How predictable is your boss’ leadership style?

Our reader poll today asks: How predictable is your boss’s leadership style?

– I always know what to expect from my boss and how he or she leads: 22%
– He or she is predictable most of the time but occasionally surprises me: 53%
– My boss is mostly unpredictable, and I have to react to shifting styles: 16%
– My boss is completely unpredictable, and their style is not clear: 9%

There’s a lot of uncertainty about how our bosses act. Only about a quarter of you can count on your boss to be totally predictable. Many of you are surprised, with varying frequency, with a quarter of you declaring your boss is mostly or completely unpredictable. Those lines of communication and consistency need to improve. The next time your boss surprises you, take it upon yourself to ask him or her the rationale behind the decision. The more views you can get into your boss’ thought process, the more predictable he or she will become for you. You might also consider sitting down with your boss and asking for expectations and how he or she likes to work. That kind of clarification will help you better understand what to expect from your boss.

Do you agree with these poll results?  Let us know in the comments below!

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 190,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.