What's Your Natural Management Style?

As managers and leaders we tend to favour one particular management style over others; complete this quick quiz to find out what yours is.

Click the answer most applicable to you:

I mostly plan the job and give detailed instructions on how to do it.

I mostly tend to discuss the best way forward with all the team players before I move ahead.

I am mostly inclined to have standard procedures and make sure my team follow the book.

I am mostly keen to let the team decide on what and how to do things.

Click the answer most applicable to you:

If it works and is proven to work, then put it in the procedure and do it that way.

There are many ways to reach the outcome that is required.

If the team decides and the majority think it is okay, it most probably is.

The job has to be done the right way, it can only be right or wrong.

Click the answer most applicable to you:

Many hands make light work and getting buy in through democracy is the way to go.

It is better to be feared than to be respected, that way the job gets done.

It is better to get input from others before commencing a large job, that way all bases are covered.

Following the book is the best way to do something, that way we are covered if things go wrong.

Click the answer most applicable to you:

I don’t even like to manage, how can they complain when I am always asking their opinions.

If people don’t like the way I manage, they can’t say much as I am covered by procedure.

If people don’t like the way I manage, they should talk to me and let me know the alternatives.

If people don’t like the way I manage, they are welcome to complain.

Click the answer most applicable to you:

My team can get frustrated because some of our procedures are a bit outdated.

Once people know me they see that I am not that bad to work for.

Sometimes getting my team to agree on something is like herding cats.

My teams generally find me easy going and approachable and I often take their ideas on board.

Click the answer most applicable to you:

I am in charge and clearly so, I get paid to make the decisions.

I am in charge and I feel safe as the company is well documented and one cannot go too far wrong with our procedures, everyone knows their job.

I am in charge and we often take decisions together as a team, sometimes very quickly too!

I am in charge, but there is a lot of knowledge and capacity in my team that I tap into.

Your Preferred Style: Autocratic

Other styles:

Collaborative -

You are likely to be highly collaborative as a leader, finding the strengths from all of those in the team to provide the fuller picture for you. This is definitely a good thing and with this leadership style you are likely to develop those around you quite nicely. Clearly however we wish to have a balanced management style as there is a downside to being too collaborative. This normally happens when there are deadlines to be met and no decision is forthcoming because everyone is still thinking and talking. It can also mean that you as a leader may not be assertive enough when the necessary time comes.

Procedural -

You are likely to be procedural in your approach with quite a good attention to detail. The strengths of this leadership approach is that all legalities are met and everyone feels quite safe in the execution of instructions. Clearly though we would like a balanced approach and there may well be times that the procedure is too slow or even too outdated and even worse yet, when it is recognised as being both and nobody is taking the responsibility to challenge the existence of the procedure at all.

Democratic -

You are likely to be quite democratic in your approach, allowing for the majority sentiment to lead the way. There are big positives to this style as you are likely to be quite a popular manager and the working environment is likely to be quite fun. Clearly though we would like a balanced approach because in some of the more mission critical jobs the majority have been known to be incorrect.

If you'd like to learn more about Management Styles, join us at one of our popular Developing Your Management Potential I or Developing Your Management Potential II workshops hosted across the country.

Find out more at www.StaffTraining.co.za

Your Preferred Style: Collaborative

Other styles:

Autocratic -

You are likely a strong leader who takes quick decisions and you are unlikely to suffer fools gladly. Your style may be quite autocratic which is not a bad thing as often it is necessary for leaders to take unpopular decisions or even extremely quick, deadline-driven decisions. This is definitely the right time to assert yourself. Clearly, however, we wish to have a balance of management styles as there is a downside to being autocratic 100% of the time. This could be that you have a high staff attrition (people leaving), it also means that you end up making every decision as everyone else gets into the habit of looking to you for the answer.

Procedural -

You are likely to be procedural in your approach with quite a good attention to detail. The strengths of this leadership approach is that all legalities are met and everyone feels quite safe in the execution of instructions. Clearly though we would like a balanced approach and there may well be times that the procedure is too slow or even too outdated and even worse yet, when it is recognised as being both and nobody is taking the responsibility to challenge the existence of the procedure at all.

Democratic -

You are likely to be quite democratic in your approach, allowing for the majority sentiment to lead the way. There are big positives to this style as you are likely to be quite a popular manager and the working environment is likely to be quite fun. Clearly though we would like a balanced approach because in some of the more mission critical jobs the majority have been known to be incorrect.

If you'd like to learn more about Management Styles, join us at one of our popular Developing Your Management Potential I or Developing Your Management Potential II workshops hosted across the country.

Find out more at www.StaffTraining.co.za

Your Preferred Style: Procedural

You will find your results below - we have given you both the positives and negatives of your preferred style, as well as the other three styles, as it is imperative for management and leaders in these volatile times to stretch themselves between all four styles mentioned below on a weekly if not daily basis depending on what the situation demands.

You are likely to be procedural in your approach with quite a good attention to detail. The strengths of this leadership approach is that all legalities are met and everyone feels quite safe in the execution of instructions. Clearly though we would like a balanced approach and there may well be times that the procedure is too slow or even too outdated and even worse yet, when it is recognised as being both and nobody is taking the responsibility to challenge the existence of the procedure at all.

Other styles:

Collaborative -

You are likely to be highly collaborative as a leader, finding the strengths from all of those in the team to provide the fuller picture for you. This is definitely a good thing and with this leadership style you are likely to develop those around you quite nicely. Clearly however we wish to have a balanced management style as there is a downside to being too collaborative. This normally happens when there are deadlines to be met and no decision is forthcoming because everyone is still thinking and talking. It can also mean that you as a leader may not be assertive enough when the necessary time comes.

Autocratic -

You are likely a strong leader who takes quick decisions and you are unlikely to suffer fools gladly. Your style may be quite autocratic which is not a bad thing as often it is necessary for leaders to take unpopular decisions or even extremely quick, deadline-driven decisions. This is definitely the right time to assert yourself. Clearly, however, we wish to have a balance of management styles as there is a downside to being autocratic 100% of the time. This could be that you have a high staff attrition (people leaving), it also means that you end up making every decision as everyone else gets into the habit of looking to you for the answer.

Democratic -

You are likely to be quite democratic in your approach, allowing for the majority sentiment to lead the way. There are big positives to this style as you are likely to be quite a popular manager and the working environment is likely to be quite fun. Clearly though we would like a balanced approach because in some of the more mission critical jobs the majority have been known to be incorrect.

If you'd like to learn more about Management Styles, join us at one of our popular Developing Your Management Potential I or Developing Your Management Potential II workshops hosted across the country.

Find out more at www.StaffTraining.co.za

Your Preferred Style: Democratic

You will find your results below - we have given you both the positives and negatives of your preferred style, as well as the other three styles, as it is imperative for management and leaders in these volatile times to stretch themselves between all four styles mentioned below on a weekly if not daily basis depending on what the situation demands.

You are likely to be quite democratic in your approach, allowing for the majority sentiment to lead the way. There are big positives to this style as you are likely to be quite a popular manager and the working environment is likely to be quite fun. Clearly though we would like a balanced approach because in some of the more mission critical jobs the majority have been known to be incorrect.

Other styles:

Procedural -

You are likely to be procedural in your approach with quite a good attention to detail. The strengths of this leadership approach is that all legalities are met and everyone feels quite safe in the execution of instructions. Clearly though we would like a balanced approach and there may well be times that the procedure is too slow or even too outdated and even worse yet, when it is recognised as being both and nobody is taking the responsibility to challenge the existence of the procedure at all.

Collaborative -

You are likely to be highly collaborative as a leader, finding the strengths from all of those in the team to provide the fuller picture for you. This is definitely a good thing and with this leadership style you are likely to develop those around you quite nicely. Clearly however we wish to have a balanced management style as there is a downside to being too collaborative. This normally happens when there are deadlines to be met and no decision is forthcoming because everyone is still thinking and talking. It can also mean that you as a leader may not be assertive enough when the necessary time comes.

Autocratic -