There are many different types of leadership styles. Knowing the different leadership styles can help you become aware and develop your sense of leadership.
Different kinds of leadership are needed at other times.
Understanding your situation and which leadership style to employ for each case can be very valuable.
What is a leadership style?
A leadership style is how you behave and interact with others while you are leading a group.
In 1939, Kurt Lewin identified three leadership styles: autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. These are often cited as the original framework for leadership styles.
Although, in modern times, there are many more and varying types of leadership styles. In this article, we will cover autocratic, transformational, and servant-leadership.
Leadership Style #1: Autocratic Leadership
This was one of the leadership styles that Kurt Lewin identified during his research. This standard style can be defined as one leader in charge with everyone else as followers or summed up into the phrase, “do as your told.”
The autocratic leadership style is defined as giving clear expectations to others of what needs to be done, when to do it and how to do it.
There is an emphasis on autocratic leaders telling others how to do something. This style can be effective at getting things done but lessens creativity in people.
Autocratic leadership can be seen as bossy or controlling.
In an autocratic leadership situation, the leader has absolute power and is the person to make decisions. This leadership style works well when decisions need to be made quickly or in the military or other high-protocol situations.
Leadership Style #2: Transformational Leadership
Transformational leadership is also known as visionary leadership. One of the critical defining parts of transformational leadership is that the leader has a grand vision, and people want to rally behind the singular cause.
Everyone’s commitment drives this leadership style to a larger, overarching goal.
A significant component of this style of leadership is open communication. Clear communication, motivation, passion, and high emotional intelligence are markers of a leader who prefers the transformational leadership style.
This leadership style is very forward-thinking, inspiring, big-picture, and focused on the end goal. In teams where this leadership style is employed, there is a high level of trust, a lot of autonomy, and space for people to think and innovate.
Leadership Style #3: Servant Leadership
The phrase can sum up servant leadership: Serve first, lead second.
Servant leadership was coined by Robert Greenleaf, who was skeptical about traditional authoritarian leadership styles. He thought that leaders should emphasize people so that people could become autonomous and free-thinking.
The main focus of servant leadership is to serve others. This means the leader prioritizes the people and puts the needs of others over their own.
Leaders who employ servant leadership as their main leadership style focus on ensuring that people are personally and professionally fulfilled. They are focused on employee satisfaction and collaboration. They want to help others and develop leadership qualities in others.
The servant leader is seen as the steward of the group’s resources. There is a focus on the servant leader being committed to the people’s growth and well-being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, what leadership style feels most like you currently? Are you a mix of two of them? Or all three? And what type do you aim to be? Can you see how different situations may call for different styles of leadership?
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