Management Style Assessment

After taking the management style assessment, I discovered that my

dominant management style was the Shepherd, whom is described as being
a people pleaser, is also spontaneous, accommodating, conflict avoiding, and
contemplative, just to name a few, and one who also prefers to facilitate
members rather than to overly direct them. I have to say that I agree with
this assessment. I definitely prefer to guide and encourage rather than be in
the drivers seat. By just a difference of one point, my second dominant
management style was number three, maintenance managers, who favor
orderly, routine operations run by the book. Though results were
extremely close in score, I still feel I identify more with the shepherd.
According to an article written by John A. Davis, a Professor at Harvard
Business School, leading is fundamentally about identifying where a group
needs to go, strategizing how to get there, and getting people to change in
order to get there (Davis, 2014). It is very personal, connecting and
convincing people, while wanting to do best for those who follow (Davis,
2014).
My definition of a great leader is one who is smart, open minded,
trustworthy, values the opinions of others and puts others needs before their
own. They never give up on their followers, and they take all the blame and
give away the credit. I recall a quote made by a former President, John
Adams, If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more,
and become more, you are a leader.

Strengths I feel that I possess, are being someone who has concern for
routine, one who is sharing and participative, and also one who is
encouraging. Ive been an aide for a few years now and having concern for
routine is of importance to me because it always determines my flow for the
remainder of a shift. Now I know in nursing, anything is possible, which I
always take into consideration, but sometimes completing even the smallest
things on schedule can make the biggest of differences. What also makes a
difference is if youre working with a team filled with, truly, team players. I
feel Im always the one to help out my coworkers whenever its needed, even
if Im behind on my duties; this way, patients are safe and everyone can get
out on time. During busy shifts, it gets crazy and staff get exhausted. Just a
little encouragement to keep on going gives that extra push to get through
the shift.
Taking note of the results when one tries different approaches, then
asking oneself what did and didnt work, are good ways to strengthen a
leadership style (Castledine, 2010). My leadership style values teamwork
and the delegation of duties as appropriate. To strengthen this style would
mean to include reflecting and taking a little time out to figure out what went
wrong or right, or seeing what could be done differently. Another way to
strengthen my style would be setting examples by practicing what I preach
and behave in a way I would want others to behave.
Leadership style is developed overtime through trial and error and
there is always room for strengthening and improving (Kajidori, 2014). I

believe there is always room for self-improvement. Knowing and believing

this is what helps to keep me grounded and humble.

Works Cited
Castledine, J. (2010, April 02). Fresh business thinking.com. Retrieved
January 15, 2015, from How to Improve your Leadership Style:
www.freshbusinessthinking.com
Davis, J. A. (2014, February 13). Harvard Business School Working
Knowledge. Retrieved January 13, 2015, from Managing the Family
Business: Leadership Roles: www.hbswk.hbs.edu/item/7404.html
Kajidori, Y. (2014, December 22). Pulse. Retrieved January 14, 2015, from 6
Things You Need to Know to Improve your Leadership Style:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/6-things-you-need-to-know-to-improve-yourleadership-style-yeukai-kajidori.com