Develop Effective Leadership Skills for Managers
Using Leadership Styles and Action-Centred Leadership for Objectives
Jan 21, 2009
Many business leaders, consultants, practitioners and academics have written about leadership and being a good leader and that wealth of material is both a boon and bane. On the one hand information is readily available. On the other hand there are so many different definitions and interpretations that it can easily become confusing. Since there is more than one way to be a good leader developing leadership skills is about selecting ideas that are personally effective.
Action-Centred Leadership
John Adair's Action-Centred Leadership provides a simple and straightforward approach that focuses on task, team and individual. These are usually represented as three overlapping circles of competence. The leader uses each circle as needed according to circumstance:
- Achieving the Task
- Managing the Team
- Managing Individuals
Achieving the Task
- Identify vision, purpose, direction and objectives
- Develop the plan and individual tasks to achieve the objectives including deliverables, measures and schedule
- Establish roles, accountabilities and success criteria or measures
- Identify and allocate resources, people, systems and tools to fulfill the plan
- Set quality standards and reporting methods
- Control and maintain activities, monitor and manage risks and issues
- Review and reassess the plan as needed
Managing the Team
- Agree on standards of conduct, behaviour and methods of working
- Set expectations and objectives for performance, delegation and teamworking
- Understand and work through team development
- Anticipate and resolve team issues and disagreements
- Assess and change as necessary the skills, experience and personality blend of the team
- Identify team development and training needs
- Provide feedback on team performance, coordination and collaboration
- Ensure effective internal and external communication
Managing Individuals
- Understand individual strengths and weaknesses, hopes and fears
- Assess, assist and support individuals, coach and develop them
- Agree, set and track individual performance and development objectives
- Give recognition and/or reward when appropriate
Complement Action-Centred Leadership by Using Leadership Styles
Leadership styles are effectively different ways to interact with individuals and teams to get the job done. A good leader will use these like a toolkit, using the right tool at the right time:
- Autocratic -- tell people what to do, needs to be used sparingly and in the right circumstances
- Bureaucratic -- follow rules, using established procedures and processes
- Charismatic -- persuade and charm people, lead by motivating people's enthusiasm and drive
- Democratic -- invite contributions to decision making and then make final decision
- Laissez-Faire -- leave people to get on with it using a very light touch to monitor progress
- People-Oriented -- focused on organising, supporting and developing people and managing relationships
- Servant -- meeting the needs of the team, solving their problems or removing barriers
- Task-Oriented -- focus on plan, tasks, roles and getting the job done
- Transactional -- people are paid to do the work to a set standard
- Transformational -- inspire people with shared vision
Develop Effective Leadership Skills
Start with something simple - like action-centred leadership and employing various leadership styles according to situation. Over time a good leader will integrate many different leadership skills, styles and behaviours into their own leadership qualities and consequently develop effective leadership.
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