You let friends and family members in. But even before they could settle, you gave them a rundown of your house rules. In short, you tell them how you want them to behave in your territory. While this can set the order in the home, it can also be restricting.
EO Melbourne is a rich repository of such learnings. Whether you interact with other members, attend chapter and global events, or listen to enriching speakers, you will find several sources of inspiration from other business leaders. Here you can refine your leadership style as you learn from the experiences of other entrepreneurs.
Apart from business groups and associations, you can also get a few insights on leading people from day-to-day occurrences. One example is on how you entertain guests in your home. We have our ways of treating visitors who come to our doors. See below where you come close as a host and as a business leader.
1.) Expects guests to abide by rules
You let friends and family members in. But even before they could settle, you gave them a rundown of your house rules. In short, you tell them how you want them to behave in your territory. While this can set the order in the home, it can also be restricting.
An organisation needs a leader who is visionary, firm and good in decision-making. Being authoritative allows business owners a lot of control over their ventures and saves them time and effort. It may be effective, especially in large companies, but it limits the participation of the team and can often lead to disgruntled members.
2.) Commands guests to do things
A gracious host sometimes offers refreshments to guests to make them feel at home. You make room for participation, but you give instructions to your guests on what they need to do every step of the way. They perform the tasks, but they do not have a say on the food preparation.
When you are leading a team, giving orders and directives is welcome, especially if time is short or a crisis is happening. However, it can suppress their creativity and capabilities. It leaves little room for your team to give their opinions and ideas, which may cause discontent and frustration among them.
3. ) Encourages guests to try things or activities
Guests feel encouraged when hosts show their know-how and allow visitors to try their hand on it. Imagine how fun it is if you are good at gardening or baking and you make your guests participate, allowing them to add their insights. It becomes an exchange of learnings that make the moment satisfying.
In the business setting, your people will feel inspired if you share your expertise with them and make room for them to infuse their proficiency. Having a bit of autonomy will allow them to make mistakes and learn from the experience. It can work if your members are quick to learn from coaching, but not for those who may not be able to execute ideas properly.
4.) Nurtures guests to make them feel comfortable
Hosts can make their guests feel good by drawing attention to their strengths. It can uplift their spirits, which can generate friendly conversations and warm ambience. But boundaries can get blurred and may be susceptible to abuse. They feel too at home that you may lose control over them.
Praise and nurture can foster a positive environment for your people. It is ideal if your team members are disciplined and efficient. The downside is that it may embolden people to slack in their work and settle for mediocrity.
5.) Asks guests for feedback
Visitors will feel valued if you ask them their opinion, preference and insight. They can voice out their perception and recommendations freely. With this, you can do activities at home based on suggestions of your guests.
Individual members of your team can shine if you inculcate a democratic process in your organisation. It is essential that trust and respect reign in such a set-up. Although it will make your staff satisfied, the method can stall development and progress.
6.) Sets an example for guests to follow
Sometimes you want visitors to behave in a certain way inside your home or do things without ordering them directly. You do this by showing how things are done, setting an example to them. Meanwhile, it can put pressure on your guests, with no guarantee that they will be able to keep up to your standards.
As a leader, you can set the pace of how your team should work. While it’s good to be their role model, this style of leadership may frustrate them if they are not able to meet your criteria.
Each style of leadership has its advantages and disadvantages. There is no perfect type, and you can always improve on your leadership. You may lean toward a particular leadership form, but you can adapt to different kinds of governance depending on the situation and the people involved. As you guide your flock towards success, steer them in the right direction using both your head and heart so you can discern the proper way to lead and motivate them.