When considering possible leadership styles for an Engineering Manager, it’s essential to recognize that different situations and team dynamics may call for different approaches. Here are several leadership styles, described using my top 5 hats, each combining multiple styles to fit the role:

1. Enthusiastic Scientist Researcher:

• Combination of Styles: Transformational Leadership and Coaching Leadership
• Characteristics: As an enthusiastic scientist researcher, I inspire and motivate the team by creating a vision for the future and encouraging innovation. I also focus on personal and professional development, providing guidance and support to help team members grow and excel.
• When to Use: Ideal for times of change or when pursuing ambitious new goals that require creative solutions and out-of-the-box thinking, while also fostering a culture of continuous learning and curiosity.

Example: The company is transitioning to a new, cutting-edge technology stack.

Ensure a smooth transition while fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. You can organize a series of workshops and hackathons to introduce the new technology. Encourage team members to experiment, share their findings, and collaborate on innovative projects. The team quickly adapted to the new technology, leading to improved performance and innovative solutions. The culture of continuous learning and curiosity was strengthened, boosting overall team morale and productivity.

2. Technical Nerd Perfectionist:

• Combination of Styles: Transactional Leadership and Pacesetting Leadership
• Characteristics: As a technical nerd perfectionist, I focus on structured tasks, clear goals, and high performance standards. I lead by example, setting high expectations for technical excellence and meticulous attention to detail.
• When to Use: Effective in environments requiring high levels of accuracy and technical expertise, where quality and performance are paramount. Suitable for achieving fast-paced progress and meeting specific performance metrics.

Example: A critical mobile app backend needs optimization due to performance issues.

Reduce average response time and improve the user experience. You can meticulously analyzed the existing code, identified weak sub-queries, and optimized the database indexes. Conducte rigorous testing to ensure the changes were effective and error-free. The average response time dropped from ~250ms to ~20ms, significantly enhancing the user experience. The app’s performance improved, leading to increased user satisfaction and retention. I have a post about that case

3. Empathic and Inspirational Leader:

• Combination of Styles: Servant Leadership and Visionary Leadership
• Characteristics: As an empathic and inspirational leader, I prioritize the needs of the team, offering support and removing obstacles to help them succeed. I also provide a clear, compelling vision of the future and inspire the team to work towards it.
• When to Use: Best in situations where team cohesion and individual growth are essential, and when motivating the team through empathy and inspiration can drive success. Ideal for fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.

Example: The team is experiencing low morale due to a recent setback.

We should boost team morale and foster a positive, inclusive work environment. Make one-on-one meetings with each team member to understand their concerns and provide support. Also, you can organize team-building activities and regularly share positive feedback and success stories. Team morale improved significantly, leading to increased collaboration and productivity. The supportive and inclusive environment helped team members feel valued and motivated.

4. Meticulous and Persistent Detective Investigator:

• Combination of Styles: Democratic Leadership and Autocratic Leadership
• Characteristics: As a meticulous and persistent detective investigator, I dive deep into issues, uncover root causes, and develop detailed, effective solutions to complex problems. I encourage team participation in decision-making processes but also provide clear direction when needed.
• When to Use: Useful in scenarios where persistent investigation and attention to detail are needed to troubleshoot and resolve intricate technical challenges. Effective when balancing collaborative problem-solving with decisive action.

Example: A complex bug in the system is causing frequent outages.

We have to identify and resolve the root cause of the bug. You can conducte a thorough investigation, analyzing logs and system behavior to pinpoint the issue. Collaborate with team members to test different hypotheses and solutions until the bug was resolved. The bug was successfully identified and fixed, resulting in a stable system with no further outages. The detailed investigation process also provided valuable insights into potential areas for future improvements.

5. Captain of a Pirate Sailing Ship:

• Combination of Styles: Laissez-Faire Leadership and Transformational Leadership
• Characteristics: As the captain of a pirate sailing ship, I lead with boldness, navigating through uncertainties with confidence. I trust my team’s expertise and self-motivation, allowing them to take initiative while inspiring them to tackle challenges head-on.
• When to Use: Ideal for dynamic and fast-paced environments where decisive action, strong leadership, and a united team are crucial for navigating through turbulent times. Suitable for fostering a spirit of camaraderie and resilience.

Example: The company faces a major project deadline with tight resources and high uncertainty.

Navigate the team through the challenges to meet the deadline. Take decisive action, prioritize critical tasks and reallocate resources efficiently. Inspire the team with confidence and bold leadership, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and resilience. The team successfully met the project deadline, delivering high-quality results despite the challenges. The experience strengthened the team’s unity and ability to navigate future uncertainties with confidence.

Read more about parallels between sailing and product development

Choosing the Right Style

The best Engineering Managers often adopt a flexible approach, adapting their leadership style to fit the team’s needs, the organization’s culture, and the specific challenges at hand. Combining elements from multiple styles can also be effective. For example, a manager might use the enthusiastic scientist researcher approach to inspire innovation while applying the empathic and inspirational leader techniques to develop team members’ skills.

Which leadership style resonates most with your approach to management, and why? Feel free to write a comment below!