The good hard truth about management styles is that really, they vary from one manager to another. Would you know what are those styles are and what various results they can deliver?

In his book ‘Leadership’, published in 1978, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James MacGregor introduced the concept of transformational leadership, a process where “leaders and their followers raise one another to higher levels of morality and motivation.” Building a culture and encouraging your staff to be the best they can be. Of the 6 management styles we’ll be discussing, in which will you recognize yourself the most?

The Directive Leader: “Because I Say So”

Directive leaders are the type of managers that will achieve their targets no matter what. They don’t like much creativity: they are there to do a job and will make it happen regardless of their team’s levels of support. They are very strong in the way they deal with processes in their business, and because they’re not afraid of hiring or firing staff, these leaders tend to reach their objectives by scaring their teams.

Usually, of all management styles, this one succeeds in restructuring failing salons and spas.

The Chief Leader: “Respect Me Now”

Impressive leaders, chiefs make use of clear and precise communication. Their attitude is geared towards productivity and efficiency: ‘Let’s do it now!’ is their motto.

They get results, are strong at procedures and gain respect from some of the team members who like directions, which is great for failing businesses or big operations. However, as this management style often fails to listen, chiefs leaders occasionally struggle to catch on to their team’s needs, making staff feel undervalued.

The Visionary Leader: “Building A Dream”

Sometimes misunderstood for being all over the place, the visionary leader can find it hard to settle down: they’re dreamers! Not the strongest at day-to-day business management, they compensate in making their team feel valued. In fact, this is one of their goals! As far as they’re concerned, they’re building an amazing dream!

Their motivation can make visionary leaders good at getting results. However, they will often need strong operational teams to work with them. Fantastic for new ventures, and of all management styles, this is likely the one to create the salons of tomorrow.

The Collaborative Leader: “Unison Is My Aim”

Collaborative leaders often gain respect gain respect from their long-standing work and are very good at getting teams working together. They like to deal with HR situations and view their team as individuals sharing the same goals. Very emphatic and inspirational to every personality in the team, these types of managers are great listeners, but can tend to be slow on putting things into action.

Of all management styles, this one approaches the workload with long-term strategies and the building of a dream team. Collaborative leaders are fantastic for any business, as long as getting fast results is not the main priority.

The Participative Leader: “We Are All In It”

Participative leaders are very good for team morale. Unlike the collaborative style of management/leadership, this style favours getting the whole team involved in the decision making process. They are not the best in difficult times, but they do tend to make the team feel valued in their work.

These kinds of managers are needed when morale is low or teams get demotivated. They can get good results but can also be slow at delivering solutions for day-to-day operations.

The ‘Coach’ Leader: “I Believe In You”

On an individual basis, the ‘coach’ leader is the most supportive one. This type of management will inspire every personality on the team. Be wary though; while they are very effective in achieving results, ensuring that everyone else is okay can take a lot of their energy. Coach leaders know where they’re going in terms of vision, but need strong management teams around them to deal with day-to-day operations. Their involvement in the team can make them forget the big picture. Coach leaders tend to be excellent communicators, which is ideal for any team.

Final Thoughts On Management Styles

To create better tomorrows as leaders, we must learn to adjust our management styles to face the various situations we are confronted with. Be visionary, but mix it up with a hint of directive and chief when needed, a pinch of participative to motivate teams, and add a touch of the collaborative style to help the team gel and work well together. And above all, don’t forget to use the coaching style, especially in one to one’s!

Be stubborn about your goals & targets, and flexible about your methods. Results are what matter, and to inspire a workforce, you should apply all of these management styles at one point or another… sometimes, even on a daily basis!

#thedelforgeeffect