Leadership Styles

Leadership Styles Chapter 3

Leadership Style • What is a leadership style? • The manner and approach of providing direction, implementing plans, and motivating people • Why learn about leadership styles? • Crucial to success • Different styles are used in different situations • To assist you in becoming a better leader

Autocratic Leadership • Leader exerts a high amount of power over his/her employees or team members • People are given few opportunities for making suggestions • Usually leads to high levels of absenteeism and staff turnover • Team does not benefit from creativity and experience of all members • Good for routine and unskilled jobs

Autocratic Leadership • can be said to be synonymous to dictatorship • decision has to be taken as the golden rule and should never be questioned • works positively during emergency and stressful situations. • Famous Autocratic LeadersAdolf Hitler • Joseph Stalin • Saddam Hussein

Bureaucratic Leadership • Leaders work “by the book” • Staff must follow procedures exactly • Inflexibility and high levels of control can demoralize staff and diminish the organization’s ability to react to changing external circumstances • Useful for work involving high levels of risk or where large sums of money are involved • Followers are promoted based on their ability to conform to the rules of the office

Charismatic Leadership • Leader injects huge amounts of enthusiasm into the team and is very energetic in driving others forward • Leader can believe more in him/herself than in the team • Can create a risk that a project or even the entire organization may collapse if the leader were to leave • Success is tied into the presence of the leader • Carries great responsibility and needs a long term commitment from the leader

Charismatic Leadership • Charismatic leaders are able to use their personal charm to get things done • charismatic leader builds trust among the followers. • Charismatic Leaders • John F Kennedy • Charles Manson

Democratic Leadership • Leader makes final decision • Invites other members of the team to contribute to the decision making process • Increases job satisfaction • Involves employees/team members in what’s going on • Helps develop people’s skills • Employees are motivated to work hard because they feel in control of their own destiny • Can lead to things happening more slowly but end result is better • Suitable where teamwork is essential and quality is more important than speed

Democratic Leadership • have an equal say in the decision-making process, people are more committed to the desired outcome. • If the workforce is inexperienced, this style is not very effective. • Famous Democratic Leader • Dwight D Eisenhower

Laissez-Faire Leadership • “leave it be” • Leader leaves his/her colleagues to get on with their work • Can be effective if leader monitors what is being achieved and communicates with team regularly • Works for teams in which individuals are self-starters and very experienced • Can also refer to situations where managers are not exerting sufficient control

Laissez-Faire Leadership • have complete freedom to make decisions concerning the completion of work or ask questions of the leader • This style should not be used when • Managers are unable to thank employees for their good work • The manager doesn’t understand his or her responsibilities and is hoping the employees can cover for him or her.

People-Oriented Leadership • Leader is totally focused on organizing, supporting, and developing the people in the team • Tends to lead to good teamwork and creative collaboration • Know their employees' strengths and talents and they place people in positions that take advantage of those positive characteristics • Can lead to failure to achieve the team goals • So focused on the individual that nothing gets accomplished

Servant Leadership • Leader is not formally recognized • Leads by virtue of meeting the needs of the team • Form of democratic leadership • Whole team tends to be involved in decision making • Leader achieves power based on values and ideals • Leader can be left behind by leaders using other leadership styles

Servant Leadership • The leader has responsibility for the followers. • Leaders have a responsibility towards society and those who are disadvantaged • The servant leader serves others, rather than others serving the leader • Famous Servant Leader • Ernest Shackleton

Task-Oriented Leadership • Leader focuses on getting the job done • Leader defines the work and roles for each team member, puts structures in place, plans, organizes, and monitors • Little thought is given to the members and well-being of the team • Can create difficulties motivating and retaining staff

Transactional Leadership • Team members agree to obey the leader totally when they take the job on • Organization pays the member in return for their effort and compliance • Leaders reserve the right to “punish” team members if work does not meet the predetermined standard • Team members can do little to improve job satisfaction • Really just a way to manage rather than lead • Focuses on short-term tasks • Limitations for knowledge-based or creative work

Transactional Leadership • People are motivated by reward and punishment. • It is clear what is required of their subordinates, and the rewards that they get for following orders; also well-understood of discipline usually in place. • Exceptions to expectation require praise and reward

Right-Style/Situational Leadership • An effective leader does not just fall into a single preferred style • Considerations: • Skill levels and experience of team members • Work involved • Organizational environment • Time available • Relationships among employees and leader • Your own preferred or natural style

Right-Style/Situational Leadership • Good leaders find themselves switching between styles according to the people and work they are dealing with • more closely tied to using the style needed to be successful given the existing situation being managed or the specific needs of the situation. • effective manager is able to utilize multiple leadership styles as conditions change.

Leadership Styles