Developing a Leadership Style that Suits Your Personality

Leadership remains a vague concept despite the many online resources discussing it. To make it more distinctive, business consultants have classified different leadership styles, adjusted to various personality types. Each style is used differently; although it must be emphasized that a truly effective leader blends certain traits from each style. Additionally, some styles are more suited than others to particular situations.

Nevertheless, each individual should at least master one style that suits his or her personality. There are six, namely: visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, and commanding. Interested businesspeople should take time to research on the specific skillsets for each. What is explained here is how to develop a style, which is a three-step process.

Image Source: fastcompany.net

Introspection, impression, and initiation
Good leaders have an understanding of their selves, achieved through introspection. This is a lifelong process but a few introspective activities can help. What is important is determining short- and long-term goals and what one is willing to achieve them.

The second step is impression. It has been studied that many people generate impressions in less than a second, and such impressions are hard to alter even after years without contact. Thus, if a person decides on a commanding leadership style, he or she cannot afford to give off the first impression of a mild-mannered person. Again, this is dependent on introspection and recognizing one’s strengths and weaknesses.

Image Source: industryweek.com

The last step is initiation. This means practice and engagement. Employees respond well to consistent management. It is important that individuals develop a style that they can consistently practice over a long period of time.

Emile Haddad is a Seattle-based consultant specializing in effective leadership development and business management. To learn more, follow this Twitter account.