Effective leadership is important to a team’s success. There isn’t one exact management style that’s considered the best. Common traits of a great manager are flexibility, communication, and focus.  

Leadership style is a personal thing, as well as a situational one. It’s important to know how to differentiate between the two when managing a team. You also need to be aware of whether or not your management style is working for your team. Read on to learn more.  

01 / 12 Leadership Styles 

As a manager, you have a lot of responsibilities. You have a team to lead, and a company to help navigate toward success–and everything in between. In conclusion, there is a lot riding on how you guide your team.  

Some managing styles are listed below. All of them have pros and cons. It’s up to you to figure out which one works best with your personality and the people you’re managing.  

• Fear-based: You treat your team like worker bees, making them constantly fear for their jobs in order to increase productivity. Management holds all aspects of power.  
• Controlling: You require complete compliance and micromanage your team. Orders are to be followed and not questioned.  
• Persuasive: You manipulate your team into believing your ideas are what is best for the company. Employees are discouraged from giving any feedback. 
• Paternalistic:  Your team is your family, and all your decisions are based on their best interest. It can create too much dependency on the manager, and teammates aren’t able to easily work autonomously.  
• Consultative: As the manager, you ask your team for their input before making your final decision. You realize some of your team may know more about a certain subject than you. 

• Participative: You include your entire team in the decision making. You want everyone to feel valued and heard. The entire team needs to be on board or it can slow down processes.  
• Delegative: Once you’ve assigned tasks to your team, you allow them to get to work. You believe in your team, and they have complete autonomy. You’re there to help, especially when your team starts having a hard time with focus and direction.  
• Visionary: You’re all about inspiration, which gets your team to rally behind you and work toward goals. Since you think that vision will be what keeps your team on the right course, you only check in with them occasionally.  
• ROI Driven: You expect the team to complete things quickly. Quality isn’t a priority. Results are your main focus, period.  
• Casual: You’re extremely laid-back and have complete confidence in your team to do the right thing.  

• Collaborative: Decisions are made through a majority rule, and each team member has to take ownership of the outcome. This style of leadership can lend itself toward innovative ideas, but also can create chaos among coworkers.  
• Strategic: You’re all about long-term growth as it relates to the big picture. You let your assistant managers take the lead when it comes to the day-to-day responsibilities which allows you to focus on growth.  

02 / Improving Your Management Style 

Choosing your management style can be hard. And, how you currently run your team may not be what’s right for them or you.   

Good managers: 

•     Build trust 
•     Focus on the strengths of their team 

•     Don’t micromanage 
•     Appreciate the efforts of their team 
•     Work well under pressure 
•     Help team members grow their careers 
•     Encourage open communication 

•     Are role models 

To improve the way you manage your team, follow these tips: 

•     Get to know your team 
•     Communication is key, but so is listening 
•     Be motivating while leading 

•     Provide direction and feedback 
•     Encourage openness 
•     Acknowledge successes, address failures  
•     Work on yourself 
•     Be an example to your team 

Lastly, successful managers are the ones who are able to keep their team productive and happy. And, if your team finds that balance, then you’re doing a great job.