Pursuing a signature ‘style’ as a leader is a misplaced effort. Effective leaders care about delivering on what is needed in the moment, rather than hoping to hear, “She’s so visionary…” when being discussed among their teams.
Being the leader who is required ‘now’–in real-time–distinguishes the great leader from the average.
Korn Ferry’s research, drawing on assessments of hundreds of thousands of leaders in more than 2,000 organizations around the world, identified six general leadership styles.
>Visionary – providing a long-term view of the possible and the context for getting there.
>Directive – telling and gaining compliance.
>Participative – co-creation with the team.
>Pacesetting – pushing on and easing off the accelerator as the context requires.
>Affiliative – leader as an accessible, approachable, real person.
>Coaching – supporting individual development in the context of the team.
Most leaders end up settling into a style or two that best aligns with their personality.
KF research suggests that, “…up to 70 percent of an organization’s climate can be determined simply by leadership style,” and we know that operational climates (like the weather) can be highly dynamic. Making intentional stylistic adjustments based upon the requirements of the moment is leading by taking control of the thermostat.
Consciously selecting a style designed for the specific context, person, and communication required, is a sure sign of a mindful, non-egoic leader committed to success. Maybe the descriptor for the perfect leadership style is “freestyle with intention.”
~Will Keiper, co-author of The Leader and The Coach: The Art of Humanity in Leadership
For more, see Gary Burnison’s post https://www.kornferry.com/insights/special-edition/our-bid-for-leadership
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