It's tempting to look for one single leadership style that will work in any and all situations. But . . . there is no universal answer. Leadership styles must be modified in order to reflect situational factors.
Most leaders rely on either a directive or a supportive style. A directive leader lets employees know what is expected of them. A directive leader schedules work to be done, and gives specific guidance as to how to accomplish these tasks. A supportive leader is friendly and shows concern for the needs of employees.
The leadership style that works best will depend on situational factors such as: the people involved; the context; and the corporate culture. It is essential to learn strategies that will allow us to be flexible in our approach, so that we do not feel stuck in certain situations. If a certain leadership style is not working, then we need to be aware so that we can modify our style.
Remember, the goal is to Respond, not React, as a leader, manager, and supervisor. When we Respond we are in control, whereas when we React we are out of control. Having an increased number of tools in our toolbox will help us become more flexible in our leadership style.
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