Happy Leo Season! ♌ I’m sure many of us have encountered astrology or personality tests that are used to categorize us based on our personality traits. Maybe that was a horoscope reading, a Buzzfeed quiz or something more sophisticated like the Myers-Briggs personality test. Whether you believe in these tests or not, sometimes it can be helpful to learn more about yourself to better understand how you operate. This same can be said for your leadership and there have been 4 different leadership styles identified to classify different types of leaders. Discovering how you lead others can help you better see how your leadership aligns with the needs of your company and your team. Want to learn which leadership style you use? Keep reading as we breakdown the 4 styles of leadership and their characteristics.
1) Autocratic Leaders
Autocratic leaders can easily be summed up by the phrase “do as you’re told”. They do not promote collaboration or feedback and prefer to hold all of the power. Autocratic leaders are often decisive, self-confident and are highly focused and committed to their goals.
This approach can be appropriate and effective in urgent or chaotic situations that require someone to reign in the team. However, employees working for an autocratic leader may feel micromanaged.
An example of an autocratic leader is Martha Stewart.
2) Democratic Leader
Democratic leaders gather input from their team members so that everyone has a chance to contribute to the decision-making process. Democratic leaders are still the decision makers but allow others to feel engaged.
This approach often yields positive results by allowing team members to feel a part of the solution. This also promotes more creative input and often increases employee morale. Although with this method, certain employees inevitably feel left out if their ideas or solutions are not chosen.
An example of a democratic leader is Walt Disney.
3) Laissez-faire Leaders
Don’t let the name fool you, this leadership is not a “who cares?” approach. This style empowers employees by being hands-off and trusting them to accomplish their tasks without constant supervision. Laissez-faire leaders leave the decision to their employees while staying available to provide feedback if necessary.
This approach often creates faster decision-making since employees don’t have to ask for final approval. This can help to instill confidence in employees. On the other hand, this approach can be problematic when a team doesn’t fully understand the mission. Also depending on your team, without direction, employees may accomplish less. You must have complete confidence in your employees for this approach to work.
An example of a laissez-faire leader is Steve Jobs.
4) Transformative Leaders
This style involves developing a grand vision and rallying your team around it. Transformative leaders inspire their employees to transform and evolve both personally and professionally to achieve the overall goal.
This approach allows employees to clearly see the vision and goals of the organization and encourages them to work together towards a shared goal. It also helps to create a work environment where the lines of communication are always open between employees and leadership. Although a highly committed team is ideal for leaders, this approach has been known to cause burnout as employees work continuously to achieve goals.
An example of a transformative leader is Henry Ford.
So, there you have it! The 4 different leadership styles and how each of them operates in the workplace. With all that said, these styles are not cut and dry and many people are often a combination of a few different styles. Figuring out which blend of styles fits your team best can be challenging. With numerous combinations, it can be overwhelming to figure out your best mix. But don’t worry, we can help you figure this out. Here at STEPS, we work with small businesses to help them manage their teams and our team of professionals would be more than happy to help you become the best leader for your team. Learn more about our services on our home page or send us a message with all of your leadership questions on our contact page.
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