Staff from Education Futures recently attended a leadership forum held by AdvanceHE, and had an opportunity to reflect on leadership approaches, and how different approaches work in synergy to develop effective teams and organisations.
In one of the activities, participants were asked to define and communicate their leadership styles using a set of key words. This revealed a range of different yet complementary leadership approaches in the team, and sparked reflection on the need to seek and value many different types of leadership. This also allowed the team to build on the Team Management Profiles work Education Futures did last year in a learning and teaching-focused context, and identify linkages between TMP work styles and leadership approaches.
Some of the leadership approaches discussed were:
- A focus on action and results through making connections, leveraging resources, and taking action to achieve goals – critical for achieving results and delivering outcomes
- A focus on innovation and creativity through always looking for new and better ways to do things and challenging the status quo – critical for driving innovation and staying ahead of the competition
- A focus on people and relationships through pursuing diversity, inclusivity, and reflective practice – critical for ensuring resilience, sustainability and wellbeing
Reflecting on these different leadership approaches, it becomes apparent successful leadership needs to balance and integrate all of these approaches. When we focus solely on action and results, we may miss opportunities for innovation or compromise wellbeing; a focus only on innovation may not consider sustainability, and focusing solely on relationships may mean we struggle to achieve tangible results.
Combining these different approaches, however, can create a well-rounded and effective team that can achieve tangible results and creative solutions. A focus on inclusivity and honesty can help create a positive team dynamic where everyone feels heard and valued, while a focus on innovation can help generate new ideas and solutions to problems. A focus on taking action and leveraging resources can then ensure that those ideas are put into practice and result in tangible outcomes. The strengths and weaknesses of each approach complement each other.
Reflecting on the different approaches to leadership in this forum has been a valuable exercise in understanding the critical components of successful leadership. By recognising the importance of action and results, innovation and creativity, and people and relationships, we can work to integrate these different approaches into our teams and our leadership practices. When we value and leverage the different perspectives that our staff bring to the table, and continually develop our own skills in a range of areas, we can create a strong team that can achieve both short-term and long-term goals while encouraging innovation and inclusivity.