Task-Oriented Leadership: 4 Strengths of Task-Oriented Leaders

Task-oriented leadership is a type of leadership style in which the efficient accomplishing of tasks and business goals is the primary objective. Task-oriented leaders focus on increasing productivity, efficiency, and time management to ensure that the company effectively meets its business objectives. Task-oriented leadership is common within project management departments, where meeting deadlines is crucial to the success of a project.

A task-oriented leader prioritizes the accomplishment of business goals first and foremost, whereas people-oriented or relationship-oriented leaders focus on empowering their employees. Furthermore, relationship-oriented leadership is a much more democratic leadership style—employees are encouraged to offer unique solutions and give input into decision-making processes. On the other hand, task-oriented leaders maximize efficiency, making decisions and then providing their teams with a plan to carry out.

Task-oriented leaders must exhibit certain leadership behaviors for this management style to succeed.

1. 1. Time management: This leadership approach requires a mastery of time management skills. Task-oriented leaders must create and adhere to strict schedules to effectively meet tight deadlines.
2. 2. Delegation: Task-oriented leaders must be able to identify the unique strengths of each team member and delegate work accordingly. This requires intuitive decision-making skills.
3. 3. Strategy: To be effective, task-oriented leaders must be thorough planners. They must be able to set goals and provide clear plans for meeting each goal. Putting together step-by-step plans allows task-oriented leaders to help their teams complete tasks effectively.
4. 4. Communication: To communicate goals, objectives, and next steps clearly, task-oriented leaders need to have strong communication skills so all team members are on the same page and have all the information and resources they need.

One challenge facing task-oriented leaders is maintaining positive employee morale. Here are some tips for cultivating a harmonious work environment and ensuring your team members feel empowered.

1. 1. Schedule time for team-building. Teams operating under a task-oriented leadership style may not find time during regular work hours to develop a strong sense of shared team identity. Make time for your employees to engage in team-building activities. Having a close-knit team can significantly impact employee retention and motivation.
2. 2. Offer guidance. It’s important to provide your team members with clear expectations and direction to avoid mistakes that could impede progress. Allow team members to have access to office hours or a direct line of communication so that they can ask questions and get clarity when they need it.
3. 3. Put a reward system in place. A reward system can encourage employees to stay on task. For example, a project manager can award engineers a bonus for meeting their monthly quotas ahead of schedule.

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