7 Essential Leadership Concepts and Styles for Success

7 Essential Leadership Concepts for Success

In relation to these 7 concepts, first, we have to know that they are essential in order to have an effective leadership practice and style.

Aligning with Covey’s 7 Habits

Common Purpose is the basis for any successful organization. This aligns with Covey’s Habit 2: “Begin with the End in Mind,” which talks about the importance of having a clear vision of desired outcomes, where leaders can guide their teams toward collective goals.

The Importance of Communication

Excellent Communication is another pillar of effective leadership. It’s connected with Covey’s Habit 5: “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood,” which demonstrates the importance of actively listening and having empathic communication. By prioritizing honest dialogue, leaders can build trust with their employees and help to achieve an effective process.

Process and Prioritization

Achieving an Effective Process is related to Covey’s Habit 3: “Put First Things First,” where leaders prioritize what’s important, not urgent, in order to focus on activities that align with organizational goals.

Building Strong Relationships

Having these three concepts allows leaders to have a Solid Relationship with their employees, which makes it possible to create a collaborative environment between leader and employee. Covey’s Habit 4: “Think Win-Win” highlights the importance of seeking mutually beneficial solutions. This makes leaders inspire and be loyal to their employees, creating solid relationships based on trust.

The Role of Clear Goals

Basing leadership on Crystal Clear Goals provides direction and motivation for leaders and employees. Having well-defined goals allows everyone to understand what is expected to be achieved. It relies on Covey’s Habit 1: “Be Proactive,” which is about doing things you can influence, taking responsibility and initiative for one’s actions. Clear goals empower individuals to succeed.

Gaining Acceptance

Through all these essential habits, leaders win acceptance from their employees. Accepted Leadership is crucial for maintaining authority and influencing a team. Covey’s Habit 6: “Synergize” values collaborative leadership and the power of teamwork. It’s about leading by example and demonstrating integrity.

Handling Conflict Effectively

Conflict is inevitable in any group work, but a way a leader can handle it is by recognizing Covey’s Habit 7: “Sharpen the Saw,” which talks about preserving ourselves and trying to live a balanced life. Balance our four areas: physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental, because we live too accelerated.

Leadership Styles, Delegation, and Power Types

Based on the quote, we can relate it to concepts like Leadership Style, Delegation Levels, and Power Types.

Leadership Styles in Action

A leader, depending on their tasks, would take different leadership styles. For example, mentioning that he is an athletic coach, we can consider a Coaching Style where he is going to focus on their students’ personal development, strengths, and weak points. He will work closely with his team members, also seeking feedback. A Coaching leadership style is completely different from a Coercive style, where there is no empathy; if you fail, you probably get punished, and there is hard control and supervision.

Delegation Styles

On the other hand, being a symphony conductor, the delegation style he probably carries out is:

  • Sell: Where he, as a leader, will make all decisions.
  • Tell: He, as a leader, will make the decision but also persuade the others.
  • Consult: Before making the decision, he would ask his team.
  • Agree: The decision would be taken by both parties (team and leader).

Power Types in Leadership

Finally, mentioning Power Types, knowing he is an athletic coach and a symphony conductor, we can say that his power may be based on:

  • Expert: He has the power of persuading others based on his skills/experiences.
  • Legitimate: Based on the power he has by his responsibilities, the position he holds.
  • Reward: Because he is the one who has the ability to reward his students.

Leadership Types: Coach, Coercive, Affiliative (avoids confrontation, provides positive feedback, knows staff needs), Democratic (hears other opinions, invites staff to take part in decision-making), Peacemaker, Leads by setting an example (doesn’t like poor performance), Directorial (people have a say).

Delegation Levels: Tell, Sell, Consult, Agree, Advise, Inquire, Delegate.

Power Types: Coercive, Expert, Legitimate, Referent, Reward, Power by Information, Power by Connection.