Managing Stress for Success

Motivational Speaker Carole Spiers reacts
to a recent vote in favour of hard taskmasters

Some new research into management style seems to run counter to the popular assumptions about the virtues of partnership and a generally people-first culture.

In a major study by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), the largest provider of leadership and management qualifications in Europe, 'Determination to deliver' has been identified as the most desirable quality in an employer - well ahead of the more progressive notions of 'individual cohesion' and 'team working'. In other words, people would rather work for a hard taskmaster who meets targets than a lenient one who doesn't.

This suggests a parallel with sports team culture, where nobody wants to associate with a losing captain or manager.

The six components of leadership style

ILM tested their new system against all the main Situational Leadership models used by behavioural scientists. Research was based on six 'scales' or barometers, on which respondents were invited to log a position to show their preference.

1. Task v. Person
   Oriented more to the needs of the task or the needs of the person
2. Dogmatic v. Flexible
   Believing in only one kind of solution or open to suggestion
3. Centralised v. Decentralised
   Insisting on central control of information or prepared to delegate
4. Reward v. Punishment
   Motivating through promise of reward or threat of punishment
5. Organic v. Structured
   Leading through spontaneous input or through structured theory
6. The Means v. The End
   Focusing on standards and values or purely on the end result

Easy or Hard management - Summary

• Major new research study shows preference for effective bosses
• Study was based on an entirely new set of management criteria
• Clear parallels with sports culture - nobody wants a loser

Another key insight from Carole Spiers, International Leading Authority on Corporate Stress,
Motivational Speaker and BBC Broadcaster.