Leadership and the Different Leadership Styles

 

Which leadership style suits you best?

Does perfect leadership even exist? And if so, how can you tell? Is the ideal leader characterized by a specific leadership style, or is it a blend of styles that makes someone the right person to lead? In this article, we’ll explore these questions.  

Good leadership is essential for an organization

One of the buzzwords in many organizations today is leadership development. After all, every organization benefits from strong leadership that fosters greater productivity and efficiency, harmony, and a positive work environment. But there is much more that distinguishes a good leader from a bad one. Good leaders dare to think ahead and do not let themselves be swayed by the issues of the day. They are highly capable of communicating a vision and know how to inspire and motivate others with it. In addition, they are skilled at listening-or rather, at encouraging employees to come up with their own ideas and learn new skills so they can reach their full potential. In this way, they contribute to the development and progress of an organization. Furthermore, good leaders understand better than anyone the art of guiding others and maintaining an overview to stay on the right course.  

Command-and-control is a thing of the past

Incidentally, this kind of guidance is becoming less and less like that of a traditional ship’s captain. Today’s world calls for new forms of leadership. Modern leaders must possess very different qualities than traditional leaders. For decades, many organizations were led according to the principle of “command and control.” This approach was based on William Edwards Deming’s quality cycle. However, his famous Plan, Do, Check, Act framework has shown its limitations. Although it made an important contribution to organizational efficiency and was an excellent tool for managing processes, it left little room for flexibility and change. Today, it is precisely important for companies and institutions to be dynamic and able to adapt to rapidly successive changes in the market and society. New leadership means different relationships between management and employees, a different communication style, and more room for initiatives from the front lines.  

Which leadership style is the most effective?

According to Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist, author, and science journalist, there are six different types of leaders. In the overview below, these different leadership styles are ranked from most effective to least effective.

1. Authoritative

   This is a leader who articulates a vision and knows how to convey it in a way that motivates employees. This type of leader is like a messiah who, together with his “followers,” achieves goals and delivers results. Such leaders are extremely effective, but few and far between. Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs is a good example.

2. Coaching

   This type of leader aims to bring out the best in their team. They encourage people to reflect on themselves and, above all, to further develop their strengths. This leader believes in their people but is also dependent on them. Of course, the staff must be open to self-development.

3. Affiliative

   Leaders who adopt this style have a strong bond with their employees. They have frequent conversations with them and give people freedom in how they carry out their work. The leader is a true team builder who knows how to foster a sense of unity. This type of leader can also have a revitalizing effect on an organization where the atmosphere isn’t all that great.

4. Democratic

   This leader values the opinions of their employees and gives them a certain degree of influence over how things are run. This often leads to satisfaction. People feel taken seriously and believe their opinions matter. Whether this style is successful ultimately depends on whether the leader is able to make timely decisions.

5. Authoritarian

   This style primarily represents the “Leader 1.0.” Decisions are made from the top down. There is little room for initiative or new ideas. This isn’t particularly motivating and is less effective today. Although there may always be situations where an authoritative approach is desirable.

6. Exemplary

   This is the type of leader who strikes fear into his staff. By working extremely hard himself, he sets the tone. There’s always room for improvement, and anyone who can’t keep up with the pace had better get out. This often turns out to be a rather ineffective way of leading.

Interview with Daniel Goleman. Source: Key Step Media  

Combining Different Styles

Every person is unique, and a mix of different traits makes a person who they are. The same applies to a leader. Often, it’s a combination of styles that makes someone the leader they are. In fact, it’s essential for a leader to be able to apply different styles depending on the situation. Some leadership styles are naturally part of one’s personality. A “born leader” will experience them as second nature. However, not everyone is born a leader. Anyone who wants to lead must first know themselves and ask what qualities make them a leader-which leadership style best matches their personality, and which style(s) should or should not be used in certain situations.