Business & Small Business

As an entrepreneur, leadership is the most important part of your job. But just what traits do you need to lead your company in the 21st century? Insight? Creativity? People skills? The ability to think innovatively? More importantly, do you have those skills now?

Your first step to becoming a 21st century leader is to find out just what type of leadership style you have now. The following test will help you determine that so you begin to acquire the critical skills you need to improve and grow. Let's get started.

2) I welcome innovative ideas from employees.
a) Most of the time
b) Often
c) Sometimes
d) Rarely
e) Almost never

4) I thrive on change.
a) Exactly like me
b) A lot like me
c) Somewhat like me
d) A little like me
e) Not at all like me

5) If a person I am talking to seems ill-at-ease or intimidated, I will attempt to make him/her more comfortable (e.g. I will assume a different posture or tone of voice).
a) Exactly like me
b) A lot like me
c) Somewhat like me
d) A little like me
e) Not at all like me

6) I state clearly the goals that everyone should be working towards.
a) Exactly like me
b) A lot like me
c) Somewhat like me
d) A little like me
e) Not at all like me

7) I “roll with the punches” and adjust to changes in the business climate.
a) Exactly like me
b) A lot like me
c) Somewhat like me
d) A little like me
e) Not at all like me

8) I am good at thinking “outside the box”.
a) Exactly like me
b) A lot like me
c) Somewhat like me
d) A little like me
e) Not at all like me

9) Once we have reached a goal, I set my sights on the next one for my organization.
a) Completely true
b) Mostly true
c) Somewhat true/false
d) Mostly false
e) Completely false

10) I have a good sense of which employees/teams have the greatest potential in terms of helping the organization achieve its long-term objectives.
a) Completely true
b) Mostly true
c) Somewhat true/false
d) Mostly false
e) Completely false

11) If one of my employees has an accident or makes a mistake, management must share some of the blame.
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Somewhat agree/disagree
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree

12) Whether or not a business is successful has a lot to do with chance.
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Somewhat agree/disagree
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree

13) Maintaining a good relationship with my employees is a top priority for me.
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Somewhat agree/disagree
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree

14) I feel that it is my job as manager/leader to ensure that each employee reaches his/her full potential.
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Somewhat agree/disagree
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree

15) It’s up to me to set the bar for how hard people in my organization work.
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Somewhat agree/disagree
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree

16) I feel comfortable asking employees’ opinions and ideas on projects.
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Somewhat agree/disagree
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree

17) When I lead meetings to evaluate the organizations performance in terms of our goals, everyone seems keyed up and eager to work.
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Somewhat agree/disagree
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree

18) I feel that I inspire my employees.
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Somewhat agree/disagree
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree

19) If I assign one of my tasks to someone else, I am concerned that the person won’t do as good of a job as I would.
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Somewhat agree/disagree
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree

20) Managers/leaders must behave in a trustworthy manner to set an example for employees.
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Somewhat agree/disagree
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree

Quiz: What's Your Leadership Style?