LEADING THE WAY

Building a great team and culture takes humility, courage and kindness, says Polly Rose of Grace Salon Leadership. Here’s how you can lead with success in your shop

SHUTTERSTOCK

I have often been intrigued by the different leadership styles that I have seen. There is a big disparity between the styles I’ve observed and the results that they achieve.

You have those who consider themselves managers, rather than leaders and do absolutely that; ’manage people’. They often regard themselves as being smarter than everyone else. It’s their way or the highway! They focus on themselves and pay no attention to the team or their opinions. They need to control every situation or decision. People work for them, not with them. This is a very outdated form of leadership and usually means a very high employee turnover.

The opposite to this, is those who are not comfortable in a position of leadership. They care for their team, but avoid conflict. They bury their head when action needs to be taken. They are at first regarded as nice people to work for, but resentment soon builds when team members see them ignoring bad behaviour, and respect is lost.

You have those who have a good relationship with their people. As leaders, they meet their objectives and are happy to settle for that. They have no desire to reach for the next level or encourage those they lead to explore their full potential. This leads to team members never feeling fulfilled and eager to leave when a better career opportunity to grow comes along.

I have come across leaders who are so driven that they never take the foot off the pedal. They set goals and aim for perfection. They push their team to get results and often under immense pressure, the team delivers. However, this way of leadership leads to stress and burnout. This way of leadership is not sustainable for the team or their leader.

“OUR ROLE AS LEADER CONSTANTLY EVOLVES. IT IS NOT A DESTINATION, IT IS A JOURNEY.”

There are leaders who really care for those they lead. They take it upon themselves to offer opportunities for development. They see potential in everyone. They encourage and guide all to tap into their skills. They are totally selfless and want everyone working with them to feel fulfilled. There are many rewards when leaders openly share details of the business with their team. They ask “What do you think? How do you see it?” before they make a decision. They lead with courage and openness. They admit to feeling fearful, permitting their people to feel vulnerable at times, too. This behaviour builds trust and promotes a healthy shop culture. They consistently offer thanks and rewards for good work resulting in a team who feel valued. Creativity and productivity grows.

Those who put their people first and connect and support them on all levels are the most admired and respected. These leaders have the edge, creating harmony and strong relationships within the team. The most revered leaders are those who recognise that their behaviour can have a huge impact on the lives of the people they lead and on the lives of their families.

Our role as a leader will never be finished; it will constantly evolve. It is not a destination but a journey. Take time to consider how you can advance your leadership style and become your very best.