How do you lead, and how do you manage?
There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all management style. Some styles are better suited to some personalities, and others are best for particular contexts.
Even though there isn’t one best type of management, you should still have a management style. Committing to one allows you to act and lead consistently, giving your team members (and yourself) an idea of what to expect on a typical day and in a crisis.
What are the top management styles? We describe three of them below.
Strategic Management
Strategic management allows you to leave behind any tendencies to micromanage and instead look towards the big picture.
To be a strategic manager, you need to have a clearly defined vision, understand what’s required to reach it, and trust your employees to both understand it and do the necessary work to get there.
The benefits of strategic management include an organization-wide commitment to a vision and direction. It empowers the whole team and allows everyone to feel as though they make a difference.
Strategic managers also need someone by their side who is detail-oriented, who can go into the weeds and problem-solve. This right-hand person is essential when you’re dealing with on-site management scenarios that come with immense flexibility and a long list of potential outcomes.
Pacesetting Management
If you work in the field or on the floor, then the pie-in-the-sky inspirational management styles won’t work for you. There are too many variables involved and serious safety issues. And you have a lot to do.
Pacesetting management is a style that allows you to remain in the pack and lead from the front.
As a manager, you give instructions, set the pace, and then trust the employees to do the work as demonstrated. It allows you to set high standards for the team and reach them safely.
However, you need to be more than technically skilled to fulfill this role. Your role is also to motivate the team to keep pushing your team to meet their capabilities without causing burnout and resentment. You also need to understand the difference between high standards and unobtainable ones, which can leave a team disillusioned.
Democratic Management
Take charge without becoming a dictator by choosing a democratic management style.
Democratic management doesn’t mean you let your team make all the decisions. You do, however, include them in the process. The benefit of doing this is not only to gather a group of diverse ideas but also to boost morale and build relationships based on trust rather than strictly on authority.
You might enjoy democratic management if you’re a reluctant manager. If you don’t like giving orders and prefer to delegate to responsible, skilled staff, then it can work well for you. However, you still need to be able to make decisions. After all, that’s why you’re the boss.
What Kind of Manager are You?
There is a management style for every personality and circumstance. Choosing one and sticking with it is helpful because it meets expectations of consistency that go both ways.
At Energi Personnel, we help companies find managers capable of a style that meets your team’s needs. Get in touch to learn more about how we hire top talent.
