Leadership is nothing new, as it seems that there are countless articles, podcasts, videos, and discussions both online and offline, dissecting the term and what it means in today’s workplace. Vince Lombardi, a leader himself, famously stated, “Leaders are made, they are not born.” It is no surprise then that leadership development is estimated to be a 50 billion dollar industry, as businesses both large and small are investing in development courses specifically designed to nurture the leadership mindset. With the number of companies looking to appoint and encourage leaders within their teams, leadership development is crucial to helping your business grow and succeed.
Leadership Styles
There are many types of leadership styles, and it seems that more and more are being added to the list every day. Six popular leadership styles that encompass the expansive definition of leadership, however, are;
- Authoritative Leaders
- Affiliative Leaders
- Democratic Leaders
- Coaching Leaders
- Pace- Setting Leaders
- Coercive Leaders
While these are simplified terms that can be investigated further here, they help to begin to identify leadership styles and how they exist and operate within a team, some more successfully than others. Despite these differences, leaders are meant to ‘lead,’ and to help others not only understand their work but how they can complete it efficiently and effectively. If your team is struggling to move forward, complete their jobs, and grow professionally, your leadership strategy needs to change as it can set the tone of your entire company.
Valued Traits
Humans are social beings. The human brain, particularly the neocortex, is much larger than that of other animals who are similar in size. Interestingly, the neocortex controls our language, regulates our behaviours and emotions, and allows us to understand and assess the feelings of others. From the composition of our neocortex, we are naturally designed to interact with others. Companies who encourage discussion, collaboration and teamwork amongst employees, feed into the pre-existing need to interact with others, allowing for individuals to work with their genetic makeup instead of against it.
It is, therefore, no wonder that a study released by the Harvard Business Review measuring the top qualities of effective leaders, showed that connection and belonging was one of the most attractive traits.
With over 195 leaders from 15 countries surveyed, it was concluded that the most valuable quality of a leader, however, was one that implemented a strong ethical and moral standard while creating a safe workplace. Through establishing a space where employees can feel comfortable and secure while having the ability to communicate with others, teams can flourish and grow under your leadership.
Leadership Development
How does your company identify and work with individuals to instill and cultivate leaders? While it can be a difficult learning curve to overcome as leadership is a complex skill, it is important to devote time and resources to help leaders within your company excel.
At TRAFFIX, we identify those within our team who show leadership traits and tendencies within their work. Once these individuals have been recognized for their leadership talents, our management team works with them to help develop their leadership skills even more. Through implementing and encouraging mentorships within TRAFFIX, individuals are not only able to develop their personal skills, but their professional skills as well.
Strong leadership is essential to the success of any business. While it can be difficult to help leaders grow in their leadership roles, it should be a top priority for every management team. Your business is only as successful as the people who work within it, so invest in your members to ensure that they are leading and being led in a way that helps your business instead of hinders it.
