Different Management Styles for First-Time Managers
In this blog, I will provide the top 5 management styles new managers should use to manage their team effectively.
A few times the kind of team you have will decide the style you want to adopt.
A few times the situation the team is in will dictate the management style you want to use as a manager.
But how to choose when there are so many management styles available?
In this blog, I will try to answer this question.
I will provide details about the top 5 management styles that can be adopted by a new manager and the situation in which these styles should be used.
There are many different management styles available. Here are the top 5 styles that new managers should be aware of.
- Autocratic
- Democratic
- Transactional
- Transformation
- Delegative
The following sections define each style and the ideal situation to use them.
▸ Autocratic
In this style, the manager is highly directive.
The manager makes all the decisions without taking any input from the team.
Ideal when,
- Quick decisions are needed in critical situations
- Team lacks experience in given a task
- The team is new and still in the forming stage
▸ Democratic
In this style, the manager values team input in decision-making.
The manager allows team members to share ideas and participate actively, but the manager makes the final decision.
Ideal when,
- Managers want to build trust and foster creativity
- Teams where there is a lot of designing to be done
- Teams have specialized skills but lack decision-making
▸ Transactional
This style is a structured approach based on rewards and penalties.
The managers set goals and metrics to reward those who meet these expectations and corrective action for those who underperform.
Ideal when,
- Team working is performance-driven environment, e.g. customer service
- Team working on matured product and only productivity matters more
- Managers want to standardize performance evaluation
▸ Transformational
In this style, managers focus on inspiring team members using a vision.
The manager emphasises personal and professional growth by cultivating continuous improvement to achieve the vision.
Ideal when,
- Teams that are working in dynamic environments like startups
- Managers want to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement
- Managers want to have members who are loyal to the team
▸ Delegative
In this style, the manager facilitates and supports team members.
The managers assign the team members the responsibility to work independently with minimal supervision. Managers will be available for guidance and intervention when necessary.
Ideal when,
- Team with highly skilled members who can make decisions on their own
- Managers want to have shared responsibility with team members
- Managers want to focus on strategic work items rather than usual ones
Final thoughts
Any manager must choose the management style that will work for the kind of team or the situation at hand.
Being aware of management styles will help you to adopt your styles in different situations.
Navigating, between these styles will help you to build trust, optimize productivity and provide growth within the team.
Choosing the right management style will help you to achieve team and organization goals, thus paving the way for your growth.
Happy Management!
Further Reading
- Simplifying OKRs for new managers
- Learn to innovate while appreciating your team members
- Simplified Emotional Leadership for Young Managers
- Fundamentals of Forming a Team
- Free Udemy Course: New Manager - Learn to Become Successful
PS: If you are interested in such management concepts, frameworks and techniques, subscribe to my newsletter The Emerging Leadership.
