How to Tailor Your Leadership Style

You will be much more effective as a leader and manager if you carefully consider which style works best according to the situation. One size does not fit all when it comes to leading and managing. Action learning and leadership development experts recommend that you choose your approach only after thinkingthrough what your employee needs …coaching or instructing.

For example, if you have an employee who does not have the skill to accomplish the task you have assigned, you will need to provide instruction or give them the opportunity to observe the skill in action and then to practice it themselves. However, if your employee has the skill but simply lacks confidence, a better approach is coaching. In this case, you provide support and guidance. Encourage the employee to solve the problem. Discuss the solution together. Listen well. Ask questions that lead toward a satisfactory conclusion.

In either case, you have given your employees the tools they need to grow in their job. And isn’t that what management is all about?