TOPIC 5: TYPES OF LEADERSHIP thinking: They don't just issue orders.

STYLES Most of all, they allow people choice and

latitude on how to achieve common
A. 7 COMMON TYPES OF goals.
LEADERSHIP STYLES
3. Pacesetting Style
1. Autocratic Style
"Do as I do!" is the phrase most
The phrase most illustrative of an indicative of leaders who utilize the
autocratic leadership style is "Do as I pacesetting style. This style describes a
say." Generally, an autocratic leader very driven leader who sets the pace as
believes that he or she is the smartest in racing. Pacesetters set the bar high
person at the table and knows more than and push their team members to run
others. They make all the decisions with hard and fast to the finish line.
little input from team members.
While the pacesetter style of
This command-and-control approach is leadership is effective in getting things
typical of leadership styles of the past, done and driving for results, it's a style
but it doesn't hold much water that can hurt team members. For one
with today's talent. thing, even the most driven employees
may become stressed working under this
That's not to say that the style may not style of leadership in the long run.
be appropriate in certain situations. For
example, you can dip into an autocratic 4. Democratic Style
leadership style when crucial decisions
need to be made on the spot, and you Democratic leaders are more likely to ask
have the most knowledge about the "What do you think?" They share
situation, or when you're dealing information with employees about
with inexperienced and new team anything that affects their work
members and there's no time to wait for responsibilities. They also
team members to gain familiarity with seek employees' opinions before
their role. approving a final decision.

2. Authoritative Style There are numerous benefits to this

participative leadership style. It can
The phrase most indicative of this style engender trust and promote team spirit
of leadership (also known as "visionary") and cooperation from employees. It
is "Follow me." The authoritative allows for creativity and helps employees
leadership style is the mark of confident grow and develop. A democratic
leaders who map the way and set leadership style gets people to do what
expectations, while engaging and you want to be done but in a way that
energizing followers along the way. they want to do it.

In a climate of uncertainty, these leaders 5. Coaching Style

lift the fog for people. They help them
see where the company is going and When you having a coaching leadership
what's going to happen when they get style, you tend to have a "Consider this"
there. approach. A leader who coaches views
Unlike autocratic leaders, authoritative people as a reservoir of talent to be
leaders take the time to explain their developed. The leader who uses a coach
approach seeks to unlock people's a total lack of direction, people may
potential. unwittingly drift in the wrong direction—
away from the critical goals of the
Leaders who use a coaching style open organization.
their hearts and doors for people. They
believe that everyone has power within B. Choosing Leadership Styles
themselves. A coaching leader gives
people a little direction to help them tap Knowing which of the leadership styles
into their ability to achieve all that works best for you is part of being a good
they're capable of. leader. Developing a signature style with
the ability to stretch into other styles as
the situation warrants may help enhance
6. Affiliative Style your leadership effectiveness.
1. Know yourself.
A phrase often used to describe this type Start by raising your awareness of
of leadership is "People come first." Of all your dominant leadership style. You can
the leadership styles, the affiliative do this by asking trusted colleagues to
leadership approach is one where the describe the strengths of your leadership
leader gets up close and personal with style. You can also take a leadership
people. A leader practicing this style style assessment.
pays attention to and supports
the emotional needs of team members. 2. Understand the different styles.
The leader strives to open up a pipeline Get familiar with the repertoire of
that connects him or her to the team. leadership styles that can work best for a
given situation. What new skills do you
Ultimately, this style is all about need to develop?
encouraging harmony and forming
collaborative relationships within teams. 3. Practice makes a leader.
It's particularly useful, for example, in Be genuine with any approach you
smoothing conflicts among team use. Moving from a dominant leadership
members or reassuring people during style to a different one may be
times of stress. challenging at first. Practice the new
behaviors until they become natural. In
7. Laissez-Faire Style other words, don't use a different
leadership style as a "point-and-click"
The laissez-faire leadership style is at the approach. People can smell a fake
opposite end of the autocratic style. Of leadership style a mile away—
all the leadership styles, this one involves authenticity rules.
the least amount of oversight. You could
say that the autocratic style leader 4. Develop your leadership agility.
stands as firm as a rock on issues, while Traditional leadership styles are
the laissez-faire leader lets people swim still relevant in today's workplace, but
with the current. they may need to be combined with new
approaches in line with how leadership is
On the surface, a laissez-faire leader may defined for the 21st century.
appear to trust people to know what to Today's business environments are
do, but taken to the extreme, an fraught with challenges due to the
uninvolved leader may end up appearing changing demographics and the
aloof. While it's beneficial to give people employee expectations of a diverse
opportunities to spread their wings, with workforce. This may call for a new breed
of leader who is an amalgam of most of
the leadership styles discussed here.