4.1 Adapt leadership and management styles to reflect different situations and stages in a care team’s development

Course: NVQ Level 5 Diploma In Leadership & Management for Adult Care (RQF)

Unit 1: Leadership & Management in Adult Care

LO4: Provide leadership for a team in an adult care setting

4.1 Adapt leadership and management styles to reflect different situations and stages in a care team’s development

In order to be an effective leader, it’s important to be aware of your team’s development stage and adapt your leadership style accordingly. For example, in the early stages of a care team’s development, it’s important to be directive and provide clear instructions so that everyone is on the same page. As the team develops and becomes more cohesive, you can relax some of your controls and allow for more autonomy. And finally, when the care team is functioning effectively and has reached its full potential, you can shift into a coaching role to help them continue to grow.

Hersey and Blanchard’s situational leadership can be applied differently depending on the confidence, skill level, or experience of team members. They recommend different leadership styles for people who are new on the job versus those who have had a few years of experience. A firm and directive approach are best for a new team member, whereas a supportive and coaching approach is more appropriate for an experienced team member.

Morrison’s six-level theory describes how managers’ development goals change over time. At the beginning of a manager’s career, their main goal is to complete tasks and meet objectives. As they continue to work in their field, they start to develop managerial skills and acquire a larger sphere of influence. Managers then transition into a new phase where they are focused on developing themselves and others, which is followed by another phase where they focus on their own vision and mission. The phases continue with a focus on managing relationships, leading across cultures, and finally developing the organization as a whole.

A theory proposed by Bruce Tuckman describes the stages that teams progress through during their lifespan: forming, storming, norming, and performing. Teams begin by defining their roles and goals and working together to meet these basic needs. They continue to grow as they learn how to work with each other and resolve conflicts. Once the team has successfully met these challenges, they become a cohesive unit and can work together more effectively. Finally, they become routine and can perform without much oversight from their manager.

Each of these theories provides a different perspective on how to manage and lead teams, so it’s important for managers to be aware of their team’s development stage and apply the appropriate leadership strategy. For example, if you’re managing a new care team that is just starting out, rely more heavily on directive and supportive leadership styles than someone who has had years of experience.