Exploring 14 Common Leadership Styles in Organizations

Leadership involves the use of power to guide and influence others, and a successful leader is someone who is respected and admired by their followers. Because leaders are often emulated and their actions closely observed, they must exercise caution and thoughtfulness in all of their decisions. There are many different styles of leadership, each with its own unique approach and set of characteristics.

Following are the 14 Main types of leadership

1) Laissez-faire leadership :

Laissez-faire leadership, also known as non-interfering leadership, places a heavy reliance on subordinates to make decisions and take initiative, with minimal involvement from the leader. This leadership style does not provide direction to the group, but rather empowers them to work on their own problems and establish their own goals. The primary belief is that when left alone, members will put forth their best effort to achieve the best results, rendering the leader's role insignificant. However, this lack of control over employees may result in the organization deviating from its vision and mission. Studies have shown that democratic leadership made little difference, while autocratic leadership resulted in hostility towards the leader and a decrease in productivity when absent.

When comparing democratic and Laissez-faire leadership styles, it was observed that groups tend to develop friendly and cordial relationships with their Laissez-faire leaders. However, the democratic leadership style was more successful in gaining group loyalty. In cases where a Laissez-faire leader was in charge, the group was less productive and provided fewer suggestions.

2) Democratic Leadership :

In a democratic leadership approach, subordinates are consulted for their participation in the formation and execution of plans and policies. The leader encourages decentralized authority and promotes the involvement of team members in decision making. This type of leadership is known as participative, as the leader ensures that all members of the group have the opportunity to participate. The leader guides subordinates through setting an example rather than using force or fear. Additionally, the leader acts as a facilitator for generating new ideas and suggestions from the team, known as theory Y.

Contrary to the belief that effective decision making is solely the responsibility of management, recent studies have shown that subordinate participation is crucial for successful execution of the decision-making process. This approach fosters enthusiasm and a sense of value for employees, as the organization welcomes their ideas and suggestions.

3) Paternalistic Leadership :

In addition to boosting morale and motivation, democratic leadership ensures that suggestions for improvement are taken into account by the company. This approach also fosters closer relationships with higher management, leading to better job performance and a decrease in employee issues.

The paternalistic management style is named after its fatherly or parental approach to leadership. The relationship between the leader and the group is analogous to that of a head of a family and its members. In this style, the leader protects and guides subordinates, similar to how a father would protect his family. Additionally, the leader ensures that the employees work under good conditions and receive proper benefits, just like a head of the family would provide for their family.

This leadership style has shown success in Japan, relying on the assumption that workers will work harder out of gratitude. However, it may not be as effective in firms in India, particularly with adult and mature employees who prefer not to be treated as subordinate to a fatherly figure. In fact, rather than generating gratitude, this approach may lead to resentment among senior employees.

4) Autocratic Leadership :

In autocratic leadership, one individual centralizes power and decision-making, earning the name authoritarian leadership. This style is characterized by the leader's authority and responsibility for all decisions made by the team, without consulting employees. Unfortunately, autocratic leadership is often viewed negatively because it relies on punishment. Followers are not free to choose among available decisions; instead, they are directed by the leader without regard for their opinions and without the ability to influence the leader's decisions. The autocratic leader believes that, because they are in charge, they alone are entitled to decide what is best for any given situation.

In autocratic leadership, the leader holds a significant amount of power and makes decisions based on their own judgment and the orders of their superiors. This type of leadership often results in quick decision-making and prompt actions. However, it can also lead to industrial disputes and strikes from employees if too much authority is centralized in one person, causing frustration and decreased capacity among workers. Therefore, the importance of a strong and fair leader is crucial in ensuring success in autocratic leadership.

Employees often work diligently under an autocratic leadership style to avoid punishment. However, this style of leadership has received criticism, particularly among the new generation who value their independence and are less submissive to authority. It has been observed that individuals tend to seek jobs that fulfill their ego. Autocratic leadership can be further divided into three categories, one of which is the hardcore autocratic style. This type of leader utilizes negative reinforcement, punishment, and fear to control their subordinates, often to the detriment of employee morale and engagement.

Rewritten:

The Benevolent Autocrat is a leader who focuses on using positive reinforcement to motivate and control their followers in achieving the organization's vision and mission. By offering rewards and recognition, they secure the loyalty and trust of their team, who willingly accept and carry out their decisions.

On the other hand, the Manipulative Autocrat appears to involve their employees in decision-making but ultimately executes their own choices without consulting them. This approach, known as Theory X, can create a culture of mistrust and resentment among team members.

President Donald Trump of the USA is the most recent example of people who support Autocratic leadership.

5) Strategic leadership :

Strategic leadership refers to the style of leadership where the leader of an organization is not only focused on day-to-day operations but also on long-term goals and strategic planning. This type of leadership is not limited to the top management and is highly sought after by high performers at different levels within the organization. Strategic leaders are able to inspire and motivate their teams to work towards a common vision and achieve success both personally and professionally.

6) Transformational leadership :

The strategic leader plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between practicality and innovation through the implementation of consistent habits. Effective strategic leadership is demonstrated when leaders are able to meet organizational expectations and navigate challenging times. Strategic thinking is a key component of successful strategic leadership.

Transformational leadership is a unique approach that involves instilling change at all levels of an organization, from the bottom up. Leaders who utilize this style of leadership motivate their followers to exceed their own expectations and achieve higher levels of performance. This is achieved by setting challenging goals and inspiring their team to surpass them. Studies have shown that transformational leadership results in more committed and satisfied followers than other leadership styles. This is likely due to the fact that leaders who practice transformational leadership empower their followers, creating an intellectually stimulating environment that motivates staff to contribute more to the organization.

7) Team Leadership :

This style of leadership involves having a clear vision for the future and a defined path towards achieving it, as well as the core values that guide the organization. This fosters a sense of direction and purpose within the company. This type of leadership places importance on understanding the minds and hearts of all team members. It also prioritizes building cooperative and trusting relationships among the team. However, when this type of leadership fails to produce results, it is often due to poor leadership qualities.

8) Cross-Cultural Leadership :

9) Facilitative Leadership :

When the leadership is dependent on the outcomes rather than a skill, rather than that, it takes a lot of effort to master the skill it is known as facilitative leadership.

An adept facilitative leader knows when to take a hands-off approach to the group process, allowing the group to function at a high level on their own. However, for a low functioning group, the facilitative leader must step in and provide guidance to ensure the group can effectively run their processes. This involves monitoring the group and intervening as needed to suggest improvements, manage dynamics, and keep the group on track.

10) Transactional Leadership :

Transactional leadership is characterized by its ability to maintain the status quo within a group while providing tangible rewards for those who follow the leader's orders. This approach is based on the principle of exchange and emphasizes important leadership skills such as clarity in communication and the ability to provide feedback. In practice, transactional leadership involves clarifying employee performance expectations, setting clear objectives, and allocating appropriate rewards and recognition for meeting those objectives. It also involves establishing a clear chain of command within the organization.

11) Charismatic Leadership :

A charismatic leader possesses a revolutionary power that goes beyond just influencing the behavior of their followers. Charisma involves transforming the fundamental beliefs and characteristics of their followers, creating a lasting impact. This sets a charismatic leader apart from a popular leader who may sway the attitudes of a crowd but lacks the ability to fundamentally transform their followers. Effective leadership is rooted in the personality and dynamic character of the leader, and charismatic leadership is no exception. However, some may argue that charismatic leadership is not ideal due to the fact that the success of projects can become heavily reliant on the presence of the leader.

12) Visionary Leadership :

The essence of visionary leadership lies in following established methods and acquiring knowledge through the people who use them. Vision is a crucial component of success, but only a select few extraordinary leaders possess the ability to exhibit visionary leadership. These exceptional individuals stand out in their respective fields and are capable of transforming reality in accordance with their unique vision.

13) Situational Leadership :

Situational leadership involves the application of various leadership styles that are adapted to different situations. Depending on the circumstance, a leader may choose to employ bureaucratic leadership when dealing with factory protocols or democratic leadership during discussions with senior executives. While situational leadership has been successful in many areas, some individuals possess an inherent talent for leadership that cannot be easily altered. Natural leaders may struggle with adapting to situational leadership, and the ability to switch between leadership styles requires significant experience in all types of leadership.

14) Bureaucratic Leadership :

This leadership style is best suited for regulated and highly administrative environments where adherence to rules and pre-defined norms is crucial. It may work well in certain industries such as healthcare and safety, but may not be effective in fast-paced and dynamic organizations.

The above were all the Different Types of Leadership observed in an Organization.

PREV

Transformational leadership

START

Leadership Hub