Why Your Change Leadership Style Matters If You Want To Have More Impact

Did you know that research out of Harvard Business School proves that your leadership style is responsible for 30% of the company’s bottom line profitability? 30% is huge! If that’s not a good reason to think about clarifying and developing your lead

Did you know that research out of Harvard Business School proves that your leadership style is responsible for 30% of the company’s bottom line profitability? 30% is huge!

If that’s not a good reason to think about clarifying and developing your leadership style (and the leadership capability of everyone in your team!) then I don’t know what is…

This is just one of the reasons why the concept of our change leadership styles is something that I’ve become fascinated by. 


In fact, I’m convinced knowing and understanding your personal change leadership style can have a huge, positive impact on the success of your change initiative.  

That’s why, earlier this year, I started building out a matrix of leadership styles that are specific to driving and delivering organisational change and transformation.  

And it’s also why, in today’s episode of The New Way podcast, I’m excited to break down why your change leadership style matters if you want to have more impact.

In this ep, I’m sharing:

  • The 4 different change leadership styles;

  • What your change leadership style says about your communication style, core competencies, strengths and weaknesses;

  • Exactly how you can easily figure out your change leadership style so you can put this stuff into practice in your own life.

My take is that, like any useful profiling tool, getting clear on your change leadership style can help you get important insights into yourself, including your more powerful role as a change leader.

Take a listen now! I hope this ep inspires you to find out your change leadership style, and take action on what you discover, so you can be the most impactful change leader you can be!


TOPICS DISCUSSED AND WHERE TO FIND THEM:

[1:43]: Understanding your unique change leadership style will have a positive impact on the success of your change initiative. I built a matrix of leadership styles that are specific to driving and delivering organisational change and transformation. 

[2:24]: Kotter defined the difference between change management and change leadership. Change management refers to a set of basic tools or structures intended to keep any change effort under control. The goal is often to minimize the distractions and impacts of the change. Change leadership is the driving forces, visions, and processes that fuel large-scale transformation. 

[3:51]: Driving transformation requires vision, a clear strategic narrative, and active visible ownership from senior executives. 

[4:23]: A 3 year Harvard business school study by Daniel Goleman analysed more than 3,000 managers and found that leadership style was responsible for 30% of the company’s profitability. 

[5:06]: Getting clear on your change leadership style will give you insights into yourself. 

[5:20]: The leadership style you align with tells us about your preferred communication style, your approach to work, your core relevant competencies and strengths, and your most powerful role as a change leader. 

[5:55]: Certain communication tactics will be better for you depending on your change leadership style. 

[7:04]: The sponsor - focus on creating, providing a safe space for change, making sure the change team has the necessary resources. Meeting the needs of stakeholders is the path to change success. 

[7:32]: The collaborator - engage stakeholders and seek input, work with stakeholders to form the change vision together, transparent decision making. Taking into account all stakeholder views is the fastest path to change success. 

[8:02]: The role model - set a personal example, personalise the change experience, role model and champion the change, link new structures and processes to the organisation’s purpose and values. Aligning change to the company’s purpose and values is the path to success. 

[8:34]: The visionary - stakeholders need to see it to believe it. Managing executive priorities will lead to success. 

[9:02]: One leadership style isn’t better than the others - they’re just different. 

[9:54]: Check out the change leadership diagnostic I created to find out your change leadership style here

[11:23]: Understanding your change leadership style will help you clarify how your strengths and weaknesses can hinder or help you in an organisational change setting. 

[11:44]: Try getting your whole change team to complete the quiz and share their results.

LINKS

Resources mentioned:

Articles mentioned:

Website: https://www.everchange.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatebyrne/

Kate Byrne