you directly on what you do, but never imagine for a moment that you can hide your dishonesty or lack of ethics.
What's in it for you? Exactly the same as what's in it for them. You're in it together. Act like it.
It really doesn’t matter what different styles of leadership are available. You'll use the one(s) that suit you, regardless of the circumstances. What matters is what message are you sending to those around you. Is that the message you want them to receive?
You’ll only get the behavior you reinforce. The way that you behave at work is the clearest endorsement of what's acceptable. Before you do anything, remember that your employees are watching you.
Still not answer your question on different styles of leadership? Want more about the right leaders traits you should use? Here are some options:
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2. Buy Managing Value-Based Organizations: It's Not What You Think Caution: This book is only for serious students of leadership and management. Click here for an excerpt.
3. Participate in leadership and management research. (This research is limited to companies that are leaders in their field, and which are willing to allow a minimum of 100 people to participate. If you're interested, then contact me: Dr Bruce Hoag.)
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Other Resources
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