Whether you are just starting your career or awaiting your big rise, at some point in your career you are bound to be a leader. Whether you're leading an entire department, a team, a project, or a meeting, it's wise to choose a leadership style that suits you and stick with it.
Most people develop their own leadership style based on factors such as organizational culture, company needs, hierarchy, or their own personality and experience. But there are certain leadership styles that are commonly used in organizations. No matter what leadership you take, you are likely to fall under one of them.
What are the most effective leadership styles?
We've covered the 15 most effective leadership styles that people tend to use to lead organizations or other people. While not all styles will suit your situation or environment, you can read through them to see which one suits your business.
1. Transactional leadership
If you don't know"What is transactional leadership?', think of a typical give-and-take transaction. I give you something and you give me something in return. This is the cornerstone of this leadership style. Transaction leaders give instructions to their subordinates and then distribute rewards or penalties based on the results achieved.
This is one of the most effective leadership styles as a typical transaction leader focuses on results and performance. Transactional leadership theory states that the transactional leader introduces extrinsic and intrinsic rewards to guide people toward their goals.
They often offer pre-determined incentives, such as promises of vacation, promotions, or cash awards, or impose disciplinary action for non-compliance. Think of a leader who gives plenty of praise to acknowledge a job well done, or who demands that a team member take on their most hated task because they missed a deadline. This directive approach is of course also referred to as the "contra" leadership style.
You can be a transaction leader by constantly coming up with inventive new ways to recognize strong work and keep employees motivated. Your team can't wait to see what you announce after next month's super fun Halloween party. Past. . On the other hand, he threatens to make his team sweat if they miss deadlines.
2. Transformational leadership
People often struggle between transformational and transactional leadership. Well they are quite different. Suppose you are hired to lead a marketing department. The CEO shares the company's goals with you and asks you to set new goals and organize teams to achieve those goals.
Rather than immersing himself in day-to-day work, he spends time getting to know his subordinates and employees, gaining a deep understanding of the organization's strengths and weaknesses and current trends. After the first quarter, set clear goals for all teams and inspire people on each team to set themselves goals that align with those for their team and the department as a whole.
Everything you need to know about transformative leadership is in the name. With such effective leadership styles, the leader strives to transform the groups or companies he leads, instilling a love of innovation in his subordinates, even if it means taking them out of their comfort zone.
These leaders are focused on improving their jobs and finding ways to get things done. In return, they welcome any suggestions on how to keep things simple and empower their subordinates to take on their jobs. These types of leaders aim to empower people by inspiring them to think outside the box and constantly innovate. Traits of a transformative leader include being fearless, outgoing, empathetic, authentic, and confident.
You are a true transformational leader when you always inspire your team members to break the glass ceiling and step out of their comfort zone. He looks at every process and methodology with a keen eye and thinks of ways to improve it in some way. Nothing makes you happier than when you or a colleague do something that your organization has always thought impossible.
William Edwards Deming, an engineer and statistician, is an executive who determined the best way to operate certain systems and taught his subordinates how to achieve those goals.
3. Autocratic leadership
Let me start with a scenario. Before starting a major operation, the chief surgeon will inform you about the procedures and rules of the operating room. with your companions. You want to make sure everyone is on the same page, has clear expectations, and follows each procedure meticulously so the surgery goes smoothly.
This type of leadership is best described as "my way or the highway". As the name suggests, autocratic leaders believe they have the autonomous power to make decisions on behalf of their teammates without consulting them. They give very clear and precise instructions (orders) on what needs to be done, how it should be done and who is responsible for what. Characteristics of authoritarian leaders include their tendency to be confident, determined, and imperious.
While this type of leadership impedes the free flow of ideas and results in low employee morale, it is only suited to environments where tasks are mundane and unchallenged or where rigid hierarchy is the rule of the jungle.
When it comes to the most effective leadership styles, you may be an autocratic leader if you think brainstorming sessions and group discussions are just a waste of time when you can make better decisions yourself. He does not allow his staff to question his judgments and expects them to take every order at face value.
However, if you aautocratic leadership style, you need to stay aware of your actions so you don't come across as too aggressive or domineering or end up crossing the line.
4. Fair leadership
“In welcoming the new hires, Amanda explains that her designers can set their own goals and maintain flexible schedules as long as they meet the goals they set as a team. She tells them that if they contribute to their personal success, they are free to learn and participate in projects outside of their team."
If you fell asleep in high school French class, the term "laissez-faire" probably doesn't remind you of anything! It literally means "let it be". That alone pretty much sums up this practical approach to leadership. Laissez-faire leaders trust their employees and only offer help or guidance when requested.
They provide the necessary resources and tools, but then step back and let their subordinates complete tasks, solve problems, face difficulties, and make important decisions without taking a deep breath. Without the fear of an executive obsessively micromanaging their every move, employees tend to thrive.
However, laissez-faire leadership works best for organizations where employees are responsible, motivated, innovative, and experienced thinkers. However, when most of your employees are prone to missing deadlines, the quality of work with such an effective leadership style can go down.
If you only get involved at the beginning and end of a project or important tasks, or don't speak up at any of the status meetings, you have all options.qualities of a good leader.
Some of the most famous historical projects led by laissez-faire leaders include the construction of the Hoover Dam and the Panama Canal. In both projects, the presidents involved had to delegate many responsibilities in order to be successful. In the case of the Panama Canal in particular, the project was a success, although its geographic location presented many obstacles, as powers were delegated to the right professionals.
5. Servant Leadership
Servant Leaders operate on a simple motto: serve first, lead later. The main characteristic that distinguishes a servant leader is that he puts the needs of others ahead of his own. In other words, this leadership style puts the leader second to the employees. Instead of focusing on inspiring others to follow them, they spend their time finding ways to help others succeed. Rather than maintaining a firm grip on their own power or status, these types of leaders focus on developing those who follow them.
In fact, they have all the qualities of a good leader! As Simon Sinek explains in this book,Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Get Together and Others Don't, “Good leaders are those who are willing to give something of themselves for us. Your time, your energy, your money, maybe even the food on your plate. When it comes down to it, great leaders choose to eat last.”
You identify as a servant leader when you constantly ask people how you can help them. Or if you can go out of your way to remove obstacles from the way of your subordinates and help them get things done. You never think twice about helping someone, even if it means putting your job on hold.
These effective leadership styles work best in any humanitarian enterprise where people are as important as the mission. Especially if your team suffers from low self-esteem, it may be time to embrace this better leadership style.
6. Democratic leadership
You must be wondering what democratic leadership is? The democratic leadership style is also known as “participative leadership”. These leaders practice all the hallmarks of democracy in all their projects. Although these leaders are higher in the hierarchy, they actively involve all of their subordinates in the decision-making process.
They moderate group discussions, encourage team members to present their input, value each other's ideas and feedback, and lead by example. Common characteristics of an engaged leader are empathy, enthusiasm, commitment and motivation. Rather than barking out orders, they take a collaborative approach to getting things done.
Democratic leadership promotes job satisfaction and increases employee engagement as members feel their contributions are valued and their voices heard. You're a true democratic leader when you use meetings as an opportunity for all team members to contribute and participate. They rarely make a decision without asking at least one person for advice.
George Washington was one of the greatest leaders he was famous fortheir democratic approach. The high-tech and medical industries lend themselves best to democratic leadership because they often require a lot of collaboration to function.
7. Bureaucratic leadership
Bureaucratic management follows “the rules”. This leadership style focuses on fixed functions and roles within a hierarchy where each employee has a fixed list of responsibilities. This leaves little room for creativity and collaboration. One could say that bureaucratic leaders have hierarchical authority, and their power rests more on their title or position than on their traits or traits.
Bureaucratic leaders have well-defined rules and processes and a fixed set of responsibilities for how they make decisions and lead others. This leadership style works in highly regulated departments like government, healthcare, or finance.
I think it's safe to call you a bureaucratic leader if you're constantly examining how your predecessors handled scenarios and problems just to make sure you're still following the roadmap set for you by your predecessors. Every time something new comes up or you're assigned a new task, you should get confirmation that you're doing it right.
8. Charismatic leadership
Of all the most effective leadership styles, this is my favorite. Charismatic leaders are born with a personality that people can't get enough of. These charismatic leaders not only have a lot of charisma, but they also energize, motivate and inspire their teammates. They are persuasive when they want to achieve something.
Rather than giving orders to their teammates or encouraging behavior through violence or threats, they prefer gentle persuasion and eloquent communication to win their teammates over to a cause. You have an innate ability to get others to join your cause and get them excited about something too. actually theAssociation Command CenterHe believes this improved leadership style can boost team morale and success. Oprah Winfrey is a charismatic leader.
You've got what it takes to be a charismatic leader when you're known for making great Rally the Troops presentations and always being the speaker or inciter at every event. Your employees just love you and can never say no to you. When you have the ability to transform your organization's aspirations, beliefs and values through your charm and the strength of your personality, you are a true charismatic leader. In short, you have all the qualities of a good leader.
9. Leadership training
A true lead coach quickly recognizes the strengths and weaknesses of each team member and knows how to motivate them individually to help them improve. They take the time to review each individual's performance, ask meaningful, thought-provoking questions and encourage them to adopt more effective behaviors.
This is one of the best leadership styles for companies as it focuses on helping employees set smart goals and then providing constant feedback to drive continuous improvement and growth. Coaching leaders make sure their employees feel valued but never complacent. His subordinates know that the only way to please their leader is to constantly improve their game.
The coaching leadership style is one of the most effective leadership styles for both employees and employers. Organizations can only thrive when employees are encouraged and motivated to develop their skills and keep growing. This type of leadership is in high demand in environments where performance is entirely dependent on improvement. Unfortunately, it requires a lot of time and commitment, which is why it is so often overlooked.
Some amazing people who have guided through the training include canine behaviorist Cesar Milan and tennis coach Nick Bollettieri.
10. Targeted leadership
Once a strategy has been unanimously agreed upon and a vision established, senior leaders move forward to guide the team through their day-to-day tasks, making key decisions with confidence and confidence, and ensuring all teammates are following the standard roadmap. They are tasked with making the most important decisions across the company, e.g. B. "What needs to change?". “Should we consolidate or drive growth”, “Who should be on which team”?
Simply put, a commander clearly issues specific orders, diligently monitors task performance, and defines the roles and duties of "followers." The directive leadership style is best used in situations where employees are relatively inexperienced and need direction on how to perform tasks. take and when
11. Motivating leadership
In situations where team morale is at a low ebb and the goal seems far-fetched, motivational leaders have the ability to cheer people up and take skepticism out of the team. Motivational leadership is about celebrating small achievements, providing incentives and setting ambitious goals.
Motivating leaders are constantly reminding their subordinates of their goals and milestones, and they keep talking about how great they'll feel after achieving their goals. Motivating leaders are energetic people who inspire action. They do best in environments that balance their judgment and enthusiasm.
12. Outstanding leadership
A step-by-step leader is someone who not only sets the bar high, but also expects work to be done properly and quickly. Pacemakers are powered by performance. This leadership style only works when you are launching a new and exciting product.
These effective leadership styles are best adopted by professionals who strive for success and know what they are doing. However, the only downside to this leadership style is that some employees can become overly stressed with all the work.
13. Visionary leadership
This form of leadership involves leaders who recognize that the processes, steps, and methods of leadership are accomplished through and with people. Visionary leaders inspire change and drive progress by gaining confidence for new ideas.
The best quality of a visionary leader is that they create strong organizational bonds and build trust and camaraderie with subordinates and other peers. The visionary leadership style is best suited for small, fast-growing organizations undergoing corporate reorganization or massive transformation.
Most great and successful leaders have some kind of vision of where they are going. However, there are those who are very visionary in their leadership. Examples of executives with inspiring and highly motivated visions are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela. Exceptional leaders know how to turn their visions into reality.
14. Leadership builds bridges
Of all effective leadership styles, this one is often overlooked, but it can work wonders in large settings. Leadership in bridge building is about identifying potential areas of conflict. They know all about how to engage, negotiate, mediate, listen and resonate with large numbers of people.
Bridge-building leaders have the gift of leading teams toward a common goal without distracting them from their individual goals. It's about looking at the big picture. As a result, they often avoid tasks and problems that threaten to spoil their overall picture.
15. Situational Leadership
Of all the different effective leadership styles, situational leaders are very versatile. They tailor their leadership style to the situation or environment they find themselves in and use the one that best suits their circumstances. It boils down to adopting a transactional style when cheering on your marketing team while using a democratic style in a board meeting on the same day.
This is one of the most effective leadership styles, best suited to environments where organizational procedures need to be removed, revised, or updated. However, the only downside to the situational leadership style is that such frequent leadership changes can confuse your employees. Not to mention that not all leaders are equally adept at changing styles, and recalibrating them can be time-consuming and difficult.
Which of These Effective Leadership Styles Are You? Let us know in the comments section.