Improving your leadership style

How can you become an even better leader so your team can succeed? Create a thriving team environment with these simple steps.

Step one: Reflect

Why is this important?

• Understanding your leadership style helps you recognize your strengths and areas for growth, making it easier to build focused goals for improvement.
• By assessing your own strengths and weaknesses, you may become more open to feedback from others, enabling you to learn from outside input.
• Self-awareness empowers you to take ownership of your leadership development journey.

Questions to ask yourself:

• What are my primary leadership strengths? (Ex: my communication skills, motivation, strategic thinking, etc.)
• What are some examples of situations where my leadership style has been effective?
• In what areas could I improve as a leader? (Ex: active listening, delegation, conflict resolution, etc.)
• When I’m unfamiliar with a topic or task, how do I typically approach asking for help?

Action steps:

• Seek out feedback from peers, mentors, supervisors, and the staff you oversee to learn where you might want to improve. Then, create a personal plan with specific action steps and timelines to meet those goals.
• Schedule regular self-reflection sessions to examine your leadership style and move towards your goals (ex: writing in a journal could be a great step).
• Keep monitoring and adjusting your approach based on feedback and changing circumstances to stay in line with your goals.
• Keep learning by attending training, workshops, or coaching programs to help you improve in those identified areas.

Remember:

• It’s important to acknowledge and take pride in your strengths, like your ability to communicate effectively, stay motivated, and think strategically.

Step two: Understand your team

Why is this important?

• Recognizing the dynamics within your team helps you mold your leadership style to better suit their needs and preferences.
• Understanding your team needs will help you communicate well to build clarity, transparency, and understanding among team members. Plus, employees will be more likely to feel valued, motivated, and engaged.
• Getting to know all team members prepares you to address conflicts well, building harmony and unity within the team.

Questions to ask yourself:

• How does my leadership style influence communication within the team? Does it affect information sharing, feedback, or decision-making?
• What steps do I currently take to build trust and collaboration among team members?
• How do I currently address conflicts or challenges within the team?

Action steps:

• Create a positive work culture by promoting values of respect, inclusivity, and transparency in your leadership approach.
• Implement strategies to build trust and collaboration, such as regular team meetings, team-building activities, and recognition of individual contributions.
• Ask your team about their thoughts on the current team dynamics, request feedback and suggestions from them, and make sure they see you turn their input into action.
• Identify areas for improvement, such as clarity, active listening, or welcoming open conversation.
• Develop conflict resolution skills through training, workshops, or coaching to help you address conflicts well.
• Keep monitoring and adjusting your leadership style based on feedback and fluid team dynamics to improve your impact as a leader.

Remember:

• Make sure to keep the overall organization in mind and recognize how your approaches will impact the entire team — even the people you don’t directly supervise.

Step three: Learn to be adaptable

Why is this important?

• Adaptability helps leaders respond well to surprising challenges and changing circumstances.
• Adaptable leaders can tailor their communication style to connect with diverse audiences and varying needs, creating more unity and improved collaboration, motivation, and productivity.
• Embracing adaptability fosters a growth mindset, encouraging leaders and team members to continuously seek out new opportunities for learning and development.

Questions to ask yourself:

• What is a recent situation where I had to adapt my leadership style? How did I approach it?
• What strategies do I currently use to tailor my communication and support to individual team members? How do I adjust my leadership approach in different situations?
• When do I struggle most to keep an adaptable mindset?

Action steps:

• Practice active listening and empathy when interacting with team members, seeking to understand their perspectives and needs. Use this insight to tailor your communication and support to individual team members.
• Experiment with different leadership styles in various situations, assessing their impact on team dynamics and performance. Be open to feedback and adjust your approach to provide better outcomes.
• Collaborate with other supervisors in your organization to develop a practical adaptability plan, focusing on specific areas you’d like to grow.
• Continue to seek opportunities for learning to strengthen your adaptability skills. Attend workshops, training programs, or coaching sessions focused on leadership flexibility and change management.

Remember:

• There is no one-size-fits-all leadership style — adaptability is important for successful leadership.
• Think about the unique demands of different circumstances, such as crisis management and day-to-day operations.
• Always be open to feedback and be willing to develop an area to help your team be more successful.

To sum up…

Becoming a better leader isn’t a destination, it’s a journey of continuous growth and self-discovery. By following the steps in this guide, you can start to create a thriving team environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to succeed.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all leadership style. Each team is unique, so it’s important to adjust your approach to meet your team’s needs. Stay open to feedback, embrace diversity, and keep learning to inspire greatness and create a culture of success.