The best leaders don’t already have the answers – they know how to find them.
Many leaders earned their role by demonstrating their ability to solve problems and deliver results. It’s a common misperception that in a leadership role you need to exert this even more by having all the answers and making decisions all on your own. In fact, this mindset is often the downfall for great leadership.
One of the strongest attributes you can bring to your team is participatory leadership. With this style, you help create an inclusive environment where employees feel comfortable sharing perspectives, exploring new ideas, and providing information you may not already have. It also allows your employees the opportunity to learn and grow.
Participatory leadership benefits leaders, employees, and organizations. By engaging others, you have the opportunity to find the best, most informed answers – and you have boosted employee engagement and development. Even though you are the ultimate decision maker – and may make an unpopular decision – you have provided the opportunity for employees to learn about various considerations that go into the decision.
How to incorporate participatory processes into your work
You can help create a balance between your position of authority and building participation by being clear and candid about what is open for discussion and exploration.
Here are some things to consider:
Engaging the experts at Management Analysis and Development
As you continue to build participatory leadership styles, you may encounter projects or problems that could benefit from expert-level facilitation. Management Analysis and Development (MAD) an enterprise-wide resource that can provide hands-on help to help you reach your immediate needs and model the participatory leadership style. MAD can help you gain deeper insights to make more informed decisions by facilitating meetings, conducting surveys and more.
Enterprise Talent Development (ETD) offers Skills Development Courses on this topic. Review upcoming scheduled courses on the ETD website.
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