Defining a Leadership Style - Essay Example

In addition, I set overall team goals by conducting a group discussion. I ensure all team members’ opinions are considered before finalizing on any goal. I also ensure their concerns and issues regarding the goals are addressed. Usually, issues revolve around skills and measurement aspects. I discuss skill requirements for every team member and arrange for training if required. I also explain the way performance would be measured on their goals. However, sometimes decision-making has consumed much valuable time; moreover, it has also created situations that left some team members confused about the process and future actions to be taken.

I delegate a few critical responsibilities to the experienced and performing team members. This has helped to a great extent in enhancing their commitment and motivation.  Further, I sketch succession and career plans for every member in a manner that every team member is aware of what needs to be done for them to grow in their career. I conduct regular one-to-one sessions to discuss their progress on routine performance as well as their career progression. Providing feedback has helped in improving their performance, as measured every month.

As my team members’ work is knowledge-based, each member has to be well-trained to accomplish the goals. Hence, I emphasize greatly training and skill enhancement. Once the team members undergo training and skill enhancement, I monitor their work and progress regularly and provide feedback. I also appreciate and acknowledge the good performance. This improves their confidence and motivation. Once the team members achieve the required performance levels, I reduce supervision so that they can take their decisions on accomplishing the work. This provides them with the opportunity to apply their creativity to the process. If the new approach works well, then it is shared with other team members for learning purposes as well as adoption into their work. Such practices have enhanced belongingness because the team members feel their contributions and expertise are recognized and valued. This instils pride and enhances commitment. Team members also tend to own the responsibilities given to them. Sharing best practices with other members has enhanced communication and cooperation among the team. This has also instilled high team spirit and feelings of belongingness. Such involvement and contribution are necessary because our work is highly challenging and requires continuous innovation so that we contribute to the sustainability of the business. The volatile nature of our business necessitates ‘change’ quite often, which is smoothly accomplished by the optimum involvement of the team members.

Increased involvement of team members in decision-making provides greater resources as well as more ideas so that the best can be chosen (Mylonas, Harvey, & Hodges, 2007). Whenever the decision-making process becomes complicated because of too many ideas or conflicts, then I tend to decide the outcome. This helps in saving time as well as avoiding conflicts within the team. My democratic style of leadership has helped in building a strong team and effective collaboration. The strength of my style is my listening ability. I ensure I listen to all team members’ thoughts and concerns attentively, which further encourages them to listen to me whenever required. To resolve conflicts within the team, I prefer to involve the members involved in the conflict; sometimes, even other team members contributed towards conflict resolution. The main aim of our conflict resolution would be to achieve a win-win solution.  If win-win is not possible then I take up the responsibility of the conflict and settle the issue on a lose-win solution so that the team members are on the winning side. My team celebrates all key accomplishments regularly this not only refreshes their moods but also helps in fostering team spirit.

In conclusion, I believe that a democratic style of leadership is the best in a situation which requires optimum commitment from the members in accomplishing a job. Further, this style enhances active involvement and produces innovation. For this, encouraging involvement and participation, active listening, monitoring and encouragement, feedback, and celebration of accomplishments are the key strategies that can result in successful outcomes.