LEAD: Be a Less Autocratic Leader

From: Harvard Business Review <noreply@email.hbr.org>

Date: June 10, 2015 at 4:06:35 AM EDT
Subject: The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

June 10, 2015 Be a Less Autocratic Leader Trying to lead a seasoned, highly skilled team through command-and-control won't work. These groups need leaders who are emotionally and intellectually agile, and able to modulate styles as needed. To be less autocratic, try shifting: From self-awareness to social awareness. It's not enough to know your own strengths and weaknesses. You have to know how your behavior affects people. Ask: What is the impact of your management style on others? How do you know what others are feeling? From directive to inquisitive. When you're trying to foster creativity, you need to be less declarative and more curious. Ask: How much time do you spend listening rather than speaking? How do you leverage diverse perspectives? From power over to power with. When you flaunt authority, people will often shut down or hide, and the team loses momentum. Ask: How do you stimulate the best thinking from your team? How often do team members make decisions? Adapted from "Learn to Become a Less Autocratic Manager," by Jeffrey W. Hull.

LEAD: The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

April 24, 2015 Sharing Doubts Up Front Helps Persuade Others If you want to persuade an audience, you need to show them that you're trustworthy. In ambiguous or controversial situations, many people think it's best to sweep small doubts or uncertainties about their message under the rug. But evidence suggests that signaling these doubts immediately before delivering your argument can actually help establish trust. The key is sequencing: Start with a small weakness or drawback, then use the word "but" before delivering your main message. A doctor who says, "No vaccine in the world is without the occasional adverse event, but this vaccine is extremely safe and has been used to protect millions of children," strengthens her trustworthiness and credibility. This message would feel different if the weakness followed, rather than preceded, her main point. Adapted from "How Doctors (or Anyone) Can Craft a More Persuasive Message" by Steve Martin.