What do you do if your team members have different needs and preferences for leadership?

⁤Understanding the needs of each of my team members is what I focus on when it comes to effective leadership. ⁤⁤We have weekly 1/1 meetings, where I aim to understand their perspectives, preferences, and goals. ⁤⁤Knowing this allows me to tailor my leadership style to suit each individual. ⁤⁤By recognizing and respecting these differences, I can establish a culture of support and collaboration, fostering an environment where every member can thrive and contribute their best.

A good leader must take the time to understand their team's individual needs, motivations, and values, in addition to their skills. It's also important to communicate your own needs and expectations frequently. Once you understand your team, you should adapt your leadership style to fit their needs and develop their OKRs/goals in a way that better utilizes the whole team. Think of your team as the parts of a machine. Each part is important, but ineffective if used alone. If put together randomly, they might somewhat work but not well. But if you take the time to understand how the machine works, you can put the pieces in the right place and get magic.

Taking the "coach as leader" mindset here can be extremely helpful. Stay present, agile, and curious in conversations when assessing needs and the individuals on your teams values, goals, and beliefs. Use active listening skills and ask powerful questions that start with What/How instead of Why or leading questions. Try to get to the root of how the individual wishes to show up in the workplace and how they would prefer to be lead.

Building rapport and humanizing the conversation is crucial at the beginning stages of assessing team needs. It's about creating a safe and open environment where team members feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns. Assessing psychological threats is also a perceptive approach as it helps in understanding potential barriers that may hinder team members' performance or engagement. Moreover, delving into motivational factors and preferences is key. Each team member is unique, and what motivates one person may not necessarily motivate another. By understanding these individual drivers, one can tailor the approach to provide the right level of support and encouragement to each team member.

Contingency management is the answer as all situation and context are different. One time i noticed that performance of a team member was not impressive. I sat to assess the needs and I leant that the problem was on planning and actual understanding of the job description. I asked all team members to write what they understood under each task and what deliverables they think they were expected to deliver. I supported to develop performance benchmark which informed monthly planning.

For Assessing Needs: Conduct one-on-one conversations with each team member to understand their needs and preferences thoroughly. Listen attentively to each team member's unique perspectives, allowing them to express their thoughts and concerns openly. Identify each team member's strengths, weaknesses, skills, and development areas during the assessment process. Clearly communicate your expectations for each team member, outlining roles, responsibilities, and performance objectives. Offer support, guidance, and resources to help each team member succeed in their role and achieve their goals. Schedule regular check-ins and provide ongoing feedback to help team members stay on track and address any challenges they may encounter.

Understand Individual Preferences: Take time to understand each team member’s unique needs and preferences. This could be through one-on-one meetings, surveys, or informal conversations. Knowing what motivates each person and how they prefer to receive feedback is crucial.

In addition to attending to the requirements of the team, adaptability in leadership involves cultivating a climate of trust and creativity. Through this dynamic process, leaders may inspire excellence and successfully handle complexities.

For adapting a leadership style: Adapt your leadership style to meet the diverse needs of your team members. Be flexible and willing to adjust your approach based on individual preferences and working styles. Communicate with each team member in a way that resonates with them. Some may prefer direct and concise communication, while others may appreciate more detailed explanations or regular check-ins. Offer personalized support and guidance to each team member based on their unique needs and preferences. Provide resources, training, and mentoring tailored to their development areas.

Adapt Your Style: Adjust your leadership style to suit different situations and team members. Some might thrive under a more hands-off approach, while others may need more guidance and support. Being adaptable doesn't mean being inconsistent; rather, it's about being responsive to the needs of each individual while maintaining overall team cohesion.

To communicate openly: Clearly communicate your expectations for performance, behavior, and goals to all team members. Ensure they understand what is expected of them. Listen attentively to team members' thoughts, concerns, and ideas without judgment. Provide your full attention and validate their perspectives. Schedule regular one-on-one meetings with team members to discuss their progress, challenges, and any support they may need. Encourage open dialogue and feedback. Foster an environment where team members feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns openly. Ensure confidentiality and non-judgmental attitudes. Establish formal and informal feedback mechanisms, such as suggestion boxes and anonymous surveys et al.

Foster Open Communication: Encourage an environment where team members feel comfortable expressing their needs and giving feedback. This open dialogue can help you better understand how to lead them effectively and make them feel valued.

For providing support: Create individualized development plans for each team member based on their unique strengths, weaknesses, and career goals. Identify areas for improvement and offer additional training or professional development opportunities to help team members strengthen their skills. Provide access to resources, tools, and materials that support each team member's learning and development needs. Pair team members with mentors who can provide guidance, support, and career advice based on their individual goals and aspirations. Schedule regular check-ins to monitor progress, offer feedback, and adjust development plans as needed. Provide ongoing support and encouragement.

Provide Tailored Feedback: Customize how you give feedback to each team member based on their preferences. Some might prefer public recognition, while others might value detailed, private conversations about their performance.

For encouraging Team Work: Encourage team members to collaborate on projects and share their diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences. Recognize and celebrate the diverse strengths and talents of each team member. Emphasize the value of different working styles and leadership approaches. Create opportunities for team members to share their knowledge, expertise, and best practices with one another. Establish common goals and objectives that require teamwork and collaboration to achieve. Encourage team members to work together towards shared objectives. Demonstrate the value of teamwork and collaboration through your own actions and behavior. Encourage open communication, cooperation, and mutual support among team members.

Develop Emotional Intelligence: Enhance your emotional intelligence to better recognize and respond to various emotional cues from your team. This ability can help you manage a diverse team more effectively by understanding and addressing their emotional and professional needs.

Encourage Team Bonding: Implement team-building activities that can help blend different personalities and work styles. This fosters a sense of unity and understanding among team members.

When team members have varied needs and preferences for leadership, it’s essential to adopt a flexible approach: Assess Individual Needs: Conduct one-on-one discussions to understand each member’s preferences and expectations. Adapt Your Style: Tailor your leadership approach to accommodate different styles, balancing directive and supportive methods as needed. Provide Options: Offer various ways for team members to engage and contribute, ensuring everyone feels comfortable and valued. Foster Open Communication: Encourage feedback and make adjustments based on team input to refine your approach continually.

Set Clear Expectations: Despite individual differences, it's important to set clear and consistent expectations for all team members. This ensures that everyone understands their roles and the standards to which they are being held.