12 Leadership Styles: Operational
The Daily Grind That Builds Greatness
All the strategy and vision in the world doesn’t build habits. Habits are built through consistent actions, taken day after day after day. It’s not about the grand gestures or lofty ideas—it’s about what happens in the everyday grind. And that’s where Operational Leadership comes in.
While strategic leadership gets a lot of attention for its long-term vision and big-picture thinking, operational leadership is the backbone of any business. It’s the leadership style that focuses on the here and now, making sure that day-to-day operations run smoothly, efficiently, and with purpose. Operational leadership is what ensures that grand visions become sustainable realities. After all, without the daily habits and consistent effort, even the most brilliant strategy is just a pipe dream.
What is Operational Leadership?
Operational leadership is the practice of overseeing the daily functions of an organization to ensure smooth, efficient, and productive performance. Leaders who adopt this style focus on managing resources, processes, and people to meet the organization’s short-term goals while building the habits and structures that support long-term success.
At its core, operational leadership is about turning vision into action. It’s not just about ensuring that things get done—it’s about making sure they get done right, consistently, and efficiently. This leadership style involves managing the routine tasks and systems that keep the business running, from managing budgets and timelines to overseeing staff and quality control. Operational leaders prioritize execution and make sure that everything is working like a well-oiled machine.
But operational leadership is not just about keeping the wheels turning—it’s about continuously improving those wheels. Great operational leaders look for ways to optimize processes, improve efficiency, and build habits that create lasting success.
The Pros of Operational Leadership
Consistency and Efficiency: Operational leadership ensures that processes are followed consistently, which leads to predictable and efficient outcomes. This reliability is crucial for maintaining quality and performance over time.
Problem-Solving: Operational leaders are excellent problem-solvers, addressing issues as they arise and finding practical solutions to keep operations running smoothly.
Support for Strategic Goals: While operational leaders focus on the day-to-day, their work directly supports the larger strategic goals of the organization. By keeping the business running efficiently, they provide the stability needed to pursue long-term vision.
The Cons of Operational Leadership
Lack of Long-Term Focus: Because operational leadership focuses on the here and now, it can sometimes neglect long-term strategic planning. Operational leaders need to ensure they’re aligned with the broader vision.
Risk of Micromanagement: The focus on execution can lead operational leaders to micromanage their teams, particularly if they’re overly concerned with the finer details of daily tasks.
Burnout: Operational leadership requires a lot of focus on immediate tasks and problems, which can be mentally and physically draining. Leaders who don’t manage their workload and delegate effectively may experience burnout.
When is Operational Leadership Best Utilized?
Operational leadership is essential in environments where consistency, efficiency, and reliable performance are key. It’s particularly effective in industries like manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and logistics, where the success of the organization depends on the smooth execution of daily processes.
This leadership style is also invaluable in organizations that are focused on building strong internal habits and systems. For example, operational leadership is crucial for startups moving from the ideation phase into actual execution. While the founders may be focused on strategy, operational leaders ensure that the vision is turned into action through the consistent work of the team.
Operational leadership is also ideal in situations where quality control, process optimization, and resource management are essential for success. Whether you’re managing a production line, running a customer service team, or leading a healthcare organization, operational leadership ensures that everything is running efficiently and effectively on a daily basis.
Operational Leadership in Action
Rosalind Brewer – As the CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance and one of the most powerful Black women in business, Rosalind Brewer is known for her operational leadership skills. Before Walgreens, she led operations at Sam’s Club and Starbucks, where she was instrumental in improving operational efficiency and building processes that supported the company’s strategic goals. Brewer is highly focused on execution and optimizing day-to-day operations while also staying committed to customer service and team empowerment.
Tim Cook – As the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook’s leadership style is often categorized as operational. While Steve Jobs was the visionary, Cook has been the one to execute that vision with precision. Cook’s background in supply chain management and operations has allowed him to streamline Apple’s global operations, ensuring that the company can meet the high demand for its products while maintaining quality and efficiency.
Tina Tchen – The President and CEO of Time’s Up and former Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama, Tina Tchen has a reputation for being an effective operational leader. In her various roles, she has been focused on building systems and processes that support the larger goals of the organizations she leads. Her attention to detail and ability to keep teams focused on daily execution while driving systemic change are hallmarks of strong operational leadership.
Balancing Operations with Strategy
While operational leadership is critical for daily success, it must also be aligned with the organization’s long-term strategy. Great operational leaders understand that their work is not just about keeping things running smoothly—it’s about creating the habits and systems that will support future growth.
One of the challenges of operational leadership is finding the balance between immediate needs and long-term goals. Operational leaders need to ensure that their teams are focused on executing today’s tasks without losing sight of how those tasks contribute to the broader vision of the organization.
Operational leaders can also benefit from incorporating some elements of strategic leadership into their approach. By understanding the organization’s long-term goals and ensuring that day-to-day operations are aligned with those goals, operational leaders can help their teams move from simply executing tasks to driving meaningful progress.
Conclusion
Good operational leaders know how to turn grand visions into reality by ensuring that daily processes run smoothly, efficiently, and effectively. By building strong organizational habits and systems, operational leaders create the foundation for long-term success. They ensure that the wheels keep turning and that the team has everything they need to deliver results consistently.
If you’re interested in developing your operational leadership skills or exploring how to build better habits and systems within your organization, book a discovery call.
Four more leadership styles to go…which one has been your favorite so far?
Leah