Management Tip of the Day: Choose the Right Leadership Approach

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile JULY 27, 2012 Choose the Right Leadership Approach When you manage a team of people, adapt your leadership style to meet each person's needs. In general there are four types of approaches: directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating. Depending on the level of your employee's competence and commitment, choose which will work best. When your direct report is learning new skills, be directive. Define tasks clearly and check progress to make sure he's not faltering. Use periodic coaching when your employee is learning new skills but needs the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them. Be supportive, encouraging highly competent employees who lack confidence. With employees who are both highly motivated and experienced, delegate tasks. In all cases, your responsibility is to find the balance between hand-holding and empowering. Today's Management Tip was adapted from the Harvard ManageMentor Online Module: Leading and Motivating. Buy the course and learn what it means to be an inspiring leader:» Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Who Do You Want Your Customers to Become? HBR Single According to MIT innovation expert Michael Schrage, if you aren't asking this question, your marketing and innovation efforts will fail. In this latest HBR Single, Schrage provides a powerful new lens for getting more value out of innovation investment. He argues that asking customers to do something different doesn't go far enough — you must ask them to become something different instead. With practical tips and real-world examples from Google, Facebook, Starbucks and Apple, Who Do You Want Your Customers To Become? will liberate you and your team — and turn your innovation efforts on their head. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Set Ground Rules for Your Global Team Make Your Presentation's Visual Aides Easy to Follow Don't Dismiss Critics of Change Start Your Team on the Right Path Conduct an Informal 360° Maintain Momentum for Your Change Effort Manage Your Team Indirectly Know What Your Customers (Really) Do Best Consider Your Employees' Career Paths Get the Salary You Want All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing HBR's Morning Advantage The Harvard Business Review Morning Advantage delivers the latest business ideas from beyond HBR.org directly to your inbox every morning — and it is free! Sign up today >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)