Leaders may often feel the need to cater to their employees. And why not? In an effort to retain talent or maintain the team, a leader could fear that by not responding positively to an employee's request, that it could lead to dissatisfaction or turnover.
Catering to employees, however, can lead to inconsistency and a lack of clear direction. If leaders bend too much to individual preferences, they risk losing sight of the overall goals and values of the organization.
If they don't bend at all, they come off as inflexible or tough to work for.
It can be a fine line between leadership and simply pleasing the team. But instead of catering to every need and want of their employees, it’s often more effective to tailor the approach.
Tailoring leadership is about balancing the needs of your team with the goals of the organization. It's about understanding and respecting the unique strengths, motivations, and needs of each team member, while still holding firm to the overarching vision and objectives.
For example, I worked with a leader who focused heavily on the idea of servant leadership. He felt that catering to every request of the team - offering unique perks and a flexible work environment - would create team happiness. While this created a positive atmosphere, it led to challenges in maintaining consistent performance and clear boundaries within the team. Employees became frustrated, with many leaving over the period of many months.
In contrast, another leader in a similar situation chose to tailor her leadership style by fostering a growth mindset, encouraging collaboration and innovation. Rather than say "yes" to any request, her tailored approach steered the team towards solving tasks together - revitalizing the team and driving it towards higher performance.
Effective leadership requires valuing each team member's strengths and needs, while still valuing the company’s vision. And by tailoring your leadership, you empower your team to grow within a structured framework that drives collective success, enhancing both individual performance and team cohesion.
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