Supportive Leadership:

I agree that supportive leadership is very important in all aspects of leadership.  According to the Yukl text there are a few guidelines for being a supportive leader.  These include:

Showing acceptance and positive regard

Providing sympathy and support when someone is upset or anxious

Bolstering peoples self-esteem and confidence

Be willing to help with personal problems (Yukl, 2013 p. 66).

I do not think that these suggestions are applicable in all aspects of leadership however, when they are used appropriately your subordinates will be very grateful. During my Career in the United States Air Force I have been a supervisor of many.  One way I have embraced the supportive role is through development.  I love and enjoy training others.  It is my belief that everyone needs to know and understand what is going on.  I mentioned this before that I do not believe in telling people that they do not know the big picture.  I want the people I work with to be able to step in and take over for me if I had to leave or was not available.  This is accomplished by developing your subordinates and training them.  This is difficult for some personnel because it requires patience and the ability to want to help people.  Another thing needed for development is knowledge.  If you as the leader do not know what to do it is hard for you to pass on to others and help them develop.  In John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership he discusses the Law of Reproduction (Maxwell, 1998 p. 133).  This law discusses how good leaders make more good leaders by developing them.  It gives a very good example of the NFL and how head coaches hire assistant coaches and they in turn become head coaches.  These assistant head coaches did not become future head coaches without support from the person who hired them.  This same holds true for me as a USAF member.  The military is based on rank and authority however as a leader and supervisor I truly believe that a supportive leadership approach is productive and beneficial in the work center.

Maxwell, J. (1998). The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.  Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.

Yukl, G. (2013). Leadership in Organization (8^th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.