Why Understanding Your Leadership Style is So Important

Effective leadership is at the heart of every successful organization. Leading with authenticity and adapting to your team’s needs can make the difference between success and failure. Knowing your leadership style and embracing your unique strengths enables you to communicate better, assess others’ needs, and forge productive relationships.

In this article, we will explore the importance of understanding your leadership style and examine four examples of basic leadership styles out of the many that can help leaders better understand their unique approach to leadership.

The Impact of Leadership Style on Organizational Success

A leader’s style plays a critical role in shaping a team’s performance, motivation, and overall organizational culture. According to a Harvard Business Review study by Daniel Goleman, a manager’s leadership style is responsible for 30% of the company’s bottom-line profitability. The way a leader communicates, problem-solves, makes decisions, and connects with their team can either foster a positive, supportive environment or create tension and disengagement. Understanding your leadership style and learning how to adjust based on various circumstances can yield the following benefits:

• Increase employee engagement and retention.

• Improve communication, teamwork, and collaboration.

• Enhance personal and team effectiveness.

• Position yourself as a strategic leader and an asset to the organization.

• Better equip yourself to develop other leaders.

Four Basic Leadership Styles and The Authentic Leadership Model

While there are many leadership styles, we can explore four basic ones out of the many that can serve as a foundation to better understand your unique approach as a leader:

1. Direct – Characterized by high assertiveness and low expressiveness. Direct leaders lead by taking charge and often excel at envisioning the future. They take risks and demand action, resulting in a forward-focused, goal-oriented leadership style.
2. Spirited – Spirited leaders possess high assertiveness and high expressiveness. They lead by inspiring and engaging others, generating enthusiasm, and rallying teams to achieve a common goal.
3. Considerate – With low assertiveness and high expressiveness, considerate leaders lead by building group harmony. They excel at being supportive and active listeners, engaging others in fostering cohesive teams.
4. Systematic – Systematic leaders display low assertiveness and low expressiveness. They lead by planning carefully and focusing on detail-oriented decision-making, prioritizing accuracy and organization.

These leadership styles provide a starting point for understanding and developing your leadership skills. However, it’s important to recognize that every leader has their own unique Authentic Leadership Model, which encompasses more specific qualities and approaches tailored to their individual strengths and values. To learn more about discovering and embracing your personal Authentic Leadership Model, check out our previous blog post (link to the blog we wrote before). By exploring your unique leadership style and aligning it with the Authentic Leadership Model, you can empower yourself to better lead your team and drive lasting organizational success.

Discovering and Embracing Your Authentic Leadership Model

Developing a deeper understanding of your unique approach to leadership can pave the way for personal growth, stronger team dynamics, and organizational success. To discover and embrace your Authentic Leadership Model, consider the following steps:

1. Reflect on your values, strengths, and areas to develop: Through self-awareness and introspection, assess what drives you, where you excel, and areas in which you can improve.
2. Identify your predominant leadership style: Recognize the leadership styles demonstrated in your actions, and how they align with the four basic styles discussed earlier (Direct, Spirited, Considerate, or Systematic).
3. Seek feedback from your team: Encourage open discussions about your leadership approach, and invite team members to suggest areas for improvement or new approaches to consider.
4. Learn from other leaders: Observe leaders whom you admire and identify elements of their styles that you may want to incorporate into your own leadership model.
5. Commit to continuous learning: Embrace a growth mindset and engage in leadership development opportunities, such as training, workshops, and coaching, to hone your leadership skills further.

Becoming an Authentically Effective Leader

Understanding your leadership style and aligning it with the Authentic Leadership Model can empower you to lead your team more efficiently and drive lasting organizational success. By reflecting on who you are as a leader, embracing your unique strengths, and continuously seeking growth, you can embody authentic and inspiring leadership in your organization.

If you’re ready to delve deeper into your leadership journey, consider enrolling in our free ALM course and access our examples and template. This comprehensive course will help you integrate your leadership style with the Authentic Leadership Model and empower you to create a personalized, consistent leadership approach that aligns with your team and organizational culture. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and achieve your full potential. Register now and embark on the journey towards authentic and impactful leadership!