Small business leadership in any business must constantly communicate and connect all the players for success. How you communicate and connect will depend a lot upon what type of leader ship and communications style you operate under. Leadership styles include authoritarian, participative or free reign. The communication styles are assertive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, submissive and manipulative.
What is your leadership style?
The authoritarian leader communicates by telling their employees what they want done and how they want it done, and will not ask for any advice from the employee. This style does not allow the employee to connect with the leader or what he is working to accomplish. This style diminishes the constant communications and connection that is important for the business. These two styles, the leader is responsible for the final decision. Lastly, we have the participative leadership style involves the leader and some key employees. They will determine what and how to do it. The leader is communicating but is not connecting with all the players. The free reign style, the leader allows the employee to make a decision; however, he is responsible for the decisions that are made.
What is your communication style?
Communication is important for the small business leadership, because he needs to constantly communicate and connect with all the players. How the leader communicates is just as important. The assertive communicator is the most effective of the styles. It positions itself right between being too aggressive and too passive. The assertive communicator knows his/her limits and doesn’t allow him/her self to be pushed.
The aggressive style is all about winning and usually at the expense of others. This is the least effective style and will interfere is the message being delivered. The passive-aggressive communication style leader is usually acting out anger either directly or indirectly because they often feel powerless and resentful. He or she may even sabotage themselves with this type of communication behavior. They are communicating, but not connecting.
A submissive communicator is going to avoid conflict by trying to please everyone. He/she will constantly communicate but his connection will be shallow. Lastly, the manipulative communication style is working at influencing others for their own advantage. Their calculating ways will not provide connectivity with all the players. This would be detrimental, especially for the small business leadership role.
What determines the leadership style?
Basically, each leader will naturally go with what they are most comfortable with, but usually the style may be based on the knowledge of the leader and of the employee. If the leader has all the knowledge, then he is more likely to be authoritative. The more knowledge the employee has, and then the leader can be more free reign.This is especially true for small business leadership.
What makes a good communicative leader?
Small business leadership needs to constantly communicate and connect with all the players, especially in a small business enterprise. When the leader is able to get across his vision and engage all the players, then his company is headed in the right direction. This involvement of all the players, connects them to the company and will give them a sense of participation in the business and work as a team for the success of the business. So the most important aspect in a leader is his ability to employ knowledgeable people.
Don't miss out! Click below to subscribe to the email newsletter. You can also rent Marvin's brain during a private one on one coaching session. Click here for details!
