Leadership
Styles
Some people think that a heavy hand and stern brow
makes for the best team, others believe in letting the group take care of
themselves. The truth of the matter is that leadership styles work differently
depending on the group and the person in charge. When you think it's time for a
little team sharing it might actually be time for laying down rules. The
descriptions below are designed to help you figure out what strategy is best for
you at any given time and for any stage of guard development.
Slave
Driver Autocratic:
The Autocratic method
of instruction is a lot like a dictatorship. The individual in charge is the
ONLY one in charge and the only one who will be involved in any decision making.
Close supervision and strict rules are the meat and potatoes of this strategy.
The leader has total control and all activities are determined by them. They
also have the power to deal out punishments when they see fit and will often
make examples of members who do not fall in line with the team. Instruction is
simplified into easy to understand patterns and perfect becomes the only option.
This leader will tell you that only complete authority is respected and that
no-one would ever listen to someone they thought was their
"buddy".
PROS:Basic skills are sharpened and the team learns a
great deal of discipline as well as respect for seniority and
instructor.
CONS:Creativity and personal motivation are extinct, not
to mention the structure may fall apart if the leader is missing for any
reason.
This style is best suited for teams which are either just
starting out, very young, or going through a tough patch competitively.
Sometimes all people really need is for someone to step up and take
charge.
Architect
Democratic:
Democratic leaders
focus on building team motivation and keeping everyone involved in the process.
Usually in this situation there are a series of leaders involved, all being led
by one main person. That leader delegates responsibility to the others and will
consult them for ideas on how to improve the team. They rely a lot on member
feedback and will make attempts to learn more about individuals and their needs.
Instruction tends to get more personal at this level and often buddy systems are
employed to aid members who are struggling. While punishments still exist, a way
to reward members will also come into play, even if it's only
verbal.
PROS:Communication builds team motivation and creates a
better group atmosphere. When more than one person is contributing ideas the
chance for new solutions is greater.
CONS:You can't always rely on
your lower leaders, they may decide to run things their own way or create drama
between groups. This closeness to members may also cause some to feel less
pressured to improve quickly, slowing the process.
Democratic leadership
is best for groups which have a standing history of excellence and already
understand the primary factors involved in success. It's also a good way to go
if the members have been together for a while and there is a strong family
vibe.
Laid
Back Laissez-Faire
Laissez-faire means
let it be, and this leader does just that. Their motto is, "if it aint broke,
dont fix it!". There is little if any guidance, no supervision, and no real
punishments. Basically the group is on their own to figure things out.
Occasionally this leader may step in to make a suggestion but usually they are
so poorly respected that no-one pays much attention anyway. If there are
supervisor types running around they are probably more in charge than the actual
leader. The progress of the group is totally dependent on the attitude of that
group and without interference they suffer the consequences, or reap the
rewards, of their own actions.
PROS:Team motivation MUST exist and
everyone is involved in keeping the group together, in this way the relationship
between members becomes more respectful and individual interests are phased
out.
CONS:There is no control! If the team decides to give up, then
that's the end of it! It's chaos people!!!
The only situation where this
is even possible is when there is no available instruction or the group is
somehow between leaders, otherwise I'd say leave it be!
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