HKSM
Supporting Leader
A supporting leader serves the team by listening deeply, showing empathy, and staying committed, while using sound judgment to share power and decision-making with team members. Acting as a steward, they achieve outcomes by prioritizing the team’s needs. This leadership style is exemplified by the Scrum Master role.
Key Points
- Embodies servant leadership: puts team needs first and acts as a steward.
- Practices active listening, empathy, and coaching to build trust and collaboration.
- Shares authority to enable self-organization and collective ownership of work.
- Focuses on removing impediments and developing the team rather than directing tasks.
Example
During a sprint, the Scrum Master notices growing tension about roles. Instead of assigning tasks, the leader facilitates a discussion to clarify responsibilities, encourages team members to express concerns, helps them create a working agreement, and shields the team from outside interruptions so they can implement their own solutions.
PMP Example Question
While a cross-functional agile team struggles to coordinate handoffs, the project leader schedules a workshop where the team defines its own workflow and commits to a new working agreement. Which leadership style is this?
- Directive leadership
- Supporting leadership
- Transactional leadership
- Laissez-faire leadership
Correct Answer: B — Supporting leadership
Explanation: The leader facilitates, listens, and shares authority so the team can self-organize and decide how to work, which reflects supporting (servant) leadership.
