The Incremental Edge

As a manager, you know that your leadership style can have a significant impact on your team’s performance, motivation, and satisfaction. But did you know that your leadership style should not be fixed and rigid? Instead, you should be able to adapt your style to the needs, preferences, and personalities of your team members.

Why Flexibility Matters

Flexibility is the ability to adjust your behavior and actions to suit changing circumstances and expectations. It is a key skill for leaders, because it allows you to:

• Respond to the diverse needs and preferences of your team members. For example, some people may prefer more autonomy and feedback, while others may need more guidance and support.
• Adjust to the different stages of team development. For example, a newly formed team may require more direction and structure, while a mature team may benefit from more empowerment and collaboration.
• Adapt to the changing demands and challenges of the environment. For example, you may need to switch from a visionary style to a problem-solving style when facing a crisis or an unexpected obstacle.

By being flexible, you can enhance your credibility, trust, and influence as a leader. You can also improve your team’s engagement, productivity, and innovation.

How to Develop Flexibility

Flexibility is not something that you are born with or without. It is a skill that you can learn and improve with practice. Here are some tips to help you develop flexibility as a leader:

• Assess your dominant leadership style. There are many frameworks and tools that can help you identify your default or preferred way of leading. For example, you can use the Situational Leadership Model, which categorizes leadership styles into four types: directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can help you recognize when you need to adjust your style.
• Understand your team members’ styles. Similarly, you can use various assessments and feedback mechanisms to learn more about your team members’ personalities, preferences, motivations, and goals. For example, you can use the DISC Personality Test, which measures four dimensions of behavior: dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness. Knowing your team members’ styles can help you tailor your approach to each individual.
• Observe and analyze the situation. Before deciding how to lead in a given situation, you should consider various factors that may affect your decision. For example, you should evaluate the task complexity, the urgency, the resources available, the potential risks, the stakeholder expectations, and the organizational culture. Observing and analyzing the situation can help you choose the most appropriate style for the context.
• Experiment and evaluate. Finally, you should be willing to try out different styles and see how they work in practice. You should also monitor and measure the outcomes of your actions, and seek feedback from your team members and other stakeholders. Experimenting and evaluating can help you learn from your experience and improve your flexibility over time.

As a manager, embracing flexibility in your leadership style is not only crucial but also highly beneficial for achieving team success and fostering a positive work environment. Being able to adapt your approach to meet the diverse needs, preferences, and personalities of your team members allows you to build stronger relationships and garner greater trust and respect from your team. Flexibility enables you to navigate the different stages of team development, address changing demands, and respond effectively to unforeseen challenges. Developing this essential skill involves a self-awareness of your dominant leadership style and a keen understanding of your team members’ individual styles. Additionally, observing and analyzing the situational context and being open to experimentation and evaluation will enable you to refine and enhance your flexibility as a leader. By embracing flexibility, you will not only strengthen your leadership capabilities but also empower your team to thrive and excel, ultimately driving overall success and achievement within your organization.