Being an effective leader isn’t always something that comes naturally. In many cases, it requires hard work and the willingness to learn, adapt and evolve. The goal is to identify the property management leadership style that best suits yourself as well as your team, and this process may take a little bit of trial and error – especially if you are new to your role.
That said, there are certain leadership styles that are entirely ineffective and could result in unhappy employees, poor decisions and costly mistakes. As you grow and come into your own, here are five behaviors you’d be wise to steer clear of.
Micromanagement
There are many significant differences between a “boss” and a “leader,” but perhaps the biggest one is that bosses command and oversee while leaders inspire and develop. Effective leadership involves empowering those around you, which cannot be done when you’re trying to control every moment of every day.
Autocratic
The workplace has changed tremendously over the past few decades. Organizations have come to learn that collaboration and transparency are entirely more effective in achieving success than those with employees that are ruled with an iron fist. If your approach is “my way or the highway,” expect to run into problems down the road.
Self-Reliant
If you’ve worked your way up through the ranks of your property management company and are now in a position of leadership, it may be tempting to keep a tight grip on your workload just as you’ve always done. But leading people effectively means delegating work. This demonstrates trust, which will foster respect and loyalty. It will also prevent you from getting burnt out.
Non-Communicative
This can sometimes be referred to as “mushroom-style” management because all of the important information is stored at the top and fails to trickle downward to the employees. This type of knowledge hoarding is not good for your team or for your property management company as a whole because it can easily result in confusion, misunderstandings and subsequent costly mistakes.
Disciplinarian (a.k.a. the “morale buster”)
Obviously providing constructive criticism and correction is an important part of leadership, but if the only interaction your employees have with you involves being told what they did wrong, you won’t be earning their respect or fostering more productivity. Balance your coaching with plenty of positive feedback.
Being a good leader often takes time and patience. You have to find your style and develop the necessary skills to make it work. Knowing ahead of time which types of leadership behaviors are likely to get poor results can help you stay vigilant in what to avoid while pursuing your own personal development.
What poor leadership styles have you experienced during your career in property management? How did you overcome these things? Please share your thoughts, comments and insight in the comments below!
