What's your natural leadership style?
Posted on May 31, 2023 by Dr Iona Naismith, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.
Are you more "push" or more "pull"? What should you be? Here's one way of thinking about leadership that I find really insightful.
The push and pull leadership styles refer to different approaches that leaders can adopt when influencing and motivating their team members. Have a read below and think about which one you tend to use.
PUSH LEADERSHIP STYLE:
This style is characterized by a more directive and authoritarian approach. Leaders who adopt this style tend to provide clear instructions, set specific goals, and closely monitor their team members’ performance. They push their team members to achieve their objectives by providing guidance, supervision, and feedback.
Advantages: Team members have clarity on what their leader expects of them. The leader has a higher level of control over the team’s activities. This can be effective when quick decisions and actions are needed, such as in high-pressure situations. Evidence shows that this leadership style leads to employees feeling more confident that the organization will achieve its strategic goals.
Disadvantages: Team members may feel micromanaged, which may lead to decreased motivation and engagement over time. Additionally, this style of leadership tends to stifle creativity and innovation in teams.
PULL LEADERSHIP STYLE:
The pull leadership style is characterized by a more participative and empowering approach. Leaders who adopt this style focus on creating an environment where team members feel empowered to take initiative and make decisions. They provide support, resources, and guidance as needed, but they also encourage autonomy and self-direction.
Advantages: Team members tend to be more motivated and satisfied at work, which can increase productivity. They are more likely to want to take on more challenges and propose new ideas. Evidence shows that this leadership style is a strong predictor of employee satisfaction.
Disadvantages: The pull style may require more time and patience from the leader, as it involves facilitating discussions, coaching, and providing support. If team members have different goals or do not undestand the overarching goals, the pull style may result in fragmented efforts and lack of coordination.
Using 360´ assessments of 100,000 leaders, Zenger & Folkman (2021) found that 76% of leaders were rated by direct reports and peers as having a predominantly “push” style of leadership, 22% of leaders were viewed as mostly “pull” style leaders, and only 2% were rated as equal on both skills.
The most effective leaders have a flexible leadership style that combines elements of both push and pull approaches. For example, a more directive push style may be necessary during a crisis. On the other hand, when creativity and collaboration is important, a pull style may be more suitable. In coaching, I can help you to identify your natural style, recognize its strengths and limitations, and develop more flexibility in your approach.
#leadershipstyle #motivatingemployees #selfdevelopment
