Being a member of a female entrepreneurship group has its perks! We are always learning to improve our skills, including leadership. How we can be better leaders, and how we can teach others to be great leaders.
Leadership doesn’t always mean that you are in a leadership role. Essentially, all of us are our leaders! We impact those around us in our careers, those we interact with in our daily grind, and those that watch our actions, but we may not know they are “watching.”
Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader…they set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role – always about the goal.
Author Unknown
# learning leadership
5 Main Leadership Styles
There are 5 main leadership styles: Autocratic, Participative, Democratic, Laissez Faire, and Transactional.
Although today’s session discussed the styles, I will flip the discussion for you to relate it to the Administrative Professional field.
Let’s get definitions of each style:
- Autocratic – the leader is in complete control
- Participative – the team can give input, but the leader makes the decision
- Democratic – the team provides input, and the team votes on the best choice
- Laissez Faire – the leader leaves the decision-making up to the team
- Transactional – the leader provides a reward for performance
Now that we understand each style, how do you work with a leader in each of these styles?
Autocratic Leader
If you have an Autocratic Leader, it may be that the business that you work in is young or that you might be a new person on the team. When a company is new and starting to grow, a lot of the decisions that are made are coming from the Founder or the Owner. They likely have poured their dreams into what is now their company and are less likely to let others make decisions. It is also possible that some leaders haven’t trained their employees enough to be able to release and trust. They may also lead this way because it can reduce errors and be able to make quicker decisions.
Either way, you can support an Autocratic Leader, and here are some tips:
1. Ask for explanations when decisions are made, not to be nosey but to understand the bigger picture.
2. Ask for training in the area where decisions are being made, so you can grow.
3. Follow up after a decision is made to see what the feedback is from your leader, team, and those affected.
The best way to understand how a decision is made is to ask why.
Participative Leader
A Participative Leader is one with whom you can share ideas and give input, and your leader will ultimately make the decision. This can be a great step in growing your leadership experience. Working with a team to think of great ideas that can be shared with your leader. This also allows the leader to take responsibility but allows the team to give input, feel valued, and grow with the leader.
With a Participative Leader, it is possible for them to give you an issue, ask you to bring several ways to resolve and then agree on the best result to fix the issue. A company with a Participative Leader can take longer to resolve issues than with an Autocratic Leader.
The best way to work with a Participative Leader is to understand all the options and why the leader took the decision they did.
Democratic Leader
The Democratic Leader is one who leaves decisions to the team, and they vote on the best solution to execute. When giving ideas for a solution, it is important that you have as much information as possible to ensure that what is being voted on will support the end goal and a clear success to the issue.
Knowing that this leader is hands-off and waits for what the team decides as the final decision, make sure the way that decisions are being voted on is understood, and all information is shared. There is nothing worse than voting on a solution that doesn’t get interpreted the same way it is delivered.
Working with a Democratic Leader, you are able to give your ideas and opinions as one of the options to be voted on. Remember, it is not a popular vote – it is a vote to make sure there is a successful solution.
Laissez Faire Leader
The Laissez Faire Leader leaves the decisions up to the team exclusively. This may not work for all decision-making. It takes experience and knowledge to be able to make clear decisions. Not having all the information or not having an invested leader in decisions can make it difficult to move the company in the right direction if you don’t have the experts you need at the table.
The Laissez Faire Leader will be a good leader with a panel of experienced leaders who have made decisions with successful results. This type of leader allows you to perform to your level. Just make sure that you don’t end up in a confrontation because the team doesn’t agree on a final decision.
Transactional Leader
The Transactional Leader will reward those for completing a certain milestone. This type of leader is generally for companies that are in sales. It is also possible that if you are directly impacting the bottom line, you can have opportunities for bonuses.
As an Admin, it is important to ensure that the transaction being exchanged is done fairly and properly to ensure success for all. You can assist with this area, laying out the groundwork for a bonus structure that works for all. Generally, an Admin can see the big picture and, therefore, can give input without being connected to a specific team.
Working with a Transactional Leader can be difficult if the only reward or thank you is monetary. Many of us want to feel valued as a person, so if there is a way to ensure your leader has a part of this, you will be in for great success.
Now that you understand the 5 Leadership Styles, it is important to understand what good leaders do.
# learning leadership
What Good Leaders Do
We all want to have a good leader and be a good leader. In which area do you think that you need to grow?
- Envision – this leader shares the company’s mission; they care about what the company is going through now and in the future. This leader knows that the company doesn’t just exist; it is a living, breathing machine.
- Enlist – this leader will support the team’s and their assistant’s needs. They will be able to answer questions and listen to responses, and the team can feel valued.
- Embody – this leader will walk the talk. A leader can’t just say the right things but not do the same. Be an example of a model of what a good leader is.
- Empower – this leader will empower their team/assistant to work on projects and ideas, do research, and be able to delegate – to let go. This enables the Admins to grow and build trust between them.
- Evaluate – this leader will be able to create a plan for their assistant and be able to evaluate them. Give them kudos for all the good and tips for the areas that need help. When evaluating, do not diminish the person’s value but support them on their journey.
- Encourage – this leader will be able to give wins to those who deserve them and share them with the team. Be able to interact with the winning individuals and make sure that success is recognized.
Learning: Leadership
I’m sure we can grow to become better leaders within each of these areas. Or, you can help mentor your Executive to be that better leader.
How will you become a better Leader? Evaluate what you do now and think about ways that you can make the next action steps in the direction needed for your growth.
Remember, being a leader doesn’t need a title; it’s really about what is doing what is right, not what is easy.
Looking for more leadership? Check out Leadership First – they’ve got some great information to share.
# learning leadership
Look for more blog posts soon!!
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- How to Maximize Productivity for Executives
- Top 10 Tips: Exceptional Administrative Assistant Guide
- To-Do List: Choosing the Right Task Management System
- What an Executive Can Delegate to an Executive Assistant
# learning leadership
REFERENCES:
TDW (Virtual Doers Weekend) – Leadership with Patsy Askew – 2020
