It is important to match your leadership style with your own character in order to develop efficient work teams. Your success depends on the way you work with your team and skillsets you don't have can be self-taught through experience.
- What is meant by Leadership Style?
- What are the benefits of developing your own leadership style?
- 20 Leadership styles explained
- Can you develop more than one leadership style?
- 20 Important leadership styles - Conclusion
What is meant by Leadership Style?
The way a leader approaches tasks communicates with others and makes decisions is referred to as their leadership style.
It is the sum of a leader's behaviors, attitudes, and tendencies that define how he or she interacts with his or her followers.
Depending on their personality, experience, and the situation, different leaders adopt different styles.
The degree of direction and support provided to followers, the leader's level of authority and decision-making, and the level of involvement in the decision-making process of followers can all be used to define a specific leadership style.
Autocratic, transformational, transactional, servant and democratic leadership styles are among the most widely recognized.
Each style has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the most effective leaders are often those who can adapt their style to meet the specific needs of their followers and the situation at hand.
In conclusion, having a distinct leadership style refers to a consistent and recognizable pattern of behavior that defines how a leader approaches their role and interacts with others.
What are the benefits of developing your own leadership style?
Having a distinct leadership style has several advantages, including:
- Consistency: A specific leadership style provides a consistent approach to decision-making and communication, which can aid in the development of team trust and stability.
- Clarity: When leaders have a distinct style, their followers can better understand their expectations and how they prefer to operate.
- Better Communication: Leaders with a certain style communicate in a consistent and predictable manner, making it easier for their followers to understand their intentions and plans.
- Improved Decision-Making: A well-defined leadership style can assist leaders in making more consistent and efficient decisions, which can lead to better outcomes.
- Better Self-Awareness: Having a distinct leadership style can help leaders become more self-aware, allowing them to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses and identify areas for improvement.
Finally, having a distinct leadership style can bring stability, clarity, and improved communication, decision-making, and self-awareness to a leader's role resulting in better outcomes for the team and organization.
20 Leadership styles explained
When browsing the internet trying to get information on leadership styles you are presented with hundreds of styles. This is a bit too much for us to consume and not realistic to try and imitate.
Most styles you will come across are split-offs or weakened variations of the original top 6 styles we are all familiar with. These styles are based on traits and characteristics taken from the top 6.
These are the 6 most common leadership styles we all are familiar with:
- Transformational Leadership
- Delegative Leadership
- Authoritative Leadership
- Transactional Leadership
- Participative Leadership
- Servant Leadership
To save time I have given you an explanation of 20 styles you might find and what they mean so you can see where it fits into the bigger picture of developing your own style.
Pacesetter leadership
Pacesetter leadership is characterized by the setting of high-performance standards and the tireless effort required to meet them. This type of leader sets the tone for their team and frequently leads by example, demonstrating a strong work ethic and setting high standards for themselves and others.
Pacesetter leaders can be extremely effective, but they can also put excessive pressure on themselves and others, resulting in burnout and low morale if not properly managed.
Affiliative leadership
Affiliate leadership prioritizes strong relationships and fosters a positive, supportive work environment. This type of leader prioritizes team members' sense of belonging and strives to foster an inclusive and engaging work culture.
Affiliate leaders are compassionate, effective communicators, and skilled at instilling morale and teamwork. They may, however, struggle with making decisions and holding team members accountable when necessary.
Delegative leadership
Delegative leadership, also known as "laissez-faire" leadership, emphasizes delegation and autonomy. This type of leader gives little direction and control, allowing team members to make their own decisions and take responsibility for their work.
Delegative leaders may be perceived as hands-off and uninvolved, but by empowering their team, they can foster creativity and innovation. However, if not used correctly, this style can lead to confusion and a lack of direction.
Functional leadership
Functional leadership is a style that focuses on completing tasks efficiently and effectively. This type of leader prioritizes defining roles and responsibilities, establishing clear goals, and providing the resources needed to achieve those goals.
Functional leaders are highly organized and process-driven individuals who excel at ensuring that their team functions efficiently. They may, however, struggle to foster a positive work culture and may be perceived as overly controlling.
Charismatic leadership
Charismatic leadership is distinguished by the leader's charm, charisma, and personal appeal. Through their charisma, vision, and personal magnetism, this type of leader inspires and motivates followers.
Charismatic leaders can instill excitement and commitment in their teams and are frequently highly influential. Their lack of structure and reliance on personality, on the other hand, may result in a lack of stability and consistency in decision-making.
People leadership
People leadership is a leadership style that prioritizes the growth and well-being of the leader's team. This type of leader prioritizes creating a positive work environment, supporting team members' growth and development, and cultivating strong relationships.
People leaders are compassionate, supportive, and skilled at fostering morale and teamwork. They may, however, struggle with making decisions and holding team members accountable when necessary.
Pragmatic leadership
Pragmatic leadership is characterized by an emphasis on practicality and results. This type of leader is concerned with problem-solving, goal achievement, and results delivery, and they make decisions based on what is most effective and efficient.
Pragmatic leaders are results-oriented and analytical thinkers who can make difficult decisions and take calculated risks. They may, however, struggle with developing strong relationships and fostering a positive work culture.
Tactical leadership
Tactical leadership is a style that emphasizes strategy and planning. This type of leader is concerned with the tactical execution of plans, paying close attention to details and ensuring that goals are met.
Tactical leaders are highly organized, focused, and detail-oriented individuals who excel at process management and ensuring that their team works efficiently.
They may, however, have difficulty adapting to change and may become overly focused on the details, losing sight of the bigger picture.
Critical leadership
Critical leadership is a leadership style that focuses on analyzing and improving systems, processes, and practices. This type of leader focuses on identifying and correcting weaknesses, as well as problem-solving and efficiency improvement.
Critical leaders are analytical, detail-oriented, and solution-focused individuals who excel at identifying and driving change. They may, however, struggle to form strong relationships and may be perceived as overly critical.
Flexible leadership
Flexible leadership is characterized by adaptability and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. This type of leader can modify their leadership style and approach to meet the needs of their team and the circumstances.
Leaders who are flexible are open-minded, adaptable, and responsive, and they excel at dealing with change and uncertainty. This style can be extremely effective, but it can also lead to a lack of consistency and direction if not balanced by a clear sense of purpose.
Approachable leadership
Approachable leadership is characterized by accessibility, openness, and friendliness. This type of leader is approachable and easy to communicate with, and they place a high value on developing strong relationships with their team.
Approachable leaders are compassionate, supportive, and skilled at fostering a positive work environment. They may, however, struggle to hold team members accountable and may be perceived as too permissive.
Motivational leadership
Motivational leadership is a leadership style that focuses on inspiring and motivating team members to reach their objectives. This type of leader leads by example offers encouragement and employs incentives to motivate employees.
Motivational leaders are upbeat and optimistic, and they excel at instilling excitement and commitment in their teams. They may, however, struggle to hold team members accountable and may become overly focused on morale at the expense of results.
Adaptable leadership
Adaptable leadership is a leadership style that emphasizes the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and team needs. This type of leader is adaptable, responsive, and capable of adjusting their leadership style as needed.
Adaptable leaders are skilled at navigating uncertainty, adapting to new situations, and responding to their team's changing needs. This style can be extremely effective, but it can also lead to a lack of consistency and direction if not balanced by a clear sense of purpose.
Communicative leadership
Communicative leadership is characterized by a focus on clear, open, and effective communication with team members. This type of leader communicates frequently with their team, actively listens to them, and ensures that information is shared in a timely and transparent manner.
Communicative leaders excel at fostering trust and building strong relationships, as well as ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working toward common goals. They may, however, struggle with making difficult decisions and effectively delegating tasks.
Line leadership
The traditional hierarchical structure in which leaders are responsible for directing and supervising the work of their subordinates is referred to as line leadership.
This style of leadership focuses on achieving results by establishing clear lines of authority, assigning tasks and responsibilities, and providing team members with guidance and direction.
Line leaders are adept at delegating tasks, setting goals, and ensuring that processes are followed, but they may struggle to foster strong relationships and a positive work culture.
Transactional leadership
Transactional leadership is a style that focuses on shaping behavior and motivating team members through the use of rewards and punishments. This type of leader establishes clear expectations, provides feedback, and motivates their team through incentives and consequences.
Transactional leaders excel at maintaining stability and consistency, as well as getting things done through clearly defined rules and procedures. They may, however, struggle to build trust and foster a positive work culture, and they may also stifle creativity and innovation by relying too heavily on rewards and punishments.
Servant leadership
Servant leadership is a leadership style that prioritizes the needs of others, such as team members, customers, and the community. This type of leader prioritizes strong relationships, personal growth and development, and fostering a positive work environment.
Servant leaders are compassionate, selfless, and excel at prioritizing the needs of others. This approach can be very effective, but it can also lead to a lack of direction and structure if not balanced with clear expectations and accountability.
Transformational leadership
Transformational leadership is a style of motivating and inspiring team members to reach their full potential. This type of leader prioritizes vision creation, inspiring change, and team development.
Transformational leaders are charismatic, optimistic, and skilled at instilling a sense of purpose and a sense of shared mission in their teams.
This style can be extremely effective at driving innovation and growth, but it can also lead to burnout and a lack of stability if it is not balanced with clear expectations and structure.
Authentic leadership
Authentic leadership is characterized by honesty, transparency, and self-awareness. This type of leader has a strong sense of integrity and stays true to their beliefs and values.
Authentic leaders are self-aware, genuine, and skilled at fostering trust and a positive work culture.
This style can be very effective at building strong relationships and motivating team members, but it can also lead to a lack of decisiveness and consistency if not balanced with clear expectations and structure.
Bureaucratic leadership
Bureaucratic leadership is characterized by an emphasis on rules, procedures, and compliance. This type of leader is concerned with preserving order and stability and enforcing strict policies and guidelines.
Bureaucratic leaders are well-organized, consistent, and skilled at keeping control and ensuring compliance. They may, however, struggle to adapt to change, foster innovation, and build strong relationships with their team.
This personality type is frequently associated with bureaucratic organizations where order and stability take precedence over creativity and flexibility.
Can you develop more than one leadership style?
Yes, you can use more than one leadership style at the same time, as different situations may necessitate different approaches.
A leader, for example, may take a more directive approach to ensure a project is completed on time while also adopting a more empowering style to encourage creativity and innovation among team members.
Leaders who can adapt and use multiple styles can be a valuable asset because it allows them to effectively respond to the changing needs of their team and organization.
Furthermore, different team members may respond better to different styles, and adapting to each individual can help improve morale and productivity.
Being adaptable and capable of using multiple styles can also assist leaders in avoiding becoming too rigid and limiting their effectiveness.
Overall, being able to use multiple styles can benefit both leaders and their teams; however, it is critical to ensure that the styles used align with the leader's values and the organization's goals.
20 Important Leadership Styles - Conclusion
As I have already said most leadership styles come from the top 6 common styles and by developing your skillset you need to see how you can utilize it best.
One thing is for sure and that is consistency counts and different situations warrant different actions from you as a leader. Being consistent allows your team to know exactly what is expected and therefore results can be consistent.
Use your current characteristics that are strong and base your leadership style on that while developing new skills that can be used when needed.
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