Leadership plays a key function in management, so choosing the exact leadership style can sometimes be seen as a challenging project.
Considering the range of styles available, it can be a tricky issue to decide which fashion works exceptionally well for you and your team.
Nevertheless, you can master various leadership styles, consider their features, and find which of them will fit you best.
You can improve your leadership capacity and lead your group to the best results.
In this article, we will demystify the various leadership styles, discuss the characteristics of each style and help you figure out the right path to efficient management.
1. The autocratic style of leadership
There are numerous contributions from a leader who is a dictator.
The authority is centralized, which implies that the leader makes all the decisions and input from the team members is not needed.
This option is effective where immediate and decisive action is crucial like in the cases of emergency or crisis management.
However, this may cause low team morale and a lack of creativity because employees can feel undervalued and unheard.
Hence, autocratic leaders must find the right balance to empower their teams to decide when possible to create a positive environment.
2. Democratic leadership style
Democratic leadership calls into question team members in the decision-making process.
Managers respect the opinions and contributions of their team and make decisions together.
This method creates a feeling of ownership and empowerment among team members that boosts their job satisfaction and makes them more creative.
It is particularly useful in organizations wherein collaboration and innovation are vital.
3. Laissez-Faire leadership style
Laissez-faire management grants team members with great responsibility and liberty to make their own decisions.
The manager gives little instruction, and workers are in charge of managing their duties on their own.
It is useful for highly experienced and proficient employees who can work independently.
While this structural design could mean a lack of direction and accountability, employees would feel unsupported and undervalued.
Consequently, it is necessary to apply the laissez-faire policy.
Supervisors are expected to keep communication with their team and give advice when it is needed.
4. Transactional leadership style
Transactional leadership is based on performance evaluation, feedback, and rewards for improved performance.
This strategy works best in organizations where tasks are precisely defined and result-oriented.
Managers get their teams inspired and situated using rewards and punishments.
While this kind of approach might result in missing out on creativity and motivation.
It may focus on meeting the expectations, not on attaining perfection.
5. Transformational leadership style
Transformational leaders bring out the best in employees and assist them in being the best they can be.
The manager gives a clear vision and values and also allows their team to assume full ownership of their jobs.
This way of thinking not only stimulates, but also offers space for, creativity, novelty, and personal development among team members.
Which, in turn, results in higher satisfaction and loyalty.
Nevertheless, this leadership style assumes that managers are strong communicators.
Also, they need to be capable of inspiring and motivating their team to reach the set aims.
Thus, to be a transformational leader, a work environment that is encouraging and provides space for personal and professional development should be created and maintained.
6. Traditional leadership style
The command and control leadership model is one of the most authoritarian styles contrasting with the other types of styles.
In this type of system, the leader is considered a boss who is charged with the responsibility of making the followers see their role in the organization.
The ability of leaders to discipline and create a hierarchical organization of the team can prove to be very useful for teams under strict deadlines or for teams working with rules and regulations.
Yet command and control style of leadership can be perceived as limited if not balanced properly.
It may also paralyze other team members from discovering their leadership abilities.
7. Servant leadership style
Servant leadership prioritizes the needs of the team and helps them attain personal success.
As a manager, it has become my role to offer direction, aid, and tools to help my team succeed.
This strategy is vital to the process of creating a sense of community and equal respect among team members which consequently results in job satisfaction and loyalty.
On the other hand, this managerial style requires humility and selflessness, and the leader has to put the team’s needs over their own.
Subsequently, a servant leader must be a good communicator first and foremost and an active listener to the team.
8. Situational Leadership
What distinguishes situational leaders is that they are flexible in their style, which is tailored to the situation.
They are good at finding resolutions and adapting their behaviour in parts of the world where many things always change.
Nevertheless, situational leaders must beware of not appearing too erratic.
That could make it difficult for the employee to figure out what to do in different situations.
Effective leadership and negotiation for managers
Leadership styles are essential to strong management, which can however be a demanding task to pick the most appropriate one.
By learning about the different leadership styles, understanding their particularities and finding the one that fits you always will be able to grow as a leader and lead your team to the desired destination.
Also, decision-making with confidence plays a significant role in management as it allows them to make informed choices that are in the interest of their teams.
Using the above tips for forthright and proficient communication will help you to conduct an agreement with confidence and lead your team to success.
Know that leadership can be anything you want it to be, acknowledging your strength and going forward with credibility.
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