Consistency in Leadership
Traditional thinking in leadership suggests we should always lead and supervise exactly the same way. Consistent behavior certainly allows others to trust our integrity and can feel more secure for those following our leadership. Being consistent in our approach also takes less time than reinventing the wheel all the time. Leaders who have a default response or approach that they master also experience less stress.
Given all the benefits, how can this not be the best approach?
Flexibility in Leadership
However, there are other leaders who would instead encourage us to remain flexible, pivoting based on what makes sense at the time. Being flexible can lead to collaboration and innovation, and an ability to pivot quickly to new approaches. Time is often spent on the practical steps needed to overcome obstacles and reach goals.
Given all the benefits, how can this not be the best approach?
Finding the Balance
In reality, the best leadership approach is not “either/or”, but rather “both/and”. For example, consistency becomes imperative when making values based decisions and focusing on our mission. These are areas that should not change often and instead should create boundaries for how we operate. Both internal and external relationships benefit from consistency.
On the other hand, there are times when we might need to adapt to obtain new opportunities, or emerging challenges that we did not see before. There might be a need for different priorities and approaches to implementing our priorities. In particular adapting when we are leading others is key. Those we lead, have different skill sets and behavioral styles. When communicating, training, and empowering the team it is critical that we not use a “one size fits all” approach.
Likewise, the ability to pivot is critical in a fast changing environment. Being able to apply principles and concepts in new ways is increasingly critical for leaders. Change is more global and requires constant assessment and adapting to new information and trends.
Understanding the underlying pillars of your culture that are critical to maintain, while remaining flexible enough to pivot when needed will create a path to sustainability and continued momentum.
