Why Your Leadership Style Should Evolve With Your Team
Image via Schnell
Leadership should never be a ‘set and forget’ kind of thing - what works for a small team might not be of any use at all with a much larger one, and just like your team grows and changes, your leadership style needs to adapt as well. If you stay too rigid and stuck in your ways, that will cause problems with progress, which no one wants. With that in mind, here are some reasons why evolving your leadership style isn’t just something you might get around to but something that has to be in your mind from the start - read on to find out more.
Teams Change
The truth is that most of the time, the team you started with won’t be the same team you end up with - it’s not going to be the team you always have, in other words. People leave, new hires start, and roles change, so it will always be on the move. And the leadership style that worked with your first group of people might not work well when the personalities are different, and the skill sets have changed.
For example, a hands-on approach can be ideal if you manage a small team - you’ll work with them one-on-one. But as the team grows, you might end up micromanaging if you keep up with the same process, and that’s potentially very damaging. But remember, it’s not about changing who you are; it’s about adjusting how you lead, and although that might seem tricky, it’s crucial to work on it.
Growth Makes A Difference
As your team tackles more significant projects, enters new markets, expands across countries, and so on, your leadership style is probably going to have to change to keep up with it all - managing a team that’s right in front of you all the time won’t be the same as managing a remote team in different time zones, for example.
That’s where tools like global recruitment and HR services can be helpful. When you’ve outsourced the work to experts, you’ll find it’s much simpler whether you’re hiring new people or managing the ones you have that are spread out over the world. And, of course, if you’ve got help, that means you’ve got more time to work on other things, and that’s a good way to make your business more successful.
Different People Need Different Things
Unfortunately, one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t exist. People have many different working styles and comfort zones and are motivated by other things. If you try to fit them all in one box, most of them won’t be happy, and you’ll make life a lot harder for everyone, including you.
As a leader, you need to understand your team’s unique needs if you want to be effective - it could be that one team member always needs feedback to help them stay on track, and another wants to be left to do their own thing (although you’ve still got to check in on them from time to time of course), and knowing who knows what and how to help them is vital - you’ve got to be flexible and work in the right way for the individual. If you can do that, you’ll have a lot more success.
You’ll Stay Relevant
Leadership is a skill, and like any skill, you’ve got to keep working at it to stay sharp and be at the top of your game. What worked a decade ago might be outdated now, especially when you consider that people want different things out of their careers, and that’s why you’ve got to keep adapting and changing so you can stay relevant - you’ll need to look at new ideas, new methods, new tools, and even trends that go hand in hand with how teams work now.
For example, many different programs and tools have completely changed how teams communicate and manage projects. A leader who understands this learns all about it, and adapts when more changes occur (which they will) is sure to stay ahead of the curve—and the competition.
How To Evolve Your Leadership Style
Now you know that it’s got to be done, here are some handy tips on how to evolve your leadership style for the better:
Get feedback
Ask your team what’s working and what’s not - honest feedback can be worth its weight in gold.
Be curious
The more you read, listen to podcasts, attend workshops, and so on, the more flexible you’ll be as a leader.
Be empathetic
When you understand your team’s perspective, you’ll be a better, more relatable leader, and people will listen to you more.
Discover insights and strategies for success with Breakfast Leadership — your go-to source for leadership articles, shows, and more. Subscribe today to stay informed and inspired!
