Different leadership styles

Full Answer Section

     

• Demotivation: Followers who feel overlooked or not receiving the leadership style they need may become disengaged and less productive. (Chapter 6: Motivation and Job Satisfaction)
• Loss of Trust: Perceived favoritism can damage trust in the leader's fairness and judgment, hindering open communication and collaboration. (Chapter 5: Communication)

Strategies for Adaptable Leadership without Favoritism:

• Transparency: Clearly communicate the rationale behind leadership approaches. Explain how different styles cater to specific needs or tasks, ensuring everyone feels valued and supported.
• Strengths-Based Approach: Identify individual strengths and tailor leadership styles to empower followers to leverage their best qualities. This ensures everyone feels challenged and has opportunities to shine.
• Focus on Shared Goals: Despite using different styles, emphasize the team's shared goals and objectives. This fosters a sense of unity and purpose that transcends individual interactions with the leader.
• Regular Feedback: Provide regular and constructive feedback to all followers, ensuring everyone feels heard and has opportunities for growth. (Chapter 6: Motivation and Job Satisfaction)
• Open Communication: Encourage open communication so followers feel comfortable discussing their needs and preferences for leadership styles.
• Leadership Development: Invest in leadership development programs that equip leaders with the skills to adapt their styles effectively while maintaining fairness and consistency.

Personal Experience Integration: Reflecting on my own experiences, I've seen the negative impact of favoritism firsthand. In a previous group project, a leader consistently provided more support and direction to a specific member, fostering resentment among others. This ultimately led to decreased collaboration and poorer project outcomes. However, I've also witnessed adaptable leadership done well. My current supervisor uses a combination of coaching and delegating styles, tailoring her approach based on individual project needs and team member strengths. This leads to a more engaged and productive work environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Conclusion: Effective leadership requires adaptability. However, leaders must strive to strike a balance, utilizing different styles strategically while maintaining a perception of fairness. By focusing on transparency, strengths-based approaches, shared goals, and open communication, leaders can build trust and achieve success while avoiding the pitfalls of favoritism.  

Sample Answer

     

A leader who employs different leadership styles with each follower can create perceptions of favoritism, eroding trust and team cohesion. Here's why, drawing on insights from our readings and potential solutions:

Favoritism and its Pitfalls:

• Equity Concerns: Followers may perceive the leader as biased, creating resentment towards those receiving preferential treatment (Chapter 15: Power, Influence, and Politics). This can breed a competitive and unproductive work environment.