What Are Examples of Adapting Leadership Styles for Team Or Business Needs?
Small Biz Leader
What Are Examples of Adapting Leadership Styles for Team Or Business Needs?
Leadership demands flexibility and the ability to adapt to the evolving dynamics of teams and business environments. We've gathered insights from CEOs and Directors, who share personal stories from embracing gentle leadership for Millennials to transitioning to a collaborative, transformational style. Here are four compelling examples these leaders provided on how they've adapted their leadership styles.
- Embracing Gentle Leadership for Millennials
- Adopting Authoritative Style in Manufacturing
- Empowering Remote Team Decision-Making
- Transition to Collaborative, Transformational Leadership
Embracing Gentle Leadership for Millennials
Coming up in a certain generation meant adopting some machismo and aggression. I didn't see many examples of gentle leadership, even though, personally, I was better suited to a caring attitude.
But to my chagrin, over the recent decade, that strategy has proved less and less fruitful. As millennials enter the executive sector, I'm working with candidates who understand they can have a rewarding career without enduring harsh and unyielding techniques.
As a result, I had to go deep inside myself and find that old softie I'd buried. Shifting my leadership style wasn't easy after years of strictness, but once I'd settled into this new strategy, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Adopting Authoritative Style in Manufacturing
Most of the time, I prefer a laissez-faire approach. We hire people that we believe can excel in their roles, and we offer them the freedom to prove this. It allows for creativity to flourish, it keeps employee satisfaction high, and employee turnover low. There have, however, been occasions where a more robust management style was needed. One time in particular, we decided on a full revamp of our manufacturing floor. Since our resources and time were very limited, we needed to make sure that tasks were assigned very clearly in order to successfully achieve this goal. This called for a more authoritative approach, and the truth is, our employees appreciated the temporary change of pace. I designed the plan, and they executed it. It was clear, efficient, and turned out to be a success.
Empowering Remote Team Decision-Making
During our recent team expansion at TrackingMore, we've had the pleasure of recruiting remote team members who work and live in different time zones. This new experience has been both a challenge and an opportunity for me to adapt my leadership style. Empowering my team to make independent decisions was an approach that I had used only rarely, but has now become a mainstay of my leadership style. Allowing my team members to make on-the-spot decisions that align with company goals, according to the situation they face in their jobs, has freed me to help other team members who may need my dedicated attention. At the same time, it has helped enhance trust and chemistry with the remote team, fostering a more successful collaboration experience.
Transition to Collaborative, Transformational Leadership
One profound instance occurred during the initial phases of business operations. We were a growing startup with a small, dynamic team committed to revolutionizing personalized communication through technology. Recognizing the increasing workload and the diverse skill sets within my team, I shifted from a directive leadership style to a more collaborative, transformational approach.
I encouraged open dialogue, fostered a culture of trust, and empowered team members to take ownership of projects that aligned with their strengths and interests. This shift not only boosted morale but also enhanced creativity, productivity, and ultimately, the innovative solutions we provided to our clients. This experience underscored the importance of flexibility and adaptiveness in leadership to me.
