When it comes to leaders, does one size fit all?? Some management theorists list five or ten qualities that make a good leader, but does each situation require the same type of approach and the same skills?
Generally speaking, a leader is someone who gets a group of people from point A to point B.. Will the person who defines the company’s vision be the best person to get them out of a burning building? Not necessarily! Leaders with a particular style may be a better fit for a group at any given time, but this can change as the company grows.
What characterizes leaders and separates them from most managers is vision. Effective leaders understand the big picture. Does this mean that the leader will always be the group’s moral compass? Outside of the Boy Scouts, probably not. Adolf Hitler was a leader who represented the wrong values while in high office. In less extreme cases, a person with ethics but moral weakness in some areas can still lead the company effectively in many other areas.
The British firm Team Technology defines various leadership styles suitable for different types of groups, or at different stages of the group’s life:
- Participatory: When you need the commitment and cooperation of others to get a project done, a leader who can work with different personalities and build consensus is a great combination.
- ideological: When the group needs guidance on goals and values, the thought leader can keep the mission fresh.
- Change oriented: When the group needs to break out of the status quo and embrace change, this type of leader can forge a new direction.
- Visionary: When the group needs to develop a long-term vision that might even set the company on a new course, a visionary leader plans outside the box.
- action oriented: When the group needs someone to lead the charge and set an example, the action-oriented leader is ideal.
- Goal-oriented: When the group needs to redefine the company’s mission and distill it into strategies, a goal-oriented leader can set the record straight.
- Executive leadership: When the group needs organization, policies, procedures, definition of functions or allocation of resources. an executive leader type fits the bill.
- Leadership Theorist: When the group needs technical direction or intense intellectual discussion, a leadership theorist can contribute to the analyzes and determine the right model for the group.
When leadership is viewed as a role that can take different forms, it is clear that the skills required to be a leader also vary. Ideally, a good leader is flexible enough to adopt whatever style the group needs at the time, but some people specialize with groups that are in certain stages and move on.
If you want to be a leader, first you must determine what your skills are. You may find that you have several qualities that make a good letter and also that your group needs several of the things you offer. One size definitely does not fit all.