4. Lead by Example Management Style
Leading by example is a management style employed by many successful small business owners and department heads when bringing new employees on board or developing employees for future leadership roles. The focus is on modeling the behavior you want your employees to adopt by ‘being the example’ yourself.
Pros and Cons of Lead by Example Management Style
- A benefit of this style is that it’s easy. You get to be yourself.
- A downside of this style is that mistakes and missteps you make will be repeated by your employees. You must make sure your work ethics are demonstrated in your business and that you don’t behave in ways you don’t want your employees to copy.
How To Know If Lead by Example Management Style Is Right For You
If you have the temperament, skills, experience and abilities that you want your employees to learn from, then this style is for you. It allows you to demonstrate, as a coach or trainer would, how best to perform work tasks. It can work in any business where your employees are not necessarily experts themselves and need your example.
Even if you employ subject matter experts, your personal style might motivate them to be more friendly, empathetic, patient, or customer focused — or demonstrate any other behavior you’d like to see become a part of your organizational culture.
