Global Leadership and Managers

There are different styles of leadership. Why is it important to understand a range of leadership?

• A manager will use a style based on their ability and personality, what has worked in the past and what employees respond to best.

• It is not important as teams should learn to be flexible in the leadership styles they have to work under.

• It is a good idea to understand a range of styles as a manager can adapt their approach according to circumstances, urgency and the people involved.

• Choosing the best style is based on your skills and experience, the situation and urgency and the needs of the staff.

(Leadership styles) Autocratic:

• The typical autocratic manager does not involve others in the decision-making process. The communication style of an autocratic manager is one-way.

• They tell the staff exactly what they must do. All decisions are made by the autocratic leader and employees are directed to implement their decisions.

• The autocratic style is effective in the workplace where there is a need for urgent action and where the manager is the only one with experience and expertise.

• It is common in workplaces that are based on standardised repetitive processes like a factory or in the kitchens at fast food restaurants. The autocratic manager will focus on making sure staff follow the rules and keep up with the pace of production.

(Leadership styles) Participative:

• The participative style is the opposite of the autocratic style and is also called democratic.

• Employees are involved in planning and decision making in the workplace. Although the manager may still make the final decision, decisions and plans are based in the ideas and feedback from staff.

• This style can increase job satisfaction because it gives employees more control over how they work.

• This is an effective style where employees are motivated, skilled and experienced. Employees know what to do to get the job done and the role of the manager is to organise resources for the teams and help them solve problems that may arise.

(Leadership styles) Situational:

• A situational style is one where a manager uses the most appropriate behaviours and adapt their leadership style depending on the situation. Managers adapt their actions; methods of communication and decision making to the situation and can utilise multiple styles as conditions change.

• Managers recognise the strengths and weaknesses of each style and apply this knowledge to a work situation or business challenge.

• For example, a manager may prefer a participative style. But the manager knows that the employees in a few branches are inexperienced and will require more direction.

• In most branches the manager will use a participative style but in the few branches with inexperienced staff a more autocratic approach will be more effective.

Why are certain leadership traits important?

• Leadership is important in a business. Business success depends upon good day-to-day management and a long term strategic perspective.

• Leaders help employees and teams define their goals and stay focused on finding new ways to achieve them.

• Leaders use power and persuasion, so employees and teams are motivated and understand how they contribute to long-term business success.

• By demonstrating the following traits leaders can build a workplace culture and set standards for employee conduct.

What are some examples of leadership traits?

• Skilled communicator and socially aware

• Skilled decision maker and future thinker

• Self-disciplined and responsible

• Motivational

(Leadership traits) Skilled communicator:

• Clear communication is a powerful leadership trait to have on the global stage.

• Given the challenges of working via interpreters or fumbling through conversations in more than one language, the ability to say clearly what you mean is a key global business skill.

• Strong communication skills are needed to build business networks, solve problems, negotiate deals and resolve conflict.

• Being able to clearly and succinctly describe what you want done is also important. Employees won't all be working towards the same goal if the vision and standards are not clear.

(Leadership traits) Socially aware:

• Understanding social and cultural customs and differences is very important when building international business relationships.

• You must recognise that your culture and background are not inherently superior.

• You must adjust eating and sleeping habits such as sticking chopsticks in your rice or touching some one with your left hand can be offensive.

• All leaders must make tough decisions. They understand that in certain situations difficult and timely decisions must be made in the best interests of the entire business; decisions that will not please everyone.

(Leadership traits) Future thinker:

• Having a global perspective and thinking strategically is about using the best people from around the world. To make strategic decisions you need to understand how the business works on a global scale.

• Leaders create a vision and long-term goals for the business and can see how the short-term activities contribute to the long-term goals.

• They keep people motivated by explaining how the day-to-day difficulties and achievements can add up to long-term success.

• Leaders also keep scanning the macro business environment and identify threats and opportunities and how to manage them.

(Leadership traits) Self-disciplined:

• There is a difference between bosses and workers. Leaders understand the nature of the difference and accept it and how it has an impact on their image, actions and communication.

• They conduct themselves in a way that sets them apart from their employees. Not in a way that gives them an objective perspective on everything that's going on in the workplace.

• A strong vision and the discipline to see it through is one of the most important characteristics of leadership.

• The leader who believes in the vision and the goals and works towards them will be an inspiration and a resource to the team.