At first glance, we may think that some leadership styles are better than others. The truth is that each leadership style has its place in a leader’s toolkit. The wise leader knows to flex from one style to another as the situation demands.
Leadership styles are on a continuum, ranging from autocratic at one end, to laissez-faire at the other, with a variety of styles in between. There are seven primary leadership styles.
1. Autocratic
The phrase most illustrative of an autocratic leadership style is “Do as I say.” Generally, an autocratic leader believes that he or she is the smartest person at the table and knows more than others. They make all the decisions with little input from team members.
This command-and-control approach is typical of leadership styles of the past, but it doesn’t hold much water with today’s talent.
That’s not to say that the style may not be appropriate in certain situations. For example, you can dip into an autocratic leadership style when crucial decisions need to be made on the spot, and you have the most knowledge about the situation, or when you’re dealing with inexperienced and new team members and there’s no time to wait for team members to gain familiarity with their role.
2. Authoritative
The phrase most indicative of this style of leadership (also known as “visionary”) is “Follow me.” The authoritative leadership style is the mark of confident leaders who map the way and set expectations, while engaging and energizing followers along the way.
In a climate of uncertainty, these leaders lift the fog for people. They help them see where the company is going and what’s going to happen when they get there.
Unlike autocratic leaders, authoritative leaders take the time to explain their thinking: They don’t just issue orders. Most of all, they allow people choice and latitude on how to achieve common goals.
3. Pacesetting
“Keep up!” is the phrase most indicative of leaders who utilize the pacesetting style. This style describes a very driven leader who sets the pace as in racing. Pacesetters set the bar high and push their team members to run hard and fast to the finish line.
While the pacesetter style of leadership is effective in getting things done and driving for results, it’s an approach that can turn off team members. Even the most driven employees may become stressed working under this kind of pressure in the long run, suggesting that a more agile approach may be the ultimate leadership style required for leading today’s talent.
Should you avoid the pacesetting style altogether? Not so fast. If you’re an energetic entrepreneur working with a like-minded team on developing and announcing a new product or service, this style may serve you well. However, this is not a style that can be kept up for the long term. A pacesetting leader needs to let the air out of the tires once in a while to avoid causing team burnout.
4. Democratic
Democratic leaders are more likely to ask “How do you see it?” And, wherever possible, they share information with employees that affects their work responsibilities. They also seek employees’ opinions before making a final decision.
There are numerous benefits to this participative leadership style. It can engender trust and promote team spirit and cooperation from employees. It allows for creativity and helps employees grow and develop. A democratic leadership style gets people to do what you want to be done but in a way that they want to do it.
5. Coaching
When you have a coaching leadership style, you tend to have a “Consider this” approach. A leader who coaches views people as a reservoir of talent to be developed. The leader who uses a coach approach seeks to unlock people’s potential.
Leaders who use a coaching style open their hearts to and doors for people. They believe that everyone has power within themselves. A coaching leader gives people a little direction to help them tap into their ability to achieve their full potential.
6. Affiliative
A phrase often used to describe this type of leadership is “People come first.” Of all the leadership styles, the affiliative leadership approach is the most up close and personal. A leader practicing this style pays attention to and supports the emotional needs of team members. The leader strives to open up a pipeline that connects him or her to the team.
Ultimately, this style is all about encouraging harmony and forming collaborative relationships within teams. It’s particularly useful, for example, in smoothing conflicts among team members or reassuring people during times of stress.
7. Laissez-Faire
The laissez-faire leadership style is at the opposite end of the spectrum from autocratic. Of all the approaches, this one involves the least amount of oversight. You could say that the autocratic style leader stands as firm as a rock on issues, while the laissez-faire leader lets people swim with the current.
On the surface, a laissez-faire leader may appear to trust people to know what to do. When taken to the extreme, however, such a hands-off leader may end up appearing aloof. So, although it’s beneficial to give people room to run, managers must find a balance to make sure they remain moored the critical goals of the organization.
This style can work if you’re leading highly skilled, experienced employees who are self-starters and motivated. To be most effective with this style, monitor team performance and provide regular feedback.
Choosing Your Style
Knowing which of the leadership styles works best for you is part of being a good leader. Developing a signature style with the ability to stretch into others as the situation warrants may help enhance your leadership effectiveness.
Know yourself. Start by learning what your current dominant leadership style is. Ask trusted colleagues to describe the strengths of your leadership style. You can also take a leadership style assessment.
Understand the different styles. Familiarize yourself with the repertoire of leadership styles that can work best for a given situation. What new skills do you need to develop?
Practice. Be genuine with any approach you use. Moving from your current leadership style to a different one may be challenging at first. Practice the new behaviors until they become natural. In other words, don’t abandon who you are. When it comes to gaining trust and loyalty, authenticity rules—meaning that the best leadership style is often what comes most naturally to you, with some key enhancements to help you evolve.
Stay agile. Traditional leadership styles are still relevant in today’s workplace, but they may need to be combined with new approaches in line with how leadership is defined for the 21st century.
Today’s business environments are fraught with challenges due to the changing demographics and the employee expectations of a diverse workforce. This may call for a new breed of leader who is an amalgam of most of the leadership styles discussed here.
An agile leadership style may be the ultimate leadership style required for leading today’s talent. As the Chinese proverb goes, the wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water molds itself to the pitcher.
