Dave Kashen explains why effective managers adapt their style along two axes: directive versus supportive. The approach shifts based on each team member's maturity, moving from high direction to support and eventually delegation.
This is why your management style is likely flawed. Most managers have a style and then they try to do the one-size-fits-all where they apply that style to all their team members. But team members are distinct in these very specific ways. On this axis is how directive you need to be as a leader, and this is how supportive you need to be as a leader. And based on the maturity of your team members, you need to adjust your style. So if someone's just starting out, they actually need direction, right? You need to be highly directive with them. And then over time, as they learn more and more what to do, you start becoming more supportive. They need less direction, but they're not confident yet. So you got to support them and give them a lot of praise and recognition. And then eventually, over time, they come to the place where they need neither support nor direction, and you can fully just delegate and let go.
