“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” — John C. Maxwell, author of The 5 Levels of Leadership.
There are many famous leaders throughout history — good and bad. And each had their own leadership style. Abraham Lincoln was known for his capacity to listen to different points of view and control his emotions. Martin Luther King Jr. was known for being extremely motivational and a great speaker. And infamously, Joseph Stalin was known for being extremely persuasive and untrustworthy of those around him.
Although you may never be as famous as these leaders, your leadership style is still important. How you act as a leader influences how your staff act in turn – it is often “monkey see, monkey do,” within organizations.
So, if you dictate rules to your team without explanation, so will your managers or directors. Or, if you always ask for input before making a major decision, your managers or directors will follow your lead. Examples abound.
Although there is no right or wrong leadership style, knowing what your style is can help determine if you’re being effective with those under you. To find out your individual leadership style, take our quiz below.
