LEADERSHIP STYLES: 5 MAJOR STYLES OF LEADERSHIP

Leadership styles can be defined as a person’s way of governing, directing, and motivating followers.
Over the last 50 or so years, researchers have proposed a number of different leadership styles
characterized by those in business, politics, technology, and other major fields. Psychologists have found
that leadership styles can have an important impact on how well groups function. Leaders also help
determine how successful the group is at achieving its goals and how motivated and committed
followers are to the group and its goals.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the major leadership styles that have been identified by different
researchers.

Authoritarian Leadership Styles

Authoritarian leaders are also known as autocratic or dictatorial leaders.

This leadership style is characterized by:

 Close supervision

 Lack of input from followers

 Complete control

 Total authority

 Solo decision-making

The authoritarian style was first described by psychologist Kurt Lewin in a study that identified three key
styles of leadership. People with an authoritarian leadership style make decisions without consulting
anyone else on the team.

This leadership style can be problematic when overused because it can come off as domineering and
tyrannical. Team members may feel unappreciated, unmotivated, and uncommitted to the group
because their input is never requested.

Are there situations where authoritarian leadership can be beneficial? One of the advantages of
authoritarian leadership is that it leads to quick decision-making. This can be critical in situations where
decisions need to be made quickly and under a lot of pressure. It can also be a good choice when the
leader is the most knowledgeable and skilled person in the group.

Democratic Leadership Styles

The democratic leadership, or participative leadership, was another one Lewin’s three styles of
leadership.

This leadership style is characterized by:

 Shared decision-making responsibilities

 Social equality

 Creativity

 High engagement from group members

Leaders who exhibit this style are often described as honest, fair, creative, intelligent, and competent.
This style of leadership can lead to a great deal of commitment from group members because they
typically feel more input in the group’s success and failure. It is important to remember that while
democratic leaders accept and encourage team members to offer their ideas and contributions, the
leader does retain the final say over all decisions.

This style of leadership is often identified as one of the “best” approaches to leading groups, but it is not
necessarily appropriate for every situation. Some situations where the democratic style may be
inappropriate include those where the group members are untrained or where decisions must be made
on a tight deadline.

Laissez-Faire Leadership Styles

The laissez-faire style was another of the three styles observed and described by Lewin and his
colleagues.

This style is characterized by:

 Little direction from the leader

 Lots of freedom for group members

 Great deal of autonomy

Laissez-faire leaders are sometimes referred to as delegative leaders. Rather than attempt to direct and
control the group, they instead hand over the responsibility of leading the group to the team members
themselves.

The laissez-faire style can have both advantages and disadvantages, depending upon the characteristics
of the situation and the group. When the members of the group are highly skilled and knowledgeable,
letting them guide themselves can be a great strategy. In such cases, the leader can still offer support
and advice when needed, but followers are mostly able to make their own choices.

This leadership style can be a poor choice in situations that require quick decision-making or where
members of the group lack the skills to succeed. In such cases, team members may be left feeling unsure
of what they should do. Such situations also lead to a lack of accountability, missed deadlines, and low
commitment to the group.

Transactional Leadership Styles

Transactional leadership, also known as managerial leadership, is all about managing others using
rewards and punishments. People with this leadership style tend to prefer a great deal of structure with
clearly defined roles and expectations.

The transactional leadership style is characterized by:

 Lots of instruction

 Clear expectations

 Clear goals

 Inflexibility

 Efficiency

 Focused on following rules

Transactional leaders usually lay out their rules and expectations. Each member of the group is given
clear directions about what they should be doing, how they should be doing it, and when it should be
done. The focus of this style is on making sure that things are completed correctly, on time, and
according to the rules.

Because it is centered on productivity, efficiency, and safety, this can be an effective style when used
within an organizational structure. It can be stifling in settings where workers feel micro-managed.
Because this style is so focused on extrinsic motivations, with rewards and bonuses offered for meeting
or exceeding goals, followers may not develop much intrinsic motivation for their work.

Transformational Leadership Styles

Transformational leadership is characterized by high levels of motivation, inspiration, and commitment.

People who have this leadership style are often described as:

 Energetic

 Passionate

 Enthusiastic

 Trustworthy

 Creative

 Intelligent

Transformational leaders are not only highly creative; they also inspire creativity in others. They offer
support and guidance in order to help each member of the team achieve their full potential. Team
members look to the leader as a role model. Because of this, followers tend to internalize the ideals of
the leader and strive to emulate these qualities.

Final Thoughts

There are many different leadership styles, but the best approach may depend on factors such as the
characteristics of the situation and the group. There is no single leadership style that is best in each and
every situation. In some cases, an authoritarian style may be more effective and productive. In other
situations, a transformational leader may excel.