In a continuously changing environment, leaders can no longer only settle for perfecting their preferred leadership style. According to the authors of Real-Time Leadership, it is becoming imperative to develop an aptitude to change posture according to the situation requirements.

One of the keys to achieve this consists in taking the habit of generating several options, rather than choosing by default your preferred posture. For example, systematically ask yourself these four questions:

• How could I set the momentum? (by taking action myself, by giving instructions, by challenging my team…)

• How could I take a step back? (by starting with observation, by collecting more facts, by questioning, by analyzing…)

• With whom could I solve this issue? (by showing care for the personal relationships, by showing empathy, by involving the other stakeholders…)

• How could I leave space for others to solve this issue? (by curbing my desire to take action, by managing my own emotions…)

You will then have greater freedom to make an informed choice and to adopt the most relevant leadership style.

Source: Real-Time Leadership, David Noble, Carol Kauffman, Harvard Business Review Press, 2023.