What are some ways to develop your leadership style?

In my journey as a management consultant, self-awareness has been pivotal. I've utilized tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to understand my leadership tendencies. Additionally, I've always valued feedback from my teams and clients. For instance, after a major project, I sought feedback and realized my strength in strategic visioning but identified a need to improve in hands-on execution. This insight was invaluable in refining my leadership approach.

I have had many managers over the years, some were managers and some were leaders. One day I sat down and wrote out what they were all like in terms of people management, Inspirational leadership, strategic leadership, how much I respected them, how much I learned from them and lastly if I liked them. I then reflected on this and took out what I valued most in each of them. Every single person on that list taught me something, even if it was what not to do. Each learning built up over time into my own management and leadership style. Taking time to reflect is pivotal in finding your style and building upon it.

In my experience having context is critical. Before jumping into solutions, it important to understand the nuances and relationships in the organisation. For example there may be decision makers but who are the influencers around the decision maker? Why is something the way it is now? An ancient proverb says to find out why the boundary is there before moving it. What was the historical and cultural context that led to an organisation being too risk adverse for example. So the critical advice I have is to always step back. I heard a fallen Jedi say to his apprentice: “The rush for victory is often the surest path to defeat” (my paraphrase).

While it's important to understand your strengths and address your weaknesses, it's equally essential to comprehend your audience. The ability to gauge your audience and adapt your management style is crucial for building a respected relationship with your client.

Leaders are born not made. Leaders could be natural and lead by actions, they do not need designation to lead. As a leader evolve many more leaders. Constantly unlearn, learn, research, explore to add more knowledge and skills to yourself and share to inspire those around you. Be ready to ask for 360 feedback to constantly improvise. Keep learning how to build powerful alliances, work collaboratively, & foster new levels of trust amidst all in your network and beyond.

Through several exploratory sessions, I discovered that my purpose was to fearlessly initiate connection with others so that we all feel seen and empowered to achieve our unique version of greatness. Documenting my personal purpose unlocked so many doors that I didn't even know existed in my journey to develop my leadership style. Along with my core values, which include beauty, balance, family, joy, peace, security, and solving problems, I now have my anchor. If I am conflicted or face a new challenge, I revisit these words to guide my next steps. With all the noise in the world, it simplifies things for me. I simply ask myself, "Does this align with my purpose? With my beliefs?" And if it doesn't, I give myself permission to say, "No!"

My vision has always been to lead teams towards achieving extraordinary productivity through strategic processes. My values center around continuous learning, innovation, and fostering a culture of mutual respect. These guiding principles have not only shaped my decisions but have also helped in aligning my teams towards a unified goal, ensuring we're all on the same page.

A leader has to have extreme clarity about the purpose of their leadership. The vision has to be beyond the leader. The vision has to be about others and not self. Some core values that are absolutely non-negotiable as a consultant are - Excellence - Being excellent at what you do and doing it with a 'perfection' mind-set. Ethics - Doing the right thing for the organization first, the leaders next and the team. Solution-orientation - Simplifying complex problems with easy doable solutions. Continuous upgradation - Being up to date on whatever is happening in one's field of expertise. Humility - Accepting what one does not know & allowing better minds to lead. Courage - Standing up for what's right without fear or selfish motives.

My vision centers around optimizing procurement processes, sourcing materials cost-effectively, and ensuring timely deliveries to contribute to successful project outcomes. In terms of values, transparency, integrity, accountability, and a strong commitment to sustainable procurement practices are paramount. These values shape my decision-making and foster an ethical and responsible procurement culture within my team and among project stakeholders.

Embrace your purpose. Draw inspiration from emotionally mature executives. Allocate time for self-reflection. Savor the journey.

Develop emotional intelligence. Think: how would I like to be treated if I was that person? What approach would I expect from my manager if I was that person to give my best self? Seeing things from the point of view of others gives real leaders a huge competitive advantage

Flexibility is key in leadership. I recall a project where the initial strategy wasn't yielding results. Instead of sticking to the plan rigidly, I encouraged the team to brainstorm and experiment with alternative approaches. This adaptive mindset not only salvaged the project but led to better outcomes than initially anticipated.

This section resonates with the Situational Leadership Model by Hersey and Blanchard. This model categorizes leadership into four styles: Directing, Coaching, Supporting, and Delegating, advocating that effective leaders adapt their style based on the team's readiness. For instance, Steve Jobs adapted his leadership style as Apple evolved. In its early days, he was directive, but as the company and its employees matured, he became more delegating and supportive. In essence, this section emphasizes the need for leadership adaptability, a concept well-supported by the Situational Leadership Model. It suggests that flexibility in approach is key to effective leadership.

Experiment, but avoid unpredictability and inconsistency in your actions towards your team. This greatly demotivates people. Try not to manipulate people too much, they feel it.

I've found it valuable to adapt my leadership style based on the project's complexity, the team's composition, and the specific challenges we face. Sometimes, a more collaborative and consultative approach is needed to address intricate technical issues, while in other instances, a more directive and decisive approach is required to ensure strict adherence to safety protocols. Experimenting with these different approaches has allowed me to develop a versatile leadership style that can navigate the diverse demands of construction projects effectively.

I've always believed in the power of mentorship. Early in my career, I sought guidance from seasoned professionals in the industry. Their insights, combined with regular feedback from my teams, have been instrumental in shaping my leadership style. Even now, I never shy away from seeking advice, as there's always room for growth.

Seeking feedback actively is instrumental to personal development. It this goes beyond active listening. Active listening is about listening what one has to say, whereas seeking feedback is about prompting one to say it.

I actively solicit input from my team members, colleagues, and project stakeholders to understand how my leadership style impacts our projects. This feedback helps me identify areas for improvement and refine my approach. Additionally, I've worked with experienced mentors and coaches who provide valuable insights and guidance on leadership strategies tailored to the construction industry. Their expertise has been instrumental in expanding my skill set and enhancing my leadership style to effectively manage complex construction projects and teams.

Feedback is important, but so is the ability to ask for it correctly. By putting pressure on colleagues and convincing them to constantly give feedback, you can receive irrelevant information that can mislead you. Encourage and motivate your team to give feedback, but it must be voluntary and sincere.

Receiving feedback about oneself is an act of bravery, one that only true leaders can embrace, as it requires setting aside ego and prioritizing the well-being of the business. Throughout my career, I have consistently sought feedback in one-on-one conversations with my team, supervisors, and stakeholders. This commitment has provided me with valuable opportunities for self-improvement, allowing me to grow both as an individual and as a leader.

One of the most insightful things I've done throughout my career is take part in both personality and communication style assessments such as Myers Briggs and DiSC assessments. While I consider myself a self-aware person, it was extremely helpful to understand how my communication style and personality traits would come off to others. Being able to acknowledge that not everyone was as direct as I was helped me both alter the way I convey ideas and concepts to others as well as change the way I provide feedback in performance evaluations. Demonstrating awareness of the personal challenges that others are facing every day helps remind co-workers and colleagues that their well being is as important as their work product.

Reflection has been a cornerstone of my leadership journey. I often set aside time for introspection, evaluating decisions made and their outcomes. This practice has not only helped me understand my leadership patterns but has also been instrumental in course correction when needed.

Always doubt what you have done Always listen to second you Always listen to others Always accept mistakes because you learn on mistakes

I regularly engage in self-reflection to assess how I handle various procurement challenges, interact with project stakeholders, and lead my team. This process enables me to identify areas where I can improve my leadership style, make informed decisions, and adapt to evolving project requirements. Self-awareness also enhances my ability to manage stress and maintain a positive attitude, which is essential in the high-pressure environment of construction projects.

Every tasks should be monitored by the internal controls and management feedback on the productivity, timeliness, cost and quality. This shall help the management team to evaluate any shortcomings. This shall help our self Awareness and future development.

To be a leader in your field: this is probably the best advice: keep learning and growing. As one of the top facilitators in Bangladesh, I was in a confirm zone until 2020. But pursuing IFC Master Trainer certification changed everything. I realized the gaps in my facilitation skills and now feel way more confident in my craft. Then came the training towards becoming an ACC of ICF—it gave me a paradigm shift in how one should be a true coach. Since then, I have subscribed to apps such as Imprint (visual boom summary) and Blinkist as a source of my continuous improvement.

The digital business landscape is ever-evolving, and staying updated is non-negotiable. I've always prioritized continuous learning, be it through formal certifications or by attending industry seminars. This commitment to growth ensures that my leadership style remains relevant and effective in the face of changing industry dynamics.

Here are a few of the benefits of continuous learning and having a growth mindset: 1- Stay ahead of the curve ↳ Help them to advance careers ↳ Give them a competitive edge in the job market 2- Develop new skills: ↳ Help in make them more versatile ↳ Making them more adaptable employees 3- Increase productivity: ↳ Help them to become more efficient ↳ Help them to become more productive 4- Improve problem-solving and critical thinking skills ↳ Making valuable employees ↳ Help employees to succeed in their careers. 5- Boost morale and engagement ↳ Increased engagement ↳ Increased confidence in employees

Your core pillar as a leader is formed by your values, beliefs, experiences, and respect for others. Your leadership style may vary based on the circumstances and environment, but never piercing your core. A leadership toolkit and style is developed and refined over time. Leadership is not static - to remain an effective leader, you must always be learning and developing, actively listening, practice self-awareness, walk the talk, and be genuine and transparent in your communications. As a consultant, every single interaction with a team member or a client or a supplier is an opportunity to adopt something new and put it into practice. The best way to stay on the front foot is to be "comfortable being uncomfortable." Great leaders matter!

I actively seek opportunities for professional development and growth. This includes attending industry conferences, workshops, and seminars to stay updated on the latest trends and innovations. I also encourage my team to engage in ongoing learning and skill development to ensure that we collectively meet the ever-changing demands of complex projects. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth, I believe we can maintain our leadership position in the industry and consistently deliver successful projects for our clients.

Seek Role Models and Mentors: Look for leaders who inspire you and whose leadership style you admire. Study their approach, decision-making process, and communication style. Consider seeking a mentor who can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights based on their own leadership experiences.

One of the most profound lessons I've learned is the importance of empathy in leadership. During a challenging phase in a project, instead of pushing the team harder, I chose to listen to their concerns. This empathetic approach not only boosted morale but also fostered a culture of trust and collaboration. Leadership, I believe, is as much about understanding people as it is about strategy and execution.

In my experience, the best leaders move introspectively between the role of leader and follower. I have learned the most by creating a safe space for others to bring their whole self to the table. This has also allowed me to bring the best version of me. It embraces the idea of leadership as a state of being that embraces the continuous evolution of self and others.

Always have tried to stick to: - self awareness and no ego - listen to your team - lead by example - understand what your team is doing - be clear about the objectives and what you want to achieve - be friendly not bossy - be fair and transparent - make a working structure and processes not personalities - share your experience with the team - support and help develop your team

Developing your leadership style involves self-awareness, continuous learning, and adaptability. Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, seek feedback, and be open to evolving your approach. Learn from successful leaders, engage in leadership training, and practice effective communication. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and refine your leadership style based on what resonates best with your team and organizational goals.