Can You Relate to Any of These Management Styles?
Congratulations! You’ve just been promoted to that much coveted role of manager. Several people were eyeing for the same job opening but failed to capture the attention of the higher ups who decide on the matter.
In short, you may have done something or there is something in you that’s remarkable and significant enough for you to deserve this promotion. So again, congrats!
However, landing the job position of a manager isn’t the destination for a journey. In fact, it is only a new beginning.
So if you are a newbie manager, or even someone who’s either aiming to be one or is already a manager but feels the need to up his game — then revel at the six ways in which people typically manage.
The Explicit Manager
No, this does not mean that you as a manager will just spew expletives at your subordinates to get your way. It’s about clearly stating things. In this style, the manager clearly tells they want and what they expect, and often commands others to see things their way.
On one hand this can be beneficial because it’s very useful for situations that will require quick wit and decisiveness.
However, this is mostly a monopolizing management technique and may stunt the growth of your team members because they will get used to just being told what to do rather than be contributors in the entire process.
The Negotiator
A hostage taker has gone berserk, and no one can coax him to release his hostage. The police have ran out of things to say. They call the expert negotiator to handle the situation. Minutes later, tension is defused and the culprit agrees to free the poor hostage. All is right in the world again.
Similarly, a manager who has the negotiator DNA will be clear about his or her own preferred outcome while also taking into consideration the terms and requirements of other people in his or her team.
When negotiating, the manager is prepared to give and take in order to arrive at an outcome where both parties are benefited.
The Sales Agent
This type of manager is impossible to miss. When selling, the manager uses persuasion rather than just merely dictating a decision. They present all possible outcomes, patiently defend their stand, and hears out the other party. Then they give their “unique selling proposition”, meaning that one element that they know will make their teammates buy in to the idea.
If done right, this can be very efficient to the organization. Otherwise, employees will get more turned off with a manager that just talks all that nonsense but isn’t really able to follow through.
The Collaborative Manager
The most special types of music are the collaborations between one or two or even a few more artists. These are the types of songs that gross extremely well because it’s like joining their loyal fan-bases plus convert others who might still be on the fence.
In the same way, when a manager is willing to discuss others’ ideas about what that is best for the group objective and the organization as a whole, he is being collaborative.
He is joining his team in their voice and there are equal influences among each other. And the result is just as harmonious as a special artistic collaboration.
The Coach
This is heralded as the management style of the new millenium. The manager who applies coaching is more interested in helping the other person in developing or discovering their own solution. This manager is able to use his set of skills to help that individual overcome the situation and bring out the best output.
Honestly, who doesn’t want to be coached? A coach is amazing. A coach dedicates everything he’s got for the development of his team. A coach has a still strong voice that his team listens to even in the midst of a competition, where other voices might be louder and more aggressive.
A coach knows how to condition his team and bring them to success. So a manager who uses a coaching approach should also take the tall task of bringing his team to great heights.
The Facilitating Manager
This type of manager focuses more on encouraging the other person or group to discover their own solutions and approaches. Remember, the facilitating manger only facilitates and avoids meddling all to deep in the work of his team members.
Some might say that the facilitating manager is passive. On the contrary, they are more strong-willed and active than most in-your-face coaches. It’s harder to restrain yourself especially if you know what is right but still have to watch others discover that path to rightness.
It is very possible that you may identify with more than one style. Ideally, a manager will lean towards a particular style for purposes of resolving a situation, putting out a fire, or celebrating a success.
Choosing a management style is a responsibility that every manager should take seriously. A highly efficient and competent manager will be able to wear all six management hats in order to successfully deal with any given managerial situation.
The worst thing you can do is to lean towards a management style that you are just comfortable with but isn’t really applicable for the situation. Get out of your comfort zone and explore other management styles. You’ll be surprised at the positive effects of switching styles from time to time might do to your productivity and success.
