Should You Declare Yesterday’s Leadership Styles Toxic?

From time-to-time I get asked whether business leadership styles of twenty or thirty years ago are still effective today. That question came up again from a caller on one of my Virtual Jam Sessions I used to conduct with my co-author of VICTORY, Phil Dyer.

The caller asked us to settle an argument he was having with his father-in-law regarding changing leadership styles. Our first point, as you probably guessed, was that arguing with your father-in-law is probably a no-win proposition!  Don’t do that! Our second point was that leadership styles that may have worked in business thirty years ago simply aren’t effective in today’s dynamic business environment, and might even be detrimental to success.  We suggest you focus on the following:

Much More Effective Leadership Styles

1. Lead with the Three E’s: A top-down leadership style just isn’t effective in today’s work environment.  Fancy titles and big corner offices don’t motivate most younger team members; they’re seeking significance, belonging, and a sense of mission, in addition to success.  Consider leading them with the 3E’s:

• Evaluate: Use objective evaluation assessments to discover the real strengths of your team. Team members who work in the strengths are much more productive, happy, and creative. Consider utilizing the Strengthsfinder assessments by the Gallup Organization. Here’s a link to an article and video interview I did on this topic earlier this year. Click Here.
• Empower: Don’t waste time telling team members how to accomplish a task.  Give them the desired objective or outcome, and empower them to use their strengths, smarts, and creativity to accomplish the task the best way that works best for them (provided it’s ethical and legal, of course).
• Engage:  Allow team members to self-select for projects and initiatives that really speak to them and best utilize their strengths.  Consider allowing them to spend 10-15% of their time working on their own projects or supporting community projects they’re passionate about.

2. The-Times-They-are-a-Changin’: The old command-and-control leadership style of past generations, with its rigid “carrot and stick” reward/punishment system is being replaced by a more inspiring and encouraging leadership style.  Today’s workforce is more socially conscious, socially aware and serious about making in impact that isn’t always measured in dollars and cents.

3. Don’t Be the Smartest Person in the Room: Many leaders of yesteryear were more concerned with being recognized as the “smartest person in the room” than completing a task in the most efficient and effective means possible. No longer!  Today’s leader understands the need to engage those who are bolder and brighter to create enduring success.  The fact is, the fatal flaw of most leaders is the desire to be the smartest person in the room. Don’t do that, either!

To learn more about today’s most effective leadership styles, please listen to the replay of our Virtual Jam Session.

What’s your experience with the command-and-control or carrot-and-stick approach to leadership in today’s business arena? Has it proven effective for you or your team? I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments below?