First Blog Post!

Leadership Styles

The end of a school year is a good opportunity for reflection. How have I performed as a chair this year? Do I cringe at anything I have said or done? Did I encourage my colleagues to participate in debate? Did I value their comments and input in our discussions? Will I do anything differently in the next academic year? Have I offered enough support and challenge? Have I supported others? Have my Reviews of Governance/Health Checks done enough to encourage governing boards to consider their own practice?

I am also reflecting on my ‘Leadership Style’. Room for improvement?

On this wet Wirral afternoon I have amused myself with answering some questions shown on a Googled website. Yes I know that a) it is supposed to be summer and b) not everything you read is true. However it has amused me and has actually also given me some food for thought.

It appears that I have two well developed styles :

Pace-Setter

Pace-setting leaders expect excellence and self-direction, and can be summed up as ‘Do as I do, now’. The Pace-setter very much leads by example, but this type of leadership only works with a highly-competent and well-motivated team. It can only be sustained for a while without team members flagging. Like the Coercive leader, Pace-setters also show drive to succeed and initiative, but instead of self-control, these are coupled with conscientiousness.

Visionary

Authoritative leaders move people towards a vision, so are often described as ‘Visionary’. This style is probably best summed up as ‘Come with me’. It is the most useful style when a new vision or clear direction is needed, and is most strongly positive. Authoritative leaders are high in self-confidence and empathy, acting as a change catalyst by drawing people into the vision and engaging them with the future.

It seems I have 4 areas that are not so well developed!

Coercive

Coercive leaders demand immediate obedience. In a single phrase, this style is ‘Do what I tell you’. These leaders show initiative, self-control, and drive to succeed. There is, of course, a time and a place for such leadership: a battlefield is the classic example, but any crisis will need clear, calm, commanding leadership. This style does not, however, encourage anyone else to take the initiative, and often has a negative effect on how people feel.

Affiliative

An affiliative leader values and creates emotional bonds and harmony, believing that ‘People come first’. Such leaders demonstrate empathy, and strong communication skills, and are very good at building relationships. This style is most useful when a team has been through a difficult experience, and needs to heal rifts, or develop motivation. It is not a very goal-oriented style, so anyone using it will need to make sure others understand that the goal is team harmony, and not specific tasks. It is probably obvious from this that it cannot be used on its own for any length of time if you need to ‘get the job done’.

Democratic

The democratic leader builds consensus through participation, constantly asking ‘What do you think?’, and showing high levels of collaboration, team leadership and strong communication skills. This style of leadership works well in developing ownership for a project, but it can make for slow progress towards goals, until a certain amount of momentum has built up. Anyone wishing to use this style will need to make sure that senior managers are signed up to the process, and understand that it may take time to develop the consensus.

Coaching

A coaching leader will develop people, allowing them to try different approaches in an open way. The phrase that sums up this style is ‘Try it’, and this leader shows high levels of empathy, self-awareness and skills in developing others. A coaching style is especially useful when an organisation values long-term staff development.

Where are you?

Where have your reflections taken you?  How do you see your leadership style?

I had a thoughtful half an hour with this website http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ls/index.php/325444 Do share your results! Feel free to comment on mine!

It has also stopped raining……..