Working both on your local, as well as the international market, you must lead people and ensure that your company achieves its goals. Depending on your personality, circumstances, and external factors, your leadership style takes many forms. There are however a few basic styles of leading a team or company – in which of them will you recognize yourself? Learn the pros and cons of each method and find out how you lead others.
It is the knowledge that will allow you to make changes more easily, but also provide the ability to get to know yourself, your strengths, and your weaknesses. In addition, you will understand how your co-workers perceive you and what competences are worth considering, when hiring new co-workers.
Prescriptive style
Some people believe that if they manage others, they are allowed to tell them what to do without leaving room for any disapproval or discussion. If this style of leadership applies to you, consider how it might affect your relationships with your colleagues. The prescriptive style is characterized by the will to achieve the goal, often at all costs, and the desire to execute control. Unfortunately, the prescriptive style does not always affect relationships with colleagues in a positive way.
Authoritative style
Are you a visionary? Can you mobilize people to follow you and be just as excited as you are about the vision that has just been created? If this is the case, then your leadership style is authoritative. You inspire people to change, and you are confident, you prove yourself to be reliable when you need to put a clear direction in the actions you take. If you are running your own business, this is way of taking charge could be useful. Do you recognize yourself in it?
Partner Style
People who lead in this way, focus on interpersonal contacts, creating harmony and emotional ties with co-workers. If this is your leadership style, then you always put people, instead of profits, first. People who apply this style of management show great empathy and communication skills. They are perfect for situations where there is a conflict between colleagues or team members. If it is your leadership style, you will perfectly find yourself in contacts with international partners.
Democratic style
Do you want your company to be more than only serve your own promotion? Do you want to create a national or international community? Do you like to allow third parties to participate in important matters? If so, your leadership style is based on democracy. What matters to you is cooperation, leading the team taking into account its opinion and – good communication. You are able to strive for understanding and engage reliable employees. It provides great value, so use it!
Pedantic style
Some people are characterized by a pedantic style of management, a style that unfortunately often negatively affects the relations in the company. Think about whether you tend to set difficult goals, or require immediate action and implementation by your colleagues? Do you want everyone around you to work in the same way as you do, even if it requires overtime and giving up other areas of your private life? Achieving your goals is important, however do consider if this leadership style actually has long-term benefits, Keep in mind that it works only among people with very high motivation and skills!
Coaching style
Are you preparing people for future tasks? Do you encourage them to try out new things? Do you support, empathize and care about the self-awareness of the employees? If you direct people like a good coach who allows employees to have room for development and keep getting better, then this is your leadership style.
So, in which of the leadership styles above do you recognize yourself? Think about it and think about how it affects your business and international contacts.
And what kind of leadership is preferred by Swedes? … You can learn about these and other practices of the Swedish business culture by signing up for one of our courses!