What Is Your Management Style?

What Is Your Management Style? | By NP Chandra Shekhar, CHA, MHCIMA

One would have studied various management styles or leadership qualities in schools autocratic, democratic, beaurocratic, laissez-faire etc. These theories often become less useful when it comes to the real application at the place you are working. When a person joins an organization, it takes lot of time in understanding the ideology of the place and then starts applying the skills that is suitable to the place.

Management style or leadership quality required in an organization depends on various factors such as, the owners, the industry, the employees, the location etc. The policies and procedures of the organization that guides the managers to adopt a leadership style that is suitable for the organization.

Apart from the organization's style, each individual Manager must also adopt a style that helps him in getting the job done from his subordinates. Many times one type of style may not help a manager to get the job done. One has to use different techniques and combination of styles to achieve what the organization wants. Of course, what one studies in schools are the base knowledge that helps in the practical application. When one comes to practice, learns the art of management.

A good manager will set defined Goals and objectives of the organization. He also communicates these down the lines. He forms a team which thinks one goal and one objective. He allows his subordinate Managers and staff to do their departmental plans according to the set goals and objectives of the organization. He applies the management principles of planning, organizing, direction and control throughout the organization. He creates an atmosphere where checks and balances are made without causing much friction within the organization.

A good manager appreciates the success of his team and allows them to make critical analyses of their work. He allows them to find out their mistakes and makes them happier by giving the freedom of finding their own mistakes. He gives the corrective direction. He shares his views with all and listens to their concerns. He consults his team member before taking a decision that gives the sense of involvement of his subordinate managers or staff. He must also encourage his subordinate managers to take decision and institute exceptional reporting.

A good manager will give high concern for both task and human. This will ensure high employee morale leading to higher achievements of the organizational goals. He will reward all those who achieve. This will ensure reward and task are co-extensive. He will encourage creativity, new ideas, innovations and promotion from within. This will ensure the visibility of employee development and future plans. This will also ensure highly motivated employees and competent people will come forward to join the organization.

A professionally managed organization would give importance to such communication throughout the organization so that everyone in the organization is aware of the goals, objectives, contribution, returns and their future plans for development. This runs through from top to the junior levels of the organization. In such organizations, management style flows through from top to the bottom making it uniform although individual managers may have to apply their skills depending on the situation.

When one talks of management, it is basically talking about managing the people. It is managing the behavioral pattern of the people. Behavioral pattern of people is always in a flux and keeps changing depending on the task, working environment, competition, management, human consideration etc.

Each organization gives different levels of consideration to task and human concern. These levels are important in order to understand the management style adopted by an organization. The level of importance given to the task and human concern through the policies and procedures signifies the kind of management style the organization has adopted. Eventually, success of an organization also depends on the kind of management style it has adopted.

Carrot and stick method followed in the early days are no more valid. Managers need to have a consultative approach with their subordinates in decision making process. This does not mean Manager has to decide based on what subordinates say, but, he has to listen to what they also say and final decision can be taken collectively or by him. Every organization needs managers (to plan, organize, direct and control) with leadership qualities (inter-personal relationship) to achieve the goals and objectives successfully.

It is important to understand that Managers are appointed with formal authority through which they accomplish the tasks from their subordinates. Leaders do not have formal authority. A good manager is a person able to influence subordinates without using formal authority and thus becomes good leader as well. Formation of leader is when there are followers. Subordinates follow the leader willingly on their own accord and they follow the manager because they have to. Hence, leader can be a manager but manager cannot be a leader – where do you stand?

 

[Written by NP Chandrashekhar, Group Financial Controller, Chelsea Group, Dubai.]