What Management Style Are You?

The fastest way to improve your team's performance is to take a hard look at your own leadership methods. But first you need to know what management style you lean toward, so you can bend in the right direction.

- SCOTT GREENBERG

I'm constantly asked by managers, "How can I get my employees to ___?" 

Fill in the blank: "work as a team," "step up their performance," "care about their work," etc. The question always focuses on fixing the employee. Rarely am I asked, "How can I improve as a leader?"

In most cases, the answer to the second question will also resolve the first. It starts with more self-awareness. Managers can be so focused on everything that needs to get done that they don't take time to reflect on how their leadership style affects their team's work. Or maybe they don't believe they're the problem at all. It always feels better to point the finger than to look in the mirror.

Please don't feel defensive. I don't know you or your employees. But I've generally found. that managers can do more to boost their team's performance. And the truth is, you want employee underperformance to be partially your fault-because then you can do something about it. Taking responsibility is more empowering than laying blame, and it's easier to change yourself than it is to change other people.

Your management technique also doesn't have to be problematic to be limiting. You may have built a functional team that gets the job done. But who wants to be functional when you can be exceptional?

So let's evaluate your current management methods.

How to take this quiz

On the following two pages, you'll see a list of beliefs. Circle the number that corresponds with how much you agree-and go with your instincts!

When you're done, tally the results on page 50 to learn your management style.

MANAGEMENT STYLE/1

The Top Dog

This manager prefers to be in control. Communication tends to be one-way. They say what to do and expect team members to do it. It's an autocratic approach to leadership.