3 Ways to Reset Your Leadership Style and Regain Your Team's Respect

leadership Oct 30, 2024
A yellow post-it is next to colorful paperclips with the words reset, realign, and restart written in black marker.

My first experience as a manager was at my local pizza place when I was 18 years old. 

At that time, I didn't understand group dynamics or any other way to lead besides, "Do what I say, or else". 

Needless to say, it did not go well!

I was just as miserable as my team members and eventually left for another management job in a different field. 

Even though I changed jobs, I was determined not to repeat my previous management mistakes. I did everything I could to be a better leader in every way. 

Decades later, I left my corporate career, went to medical school to become a doctor, and finally an advisor who helps leaders avoid the same mistakes I've made with group and power dynamics.

You don't have to leave your job to update your management style, but you'll probably need to embrace a leadership reset. This is especially true if you've been poorly leading your team for quite some time and have lost their trust or respect. 

Take a Leadership Inventory

The first step to a leadership reset is putting your ego aside and realizing that you need one. It takes courage to examine your behavior and work to make changes.

Start by making a list of everything about your style, behavior, and performance that you know you want or need to change. Write down any feedback your bosses, co-workers, and team members have given you.

Once you've made your list, ask yourself the following questions:

Are there any common themes?

Do you agree with their reviews or assessments?

Is there any truth to their feedback?

What skills do you want or need to improve for your reset?

Reset with Integrity

Resets are often necessary because a leader hasn't been consistent with upholding policies or hasn't developed a supportive connection with their team. 

This often leads to feelings of unfairness, resentment, avoidance, or insubordination among the team as a whole. Although repairing a team dynamic can be challenging, it isn't impossible. 

Integrity is a key component of leadership, and I advise being open with your team about upcoming changes. Develop a "clean slate" policy going forward where issues will be treated fairly according to company policy and guidelines.

If possible, meet with each team member individually to find out how they'd like to be supported going forward.

Here are a few areas to address:

What do they need from you that they haven't been getting in the past?

Where do they need extra support or additional training/coaching to excel at their job?

What are their career plans and how can you support them?

Since it's likely that you'll have to earn back your team's trust and respect, it's crucial not to fall back into your previous avoidant, passive, or controlling behaviors.

Develop Stronger Connections

Communication breakdowns between members of a team can and will affect the overall morale in the workplace. One thing I see often is that a leader just doesn't understand what team members need in terms of giving and receiving information. 

For this reason, I'm a big advocate of using personality profiles as a team building exercise.

We tend to give information in the way that we'd like to receive it. Unfortunately, different personalities will have different needs when it comes to written and verbal communication.

Some personalities are very detail oriented and will ask a lot of questions while others will be fast-action takers and only want to know the bare minimum before proceeding. 

Understanding the personality profiles of the entire team (including yourself) will help you ask for and deliver information in the way that's most effective.

A leadership style reset can be the harmonizer that leads to a happier, healthier workplace for both you and your team. Upholding a higher standard for yourself and your team consistently takes practice but can be one of the best things you've ever done for your career. 

 

Dr. April Darley is a Lifestyle and Leadership Advisor who specializes in helping innovative thinkers achieve their goals without sacrificing their health, wealth, and freedom. Through a combination of techniques, you'll learn how to balance leadership and life while developing a growth mindset.

To schedule your complimentary consultation, click HERE.

 

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