Have you ever felt micromanaged by a leader? Or left high and dry because they didn't provide you with enough information to successfully do your job?

An upset woman, sitting on a couch saying, "My boss is the one with the problem."

Don't fall into the same trap! Whether you're new to leading a team, or want to develop leadership skills for the future, it's important to understand:

  • Different communication styles for different situations.

  • How these styles impact the success and development of your team.

The situational leadership approach by Ken Blanchard explores 4 leadership communication styles:

  • Directing

  • Supporting

  • Coaching

  • Delegating

Know how to use each style and when it's appropriate!

1. Directing

Leadership style: high direction and low support.

Leaders who direct:

  • Teach often

  • Set clear expectations

  • Check in frequently

Learning stage: team members with low competence and high commitment.

Directing is best suited for a beginner who is:

  • Excited

  • Inexperienced

  • Nervous

A young woman smiling at her coworker and looking around the room saying, "Excited to be here."

2. Supporting

Leadership style: high direction and high support.

Leaders who support:

  • Guide their teammates' learning journey

  • Help problem-solve

  • Explain the whys behind processes and decision-making

Learning stage: team members with low to some competence and low commitment.

Supporting is best suited for the disillusioned employee who is:

  • Still learning

  • Overwhelmed

  • Frustrated

A man who appears emotional sitting alone on a couch saying "it's a lot, it's a lot to take in."

Quiz

Koa is a recent graduate who was just hired as a social media specialist for a consulting company. They are excited but nervous. What leadership communication style would best work for Koa?

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3. Coaching

Leadership style: low direction and high support.

Leaders who coach:

  • Encourage team members

  • Ask how they can help

  • Create space for coworkers to discover their own insights

Learning stage: team members with moderate to high competence and variable commitment.

Best suited for the capable/cautious performer who is:

  • Incentive driven

  • Sufficient in their role

  • Wavering

Michael Scott from The Office taps his finger on a mug and sings, "I don't wanna work I just wanna bang on this mug all day."

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4. Delegating

Leadership style: low direction and low support.

Leaders who delegate:

  • Trust their team members' choices

  • Challenge them to grow

  • Acknowledge their team's contributions to the business

Learning stage: team members with high competence and high commitment.

Best suited for the independent expert who is:

  • Tenured in their role

  • Efficient

  • Confident

A confident woman pointing her finger up, walking with purpose telling two people, "Trust me! I'm a professional!"

Quiz

Jaida is a software engineer working for a tech company the past 5 years. Her team often comes to her for support. She is applying for a senior position. What leadership communication style would suit Jaida?

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Take Action

Adapting your leadership communication style to suit the specific learning stages of your team can elevate their experience, team morale, and business success.

Even if you don't manage a team directly, you can still use different situational styles to help your team grow!

A man telling his female coworker, "We make a great team."

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