- Situation-based
leadership is founded on a top-down view of leaderhsip.
- Traditionally
it refers to how you manage people and make decisions.
- But this
view is past its use-by date.
- When the
notion of leadership style was first invented, writers on leadership
did not differentiate between leadership and management. Today,
we need to recognize that what used to be called leadership style
is really management style.
- Management
style is about how you make decisions for your team.
- The fundamental
argument of this website is that leadership means promoting new
directions, not managing people. You can promote new directions
aggressively, by example or through any number of other influencing
styles.
- The only
leadership style is influencing style.
- Some influencing
styles:
- Direct
appeals using logical arguments and evidence.
- Expressing
enthusiasm and conviction for your idea.
- Making
rousing speaches to large audiences with stirring images and
music.
- Quiet
but persistent persuasion over time.
- Enlisting
the support of persuasive others.
- Asking
open questions designed to lead others to your conclusions.
- Setting
an example - the old adage ''actions speak louder than words''
is very true.
- We
follow the example of others perhaps more than any other leadership
style.
- Unlike
conventional notions of leadership, using authority is not
a leadership style.
- Using
authority is not leadership - unless you equate leadership with
being in power.
- We don't
actually need the term ''leadership style''. There is really only
influencing style.
- The term
''leadership style'' arose in the days when showing leadership
was associated with particular persons in positions of power.
We defined leadership as being a certain type of person. Today,
leadership is better thought as an occasional act that anyone
can show in certain circumstances - like temporarily leading in
a tennis match. Conversely, management is a position
of responsibility - hence it still makes sense to speak of management
style.
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