If you were asked, “What kind of manager are you?” Would you know the answer? Would you say, “I’m a great one!” If so, kudos, but what makes you a “great one?”
During my coaching sessions with business owners, I try to uncover their unique management aka leadership style. Why? Because their style can either add to, or detract from, the successes their company achieves.
Here are the three most prevalent styles I’ve come across. Do you fit into any of these?
- Mr. Know It All and Has To Do It All. As a manager, chances are you either work with employees or outside vendors and if this is the case, do you let them do their jobs or do you have to be involved in and sign off on everything they do? If you are this type of manager, chances are you are not letting the people you’ve hired for their expertise do their jobs. If you’ve hired well, you don’t need to be the Know It All.
- Mr. Micromanager. This is almost the same as the Know It All but even more controlling. You need to be involved in every single step and every single decision that is made. You don’t empower your people to do the tasks for which they were hired. Eventually they will start second guessing everything and eventually you will be overwhelmed by all you “have” to do simply because you took on the roll of micromanager.
- Mr. We Can’t Find You When We Need Help. Just as there are those bosses that are overly involved there are those that are so laid back that employees can’t reach you when they need a decision or you simply say, “do what you think’s best.” Giving everyone free reign can lead to big issues.
Being an effective manager means not only knowing yourself but knowing your management style and changing it if necessary. Who are you?