Discover Your Management Style: A Guide for New Managers

As a new manager, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your management style in order to effectively lead and manage your team. While there are various management styles, it’s up to you to determine which style works best for you and your team. In this article, we’ll provide a guide on how to assess and understand your management style, as well as how to adapt and develop your style using resources such as digital coaching.

Assessing Your Management Style

The first step in understanding your management style is to assess your strengths and preferences. One way to do this is through self-reflection and introspection. Consider your natural tendencies and how you typically approach tasks and situations. Are you more hands-on or do you prefer to delegate tasks to your team? Do you prefer to make decisions independently or do you value input from your team?

There are also various tools and resources available to help you assess your management style, such as personality tests and management assessments. These can provide valuable insights and help you identify your management style. Digital coaching is another useful resource for new managers looking to learn about and develop their management style.

Understanding the Different Management Styles

There are several different management styles, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. It’s important to familiarize yourself with these styles and determine which one aligns with your strengths and preferences. Here are a few common management styles:

Autocratic: This style involves a manager making all the decisions and giving orders to their team without input. While this approach can be efficient, it can also lead to a lack of creativity and motivation among team members.

Democratic: This style involves a manager involving their team in decision-making and encouraging collaboration. This approach can foster creativity and motivation, but it can also be time-consuming and may not be suitable in situations where quick decisions are needed.

Laissez-faire: This style involves a manager taking a hands-off approach and giving their team a high level of autonomy. While this approach can lead to creativity and motivation, it can also result in a lack of direction and structure.

Proactive versus Reactive Management

In addition to understanding different management styles, it’s also important to consider whether you tend to be a proactive or reactive manager. “Proactive vs reactive” refers to the difference between proactive managers, who focus on planning and anticipating potential issues, and reactive managers, who focus on responding to problems as they arise. Both approaches have their benefits and drawbacks, and it’s important to determine which approach is best in different situations. For example, a proactive approach may be more effective in situations where there is a need for long-term planning, while a reactive approach may be more suitable in situations where quick decision-making is required.

Adapting Your Management Style

As a new manager, it’s important to be flexible and adapt your management style to fit different situations and team members. For example, you may need to adopt a more autocratic style in a crisis situation, but a more democratic style in a team-building exercise. It’s also important to be open to feedback and willing to learn and adjust your style as needed. Here are a few tips for adapting your management style:

Observe and listen to your team: Pay attention to how your team responds to your management style and be open to feedback.

Communicate effectively: Clearly communicate your expectations and goals to your team and encourage open communication.

Be open to learning: Continuously seek out opportunities to learn and grow as a manager, such as through training and development programs or digital coaching.

Using Digital Coaching to Develop Your Management Style

Digital coaching is a valuable resource for new managers looking to learn about and develop their management style. Digital coaching allows you to receive personalized guidance and feedback from experienced coaches through online platforms and tools. This can be particularly useful for new managers who may not have access to in-person coaching or mentorship.

Here are a few tips for effectively using digital coaching to develop your management style:

• Identify your goals: Clearly define what you hope to achieve through digital coaching, whether it’s learning about different management styles or developing specific skills.
• Choose a reputable coach: Research and choose a digital coach who has experience and expertise in the areas you wish to focus on.
• Be open and receptive: Be open to feedback and willing to try new approaches suggested by your coach.
• Practice and implement: Use the guidance and feedback from your coach to practice and implement new strategies and techniques in your management role.

Conclusion

Understanding and adapting your management style as a new manager is essential for effectively leading and managing your team. By assessing your strengths and preferences, understanding the different management styles, and being flexible and open to learning, you can develop and refine your management style. Digital coaching is a valuable resource for new managers looking to learn about and develop their management style. By setting clear goals, choosing a reputable coach, and being open and receptive to feedback, you can effectively use digital coaching to improve your management skills.