Applying the Blake Mouton Managerial Grid
Being aware of the various approaches is the first step in understanding and improving how well you perform as a manager. It is important to understand how you currently operate, so that you can then identify ways of becoming effective in both areas.
Step One: Identify your leadership style
Think of some recent situations where you were the leader.
For each of these situations, place yourself on the grid according to where you believe you fit.
Step Two: Identify areas of improvement and develop your leadership skills
Look at your current leadership approach, and think about whether it suits the context.
Look at ways that you could improve. Are you settling for ‘middle of the road’ because it is easier than reaching for more?
Identify ways to get the skills you need to reach the Team Leadership position. These may include involving others in problem solving or improving how you communicate with them, if you feel you are too task-oriented. Or it may mean becoming clearer about scheduling or monitoring project progress if you tend to focus too much on people.
Continually monitor your performance and watch for situations where you slip back into bad old habits.
Step Three: Put the Grid in Context
It is important to recognize that the Team Management style isn’t always the most effective approach in every situation. While the benefits of democratic and participative leadership are widely accepted, there are times that call for more attention in one area than another.
If your company is in the midst of a merger or some other significant change, it can be acceptable to place a higher emphasis on people than on production. Likewise, when faced with an economic hardship or physical risk, people concerns may be placed on the back burner, for the short-term at least, to achieve good results and efficiency.