The basis for this type of leadership is provided by the theory X and theory Y coined by Douglas McGregor in 1960 X-Y-Theorie. Managers can (and should) be involved in this decision-making process with the potential they have to offer as a result of their experience, but they should not manipulate this process and especially not assume that they already know the outcome. Based on this, the team can react quickly to unforeseen events. Risks and opportunities are evaluated and balanced. The diverse competencies and experience within the team, combined with a well-developed communications network, are the basis for making the right decisions on complex issues in the shortest possible time.
Rather, it is about the team as a whole taking on this role. However, this should not be understood to mean that a single employee takes on the role of leader. This leadership style promotes entrepreneurial thinking and action among employees and is thus an important prerequisite for decentralised decision-making structures. On the one hand, they leave room for implementation in daily activities, but on the other hand, they provide a clear scope for action. Visions can exist at the level of the entire company, but also at the level of individual products. Ideally, this purpose is expressed in the form of a meaningful vision that gives employees a clear direction for their efforts.
The Catalyst Leader, for example, does not set goals but rather ensures that his employees have all the information they need to set ambitious goals for themselves.Īn important prerequisite for this is that the employees understand the purpose of their actions. He concentrates on shaping the environment of the employee and the team in such a way that the team achieves the best work results. The difference between this leadership style and a strongly developed technical leadership style ( Expert Leader), or a manager who leads primarily by setting goals ( Achiever Leader), is mainly that the Catalyst Leader leaves the technical content and the associated goals to the employee or the team. The leadership style that thrives best with this ability is known as Catalyst Leader. The focus of agile leadership is on shaping the environment for employees, in order to achieve the best results. Anchoring agility within your organisation.