A leader’s distinct approach to leading, inspiring, and guiding their team is referred to as their leadership techniques style. There are various styles, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Some are more effective in stable businesses, while others are more effective in start-ups or uncertain environments.
A good leader adapts their leadership style to suit their role, team, and organization. Everyone has default leadership techniques, but it’s important to consider whether they’re helping you get the most out of your team. This article explores six common leadership styles, their pros and cons, and how to find and develop your preferred style.
1. Democratic method of leadership techniques
Democratic leadership involves team members in decision-making, making final decisions based on input from others. It values ideas and encourages discussion about different approaches while the leader makes the final decision.
Pros
- Promotes cooperation and teamwork
- Accepts a range of viewpoints and perspectives
- Increases worker engagement
- Can lead to more inventive solutions
Cons
- May require more time to make a choice
- The minority opinion is dominant
- Frequently less effective than other management strategies
2. Coaching as a kind of leadership
Coaching is a management style that focuses on each team member’s strengths and development areas, aiming to enhance team effectiveness by guiding them towards achieving their potential and bringing out their best.
Pros
- Promotes dialogue in both directions
- Workers are acknowledged for their specific skill set
- Supports the growth of every employee
- Promotes cooperation and teamwork
Cons
- It takes a great deal of time and effort.
- Sometimes unsuccessful in producing results
3. The laissez-faire style of leadership
Laissez-faire management, a French term meaning “let it be,” is a management style where leaders provide necessary tools to their employees, then allow their direct reports to make decisions, solve problems, and deliver work with minimal supervision.
Pros
- Promotes creativity as well as originality
- Empowering workers
- Encourages a reduced fear of failing
- Increases team trust
Cons
- May lead to a decrease in productivity
- May lead to misunderstandings over positions and duties
- Insufficient responsibility towards individual team members
4. Charismatic leadership style
In order to convey their vision, motivate, and win over staff members to goal-achieving, charismatic leaders use their persuasiveness and communication abilities to connect with people on a deep level.
Pros
- Connects a group behind a single individual or goal
- So encouraging
- Makes workers feel important
- Incredible strength during situations
Cons
- largely depends on the leader for achievement
- May result in tunnel vision
- Might come across as false
5. The style of transformational leadership
Transformational leaders inspire innovation in their teams, focusing on improving processes and challenging existing systems to create better ways of doing things.
Pros
- Encourages original thought
- Inspires workers
- Promotes cooperation and teamwork
Cons
- Can lead to issues within some organizations
- Possibility of high danger
6. Autocratic leadership style
Autocratic leadership is a leadership style where a leader makes decisions without direct reports’ input or explanation, dictating tasks and their completion without involving their direct reports or explaining their thinking.
Pros
- Facilitates effective decision-making
- Clearly state what is expected of each employee
- Can be useful when things are unclear
Cons
- Could limit originality and creativity
- Ignores a variety of viewpoints and methods of thinking
- Workers may feel ignored.
- Might decrease team spirit
How to identify your style of leadership
Understanding your leadership style is crucial for becoming a better leader. It provides a sense of control and ownership over the behaviors you may encourage. Consider your approach when leading others, whether it’s hands-off, micromanager, or consensus-based. Ask colleagues to describe your leadership style to gain insight into it.
Identify your dominant style, evaluate its effectiveness, identify areas where it may be less productive, identify skills that could be adapted from other management techniques, and practice these behaviors until they become natural.
