Leadership Styles

Hi Leaders

Leadership style is the way a leader uses power to lead others. Every situation calls for a certain style, and so too the person you are leading.

There's no defined leadership style one can apply all the time to every person you are leading.

In this post, I will introduce you to the different styles. You will note that you will use more than 1 style in the day-to-day operations. It will also depend on the skill set, emotional maturity and understanding those you are leading. Not everyone is at the same level.

In short, the specific situation will determine the most effect style to apply.

Here are the 12 leadership styles:

•  Autocratic Leadership

Autocratic leadership style is centred on the boss. In this leadership the leader holds all authority and responsibility, making decisions on their own without consulting subordinates.  Autocratic work environment does normally have little or no flexibility. There are very few situations that can actually support autocratic leadership.

• Democratic Leadership

In this leadership style, subordinates are involved in making decisions. This headship is centred on subordinates’ contributions. The democratic leader holds final responsibility, but he or she is known to delegate authority to other people, who determine work projects.

• Strategic Leadership Style

Strategic leadership is one that involves a leader who is essentially the head of an organisation, not limited to those at the top of the organisation. It is geared to create a high performance life, team or organisation, and fills the gap between the need for new possibility and the need for practicality by providing a prescriptive set of habits.

• Transformational Leadership

Transformational leadership is all about initiating change in organisations, groups, oneself and others. They motivate others to do more than they originally intended and often even more than they thought possible. Setting more challenging expectations and typically achieve higher performance. 

• Team Leadership

Team leadership involves the creation of a vivid picture of its future, where it is heading and what it will stand for. The vision inspires and provides a strong sense of purpose and direction.

• Cross-Cultural Leadership

This form of leadership normally exists where there are various cultures in the society., and has also industrialised as a way to recognise front runners who work in the contemporary globalised market. 

• Facilitation Leadership

Facilitation leadership is too dependent on measurements and outcomes – not a skill, although it takes much skill to master. The effectiveness of a group is directly related to the efficacy of its process, therefore if the group is high functioning, the facilitation leader uses a light hand on the process.On the other hand, if the group is low functioning, the facilitation leader will be more directives in helping the group run its process.

• Laissez-faire Leadership

Laissez-faire leadership gives authority to employees. Departments or subordinates are allowed to work as they choose with minimal or no interference.

• Transactional Leadership

This is a leadership that maintains or continues the status quo. It involves an exchange process, whereby followers get immediate, tangible rewards for carrying out the leader’s orders. Being clear, focusing on expectations, giving feedback are all important leadership skills. 

• Coaching Leadership

Coaching leadership involves teaching and supervising followers. A coaching leader is highly operational in setting where results/ performance require improvement, so followers are helped to improve their skills. Coaching leadership does the following: motivates followers, inspires followers and encourages followers.

• Charismatic Leadership

In this leadership, the charismatic leader manifests his or her revolutionary power. Charisma does not mean sheer behavioural change. It actually involves a transformation of followers’ values and beliefs.Therefore, this distinguishes a charismatic leader from a simply populist leader who may affect attitudes towards specific objects, but who is not prepared as the charismatic leader is, to transform the underlying normative orientation that structures specific attitudes.

• Visionary Leadership

This form of leadership involves leaders who recognise that the methods, steps and processes of leadership are all obtained with and through people. Most great and successful leaders have the aspects of vision in them.However, those who are highly visionary are the ones considered to be exhibiting visionary leadership.

Using different styles of leadership daily, will aid you in becoming a better leader. Applying different ways to lead, will benefit the operations of the organisation as it enables the follower to be lead in a way that they can relate to.

There are styles that I stay clear from, as I have learned through experience. Try all things, keep the good. 

And it goes without saying, that the style is also influenced by the leader's character and personality.

In future posts we will focus more on each leadership style and how to apply it.