Log inLike the boss, like the boss: Managers lead like their own superiors
Düsseldorf, November 12, 2018 - When asked about their own leadership style, managers obviously orient themselves very much to their superiors. There is a significant and positive correlation between the style that their bosses set for them and the style they apply to their employees. To put it simply, this means that in many cases they adopt the style that their bosses have practiced and transfer this behavior to their own employees. The online job platform StepStone and the Kienbaum Institut @ ISM, Kienbaum's research facility, found this out in a study of 13,500 specialists and managers. 
Being a boss is hard (Photo: Ryan McGuire / Pixabay)
If the boss has all the freedom, his employees also have it
Whether directive, strategic or laissez-fair leadership: there are many styles of how bosses lead their employees - StepStone and Kienbaum have examined a total of seven different leadership styles in more detail. Particularly striking here: If a boss receives neither guidelines nor feedback (laissez-fair management style) from his superior, this boss does not provide any feedback or goals to his employees either. 27 percent of all specialists in Germany attest to their manager exactly such a management style. "The effects of poor leadership are often underestimated. Because managers emulate their bosses in their leadership style, poor leadership quickly finds imitators," says Dr. Sebastian Dettmers, managing director at StepStone. "Top management in particular should therefore be aware of its management style."
Negative leadership is often "inherited"
A strong correlation can also be found in the analysis in the style of negative leadership. This means a leadership style that is characterized by loud and aggressive behavior. Unpredictability, rash and impulsive actions are often shown by those bosses who are also led by their own superiors in this way. "In order to prevent leadership cultures with negative effects, superiors must constantly analyze and question themselves and their leadership style," says Dr. Walter Jochmann, managing director of Kienbaum. "And that works best with regular feedback - both from the manager and from the company's own employees."
The complete study paper is available for free download here: https://www.stepstone.de/ueber-stepstone/knowledge/fuehren/
