Leadership style is the technique of providing direction, implementing plans and ways of motivating people. It is an acquired attribute that begins early in life and evolves over time. Here is a list of Leadership styles with examples for you to read and reflect on.
Autocratic / Authoritarian Leadership
Authoritarian leadership is exemplified when a leader dictates policies and procedures, decides what goals are to be achieved, and directs and controls all activities without any meaningful participation by the subordinates
Example: Kim Jong-un, North Korean dictator
Bureaucratic Leadership
Bureaucratic leadership goes strictly by the rule book provided by higher authorities and believes that systematic processes and organized hierarchies are necessary to standardize human activity, maintain order, maximize efficiency, and eliminate favoritism.
Example: Manufacturing sector and Civil services in India
Charismatic Leadership
Charismatic leadership creates a self-image so powerful that people are naturally drawn to such leaders.
Example: Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister
Laissez – Faire Leadership
Laissez – Faire leadership is based on trust, initiative and freedom. The leader is available to provide guidance and furnish the necessary resources only and when the need arises.
Example: Mahatma Gandhi
Participative / Democratic Leadership
Participative leadership gives importance to the opinion of team members and engages them in the decision making process, by promoting the interests of the group members and by practicing social equality.
Example: Carlos Ghosn, the Chairman and CEO of Renault
Relationship- Oriented Leadership
Relationship- oriented leadership focuses on the satisfaction, motivation and the general well-being of the team members.
Example: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Indian cricket team’s Captain
Task- Oriented Leadership
Task – oriented leadership revolves around the proficiency of getting tasks done within set deadlines.
Example: Lenin, the Russian political leader
Servant Leadership
Servant leadership shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. This philosophy enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world.
Example: Mother Teresa
Transformational Leadership
Transformational leadership is considered the best leadership style to be used in business scenarios. Such leaders work with subordinates to identify needed change, creating a vision to guide the change through inspiration and executing the change in tandem with committed members of a group.
Example: Steve Jobs, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc.
Transactional Leadership
Transactional leadership is interchangeably called Managerial leadership, where the leader promotes compliance by employees through both rewards and punishments, with the goal to keep things the same.
Example: Bill Gates, Founder and Chairman of Microsoft
So the question is – “Which is your Leadership style?” The right answer of course should be MANY, if not ALL.
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Posted by Anuradha Prusty on 7th October 2017
