14 Jul MANAGEMENT SPEAKER: WHAT ARE SOME COMMON WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT STYLES?
Per top management speakers, in this context, style refers to the methods and approaches a business manager uses to lead, motivate, and inspire their employees. How many would you say that you’re familiar with as someone who practices the art of workforce leadership? Often, we may utilize one or two approaches, when in fact there are many to pick from. Speaking as management speakers and consulting futurists, let’s recap some of the various styles and tactics favored by others in the space:
Executive: This is a top-down approach, where all decisions are made by the manager with little to no input from team members. It can be efficient in crisis situations or when dealing with inexperienced teams, but it may limit creativity and employee engagement, as many management speakers note.
Democratic: Also known as participative management, said style encourages team members to take part in decision-making processes. It fosters a sense of ownership and engagement among employees, but decision-making can be slow.
Laissez-Faire: Under this approach, the manager provides minimal supervision and gives employees a high degree of autonomy. The technique works best with experienced, self-motivated teams, but can be risky with less experienced or driven individuals.
Transformational: Such leaders motivate and inspire their teams by setting high expectations and encouraging them to exceed these goals, which can lead to high employee satisfaction and performance but requires a lot of energy and commitment from the leader.
Transactional: A more traditional style where reward and punishment are used as motivators. While this can be effective for achieving specific tasks, it might not foster a creative or team-oriented environment.
Servant Leadership: Here, the manager prioritizes the needs of the team over their own. Per management speakers, they focus on personal growth, well-being, and success of their team members. The technique can produce high employee morale and retention, but decision-making might be slow.
Charismatic: These leaders inspire enthusiasm in their teams with their personal charm and charisma. They can create a strong and productive work environment, but the success of the team can be overly dependent on the leader’s presence.
Coaching: A mentorship-driven approach where managers focus on the personal and professional growth of their employees. While it can lead to improved skills and productivity, it can be time-consuming.
Visionary: Visionary leaders provide a clear and compelling vision of the future and guide their team towards it. By doing so, they can drive innovation and change, but it requires the leader to maintain strong trust and respect from the team.
Different situations and different team compositions may require different approaches and techniques. Per management speakers, the most effective leaders are often those who can adapt their management style based on the needs of their team and the situation.
