What is Your Leadership Style?
What is Your Leadership Style?
Discover your preferred leadership style with this simple quiz.
Discover your preferred leadership style with this simple quiz.
1. Your rookie crew seems to be developing well. Their need for direction and close supervision is diminishing. What do you do?
2. You assigned Jill a task, specifying exactly how you wanted it done. Jill ignored your directions and did it her way. After checking on her progress, you realize the job will not meet the customer’s standards. This is not the first problem you’ve had with Jill. What do you decide to do?
3. Your employees work well together; the department is a real team. It’s the top performer in the organization. Because of traffic problems, the president okayed staggered hours for departments. As a result, you can change your department’s hours. Several of your workers have suggested changing. You take what action?
4. You hired Bill, a new employee. He is not performing at the level expected after one month’s training. Bill is trying, but he seems to be a slow learner. What do you decide to do?
5. Helen, your bookkeeper, runs her own bookkeeping business. She has had an excellent performance record for the last five years. Recently you have noticed a drop in the quality and timeliness of her work. You are aware that she may have a family problem. What do you do?
6. Tom, a new customer, is unsure of what he wants. He came to you as a referral from an A+ client. You have already done your customer discovery, analysis and have presented several options. Even after all this, he continues to hesitate to moving forward. How should you proceed?
7. Your department usually works well together with little direction. Recently a conflict between Sue and Tom has caused problems. As a result, you take what action?
8. Jim usually does his share of the work with some encouragement and direction. However, he has migraine headaches occasionally and doesn’t pull his weight when this happens. The others resent doing Jim’s work. What do you decide to do?
9. Barbara, your most experienced and productive worker, came to you with a detailed idea that could increase your department’s productivity at a very low cost. She can do her present job and this new assignment. You think it’s an excellent idea; what do you do?
10. Your boss asked you for a special report. Frank, a very capable worker who usually needs no direction or support, has all the necessary skills to do the job. However, Frank is reluctant because he has never done a report. What do you do?
11. Jean is the top producer in your department. However, her monthly reports are constantly late and contain errors. You are puzzled because she does everything else with no direction or support. What do you decide to do?
12. Your workers are very effective and like to participate in decision making. A consultant was hired to develop a new method for you department using the latest technology in the field. What do you do?
Directive
Directive
You are an Autocratic Leader. You make most decisions and control the destiny of your team.
Pros: The job will get done the right way. It is most effective for new teams and emergency situations
Cons: You can't be everywhere at once. Eventually you will burn out or create a resentful team.
Consultative
Consultative
You are a Consultative leader. You hear everyone out and evaluate data and make a decision.
Pros: Your team feels heard. You can be sure that your decisions are implemented and runs the way you like. You are respected by your team and looked up to by them.
Cons: Everything depends on you. Your team will eventually begin to depend on you for every decision and little will happen without your O.K. You spend much of your day putting out fires that your team has the capability to address, but not the confidence.
Supportive
Supportive
You have a supportive leader. You depend on consensus and collaboration to lead. This style is best used when teams are well developed and capable in their jobs.
Pros: Everyone is on board and moving in the right direction. Roles are well defined and everyone contributes to the solution
Cons: It takes a long time to make a decision. Often times that decision is not the best one because it is the most comfortable to everyone. This style is least effective when faced with new problems or inner turmoil.
Empowerment
Empowerment
You Empower your people. You give them the tools and the space to do their job.
Pros: Your people feel they are the captains of their own ship and are highly engaged in the outcomes. They work hard for the pleasure of accomplishment and quality work.
Cons: They are often stymied by conflict and personalities or egos can get in the way. There is a messiness to the madness as each person has their own priorities that may not always coincide with each other.