Whether it is an organization, from the highest to the lowest level, one thing is common, everyone wants to be a leader. And what’s wrong with that? Why shouldn’t anyone want to be a leader? Being a leader sounds so powerful and exciting that it’s hard not to want to be in that position of influence. However, being an influencer is easier said than done. And yes, reaching this powerful position may seem daunting at first, but it will wear off over time. The fact is, however, that some people find it consistently intimidating if they don’t tackle the responsibility head on from the start.

The leadership style is all about the way a person leads their subordinates, and this style varies greatly from person to person. Some leaders are the be-all and end-all of any decision, while others focus on delegations and don’t take a step without discussing it. The right type of leadership is all about striking a balance between all of the major styles.

When you take on the role of company administrator in a company, you are essentially addressing the roles of a manager and a leader, and balancing the two can be an extremely delicate matter. It’s easy to get caught in the weeds and lose sight of the bigger picture when this amount of responsibilities is placed on you.

In order to find the perfect balance between all leadership styles, the following are the most important questions to ask yourself

Can the job be done with my intervention? If the answer is yes, move away from simple interference and focus more on motivating the team. Donning the hat of authority is only required when you need to make changes to help the team perform better

How much do you focus on the results? It’s great to focus on the results, but that shouldn’t be the only thing you notice on a project. The focus should be more on the process as that way you can find more alternatives to get the same or better results

Are you the first person people come to for advice? If the answer to that is a big yes, then you really are already being seen as a leader. If not, check out the changes you need to make to be seen as a supportive and inspiring figure

What is the most discussed topic on your team? Is it the upcoming tasks, the processes, the deadlines or the strategy and the overall picture? Make sure the discussions are balanced and that the team is not leaning too much one way or the other

Do you ask the team to complete the tasks without explaining the goal? Your team will only be motivated to go that extra mile if they understand the reasons for performing the task assigned to them

Who is responsible when something goes wrong? Are you blaming yourself or the team? A great leader understands that the failure or success of the team is ultimately their responsibility

The basis of all questions is the ability to understand yourself and the wishes and motivations of your team. A manager who can balance the company’s goals and the team’s aspirations while leading them to excellence at the same time is the one who is considered a true leader.

Significant ways to balance leadership styles

The three most important methods of achieving a balanced leadership style

A balanced leadership style is necessary to ensure long-term success, both for the company and personally. The leader’s energy and demeanor are channeled through the team he / she is dealing with. Hence, balance is needed to ensure that the team stays positive and focused. Here is a brief introduction to the three main methods used by the renowned corporate administrators of our time.

Communicate your ideas

The essence of balanced leadership is that you need to start with a vision. However, it has to be a vision that you can articulate vigorously and clearly at every opportunity. Blowing an uncertain trumpet is never an option if you want to provide effective leadership. Clear and honest communication is key to getting the job done in any organization. Whether you’re doing a performance review or sharing your goals for the quarter, subordinates need to know what you’re asking of them, where they are now, and how to get to the end.

They can’t just hope to command enough to set the goals, outline and deal with them so that they can figure it all out for themselves. Set milestones, have a vision to finish, and communicate the ideas and strategies within the group to ensure you can lead your team towards achieving their goals and those of you.

Significant ways to balance leadership styles

Know when to let go

You show your trust in your team when you delegate responsibilities to them. You gave them the direction they need and now you need to let them follow. But don’t forget to reward them if they actually manage to make your vision a reality.

Strive to be the mentor, not “The Boss”

A big part of being a business leader’s job is to be a mentor rather than just another authoritative figure in the company. Put aside all everyday distractions and schedule one-on-one meetings with staff, record their contributions and listen to their complaints. The team will listen to you either out of fear or respect, and you can understand well how this works over the long term. Be the mentor who understands the coordinates and their points of view, not the boss who merely orders them to do their job. Working with the team encourages contributions and provides an opportunity to keep a balance between your ideas and their views for the good of the company.

To be honest, in a modern business scenario where the corporate environment is more open and warm than ever, authoritative style is becoming increasingly obsolete as even the authorities understand that it leads to greater efficiency and engagement.

The key point in the above discussion is that every company administrator needs to remember that he / she was once the person who took the orders from their managers. When positions change and you start giving orders, you need to aim to be the leader you have ever hoped for. Balanced leadership can be summed up as the middle ground between autocracy and democracy and knowing which side to rely on and when.

Written by Dr. Kulneet Suri, Senior Director at the Institute for Management Studies (IMS) Noida

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