no_cat Articles

The Negatives of Servant Leadership

The Weaknesses of Transformational Leadership

Transformational leadership has long been lauded as a powerful approach to guiding teams and organizations. It's a style that inspires and motivates, driving individuals to exceed their own expectations. But is it a panacea for all leadership challenges? The answer, as you might suspect, is no. Like any leadership style, transformational leadership has its weaknesses. These can impact its effectiveness and, in some cases, may even undermine the very goals it seeks to achieve.

Exploring Behavioral Theories in Leadership

What if we told you that the key to effective leadership lies not in inherent traits, but in observable behaviors? That's the premise of behavioral theories in leadership, a fascinating area of study that has revolutionized our understanding of what makes a great leader.

The Power of Expressive Leadership Styles

What does it mean to be an expressive leader? How does this leadership style impact corporate goal-setting, employee motivation, and job satisfaction? Expressive leadership is not just about conveying thoughts and ideas. It's about inspiring, motivating, and connecting with people on a deeper level. It's about authenticity, emotional intelligence, and the ability to create a positive work environment. But who is more likely to be an expressive leader? And how can this leadership style be cultivated within an organization?

Cultivating Personal Leadership for Success

Personal leadership is a multifaceted concept that encompasses self-awareness, self-reflection, and the ability to influence others towards a common goal. But how can you, as a corporate manager, HR professional, or leadership coach, harness the power of personal leadership to drive success in your organization? This article aims to answer that question. We'll delve into the essence of personal leadership, explore its impact on employee motivation and job satisfaction, and provide actionable strategies for cultivating personal leadership within your team.

Powerful Adjectives That Define Great Leaders

What makes a great leader? Is it their charisma, their decisiveness, or perhaps their ability to inspire others? Leadership, especially in the corporate world, is a complex concept. It's not just about being in charge, but about guiding, motivating, and nurturing those under your wing. In this article, we delve into the powerful adjectives that encapsulate the essence of great leadership. These are not just words, but qualities that can shape the way we perceive, develop, and evaluate leaders.

Key Traits of Effective Democratic Leaders

Democratic leadership offers numerous benefits, including increased employee engagement and enhanced job satisfaction. By embracing this style, organizations can foster a culture of trust and inclusion. This can lead to improved morale and productivity throughout the company.

Understanding the Principles of Transactional Leadership

In the realm of leadership, transactional leadership stands as a time-tested approach. It's a style that hinges on the exchange of rewards for performance. But what does it truly entail? And how does it compare to its often-contrasted counterpart, transformational leadership?  This article aims to delve into the principles of transactional leadership. We'll explore its core tenets, its strengths, and its limitations. We'll also examine how it contrasts with transformational leadership.

Why Smart Leaders Don't Rely On Their Job Title For Power

"Do it because I'm the boss and I said so" is a type of Formal Power. It's power that comes from having a formal title in the organizational hierarchy. It's common, and it can work sometimes, but saying "I'm the boss" gets old VERY quickly.

It tells employees that "I have power and you don't," and that can be utterly demoralizing and demotivating.

Career Note: When a manager says, "Do it because I'm the boss" more than once a quarter, that manager is usually in trouble (high turnover, low engagement, poor results, etc.).

By contrast, good executives are 20% more likely to use Informational Power than supervisors and managers. Informational power comes from delivering compelling reasons and persuasive information about why employees should do something. Informational power is gentle, motivating, and even inspiring. (That's why it's a core part of what I teach in The Leader As Coach course). 

How To Get Informational Power

Information power typically comes from two sources. First, it results from having information that others haven't seen. If you've read the latest industry forecast, and no one else on the team has read it, you've got information that they don't have. And that gives you power.  Second, information power comes from delivering persuasive and compelling reasons why someone should do a particular thing. 

Real-Life Example

Imagine that your company is implementing new technology, and your employees are generally resisting the change.

You could (wrongly) try to force the change with Formal Power:

"Listen folks, this new software is not optional. You're going to have to use it. Period. This is not a request; it's a formal directive."

Ugh. That doesn't feel very compelling, does it? I can feel myself resisting just out of spite.

Now imagine that you use Information Power instead:

"Hey gang, you know how the company is looking at installing the new XYZ software? I've been digging into the reports that not many people have seen yet, and it turns out that this new software could solve one of our biggest complaints. It ports our data through every single interface, so we no longer have to flip back-and-forth between screens. Let me show you some examples I grabbed from some other companies using it...[Shows examples]... I'd love for our department to be one of the pilot groups so we can all see its capabilities with our own eyes. And also give our candid feedback. We need some volunteers. Who's in?"

That takes an extra 60 seconds to say, but oh my gosh, that is so much more compelling.

Your Next Steps

Using softer power is ultimately more powerful than issuing commands and directives. It's a key part of developing a "coaching style" of leadership. And if you want a ready-made toolkit, check out the course The Leader As Coach.

One Sentence Improves Accountability