Developing a leadership style that works for you

Hollie I. Swanson

Professor

University of Kentucky

Authoritarian?

Dictates and controls all decisions in the group

Sets challenging and exciting goals

Pace-Setting?Sets challenging and exciting goals

Selects the needs of others and serves others

Servant Leader?

Visionary?

Moves people towards shared dreams

COACHING?

Connects what a person wants with the organization’s goals

Affiliative?

to each other

Connects people

Democratic?

Values input

Gets commitment

Via participation

UK Youth Parliament Members debate in the House of Commons / Source: Parliamentary Copyright

Authentic?

Has a deep sense of purpose, high integrity and is true to their own core values

http://hvli.org/10-points/

Summary

• “Large, established organizations should expand their definition of effective leaders” (J.B. Rosner)

• “The best leadership style depends on the organizational context” (J.B. Rosener)

• The best leaders use a combination of styles

• Finding your best style(s) requires self-reflection and practice

References

• George, B. “Authentic Leadership”, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA 2003.

• Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R. and McKee, a. “Primal Leadership”, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA 2004.

• Maxwell, J.C. “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN 1998.

• Rath, T. “Strengths Finder”, Gallup Press, New York, NY 2007.• Rosener, J.B. “Ways Women Lead”, In “Harvard Business Review on

Women in Business”, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA 2005.

• Zichy, S. “Women and the Leadership Q” McGraw-Hill, New York, NY 2001.