You probably have an idol or mentor that you look up to. There is something about them that you find admirable. Perhaps what makes them stand out is their leadership qualities. It is their leadership style that you might find attractive to be replicated in your own life or organization. It is important to be aware of the different leadership styles if you’re a leader or plan on becoming one. In this post, we’re going to highlight some of the different leadership styles and how they’re different from one another.
Table of Contents
Coaching Style Leadership
There has been a debate if the coaching style can be categorized as a leadership style. It should be noted that it is one of the most effective leadership styles that are being used by organizations. It is the responsibility of the leader to play the role of a teacher and coach with this leadership style. The leader provides the inspiration for team members to be better by empowering them to be leaders in their own capacity. Some of the benefits that an organization gets to gain from adopting this kind of leadership include:
- Employee grooming
- Improved skills
- Boost in motivation
- Increased productivity
Visionary Leadership
What differentiates a good leader from a great one is their vision. Technology has become disruptive and businesses are closing shop on a daily basis because they are not adapting to the changes. A visionary leader is able to see into the future and make the appropriate plans for the growth and sustainability of the organization. A good leader will also ensure that the whole organization is in tune with its vision through effective communication. This is the kind of leadership that is ideal for businesses that are growing fast.
Servant Leadership
With servant leadership, the goals have to be clear for everyone in the organization for them to be effective. When you put people first, they’re likely to take the work as their own. This will result in increased creativity and productivity. It is a leadership style that is popular with nonprofit organizations. It is known to boost the morale of the employees and also to inspire action.
Autocratic Leadership
This a leadership style that is synonymous with the army but can also be found in some organizations. There is someone that is responsible for the decision-making and they have the final say in every aspect of the operations of the organizations. They don’t take feedback and their work is just to issue out instructions. This kind of leadership style has a few advantages. For starters, decision-making is seamless because there are not a lot of people involved. There is a clear chain of command that is supposed to be followed. This leadership style is not recommended for organizations that are growing. It discourages creativity from the employees because their input is not allowed.
Hands-off Leadership
This kind of leadership gives employees the freedom to be creative without the constant supervision and monitoring that you’re likely to find in an organization setting. Leaders will delegate duties to their employees. They can even delegate the decision-making process. This gives those vested with the individual responsibilities to feel like they’re part of the organization. A good team member will rise to the occasion. This leadership needs to be implemented in the right set up because it could result in a decrease in popularity if it is not done right.
Democratic Leadership
Just as the name suggests, team members play a role in the decision-making process. They’re empowered to have a say in the day-to-day running of an organization. A democratic leader will consider the input of all stakeholders before making a major decision.
Pacesetter Leadership
This the kind of leadership that is required in an industry where a lot of things move fast. You need someone to lead the team where there are a lot of uncertainties. The focus will be on performance for such leaders so that everything is being done in a timely fashion. The team members will need to be energized for this leadership style to be effective.
Transformational Leadership
This kind of leadership also depends heavily on setting goals. It is the best style for people working with teams for the most part. You might be required to invest in expert coaching for the kind of leadership to be effective.
To sum it up, leadership is all about being strategic. Remember you’re dealing with fellow human beings. You need to be a good communicator in order to inspire your team members.
