Kinds Of Leadership

Over the course of human existence, different kinds of leadership styles have emerged that fit the requirements of different environments and times. If you are looking to ensure the smooth running of a company, country or any organization, it is essential that you adopt the right kind of leadership style. Or else, you should be prepared for inevitable failure.

1) Out of the many kinds of leadership out there, the Laissez-Faire model is preferred by many setups. This French phrase, literally translated to “let them do” applies to leaders who allow those who come under their leadership to do their jobs with minimal intervention. Such a relaxed form of leadership is most successful in situations when a particular team is extremely skilled and experienced in the work that it does, and all team members do not need direction from those in leadership positions. However, when teams are not as experienced, the Laissez-Faire model is not as successful and it results in poor performances and low-productivity.

2) In contrast to Laissez-Faire, the autocratic method of leadership is one of many kinds of leadership that require the leader to use his position of superiority over his subjects to get the team to work efficiently. Since the leader under this model exerts a lot of control over the day-to-day activities of his team, it often leads to a significant amount of resentment from members of the team since their voices are rarely heard. However, units in which team members are kept satisfied are normally extremely cohesive and productive.

3) The participative leadership style, one of many kinds of leadership, looks towards striking a balance between the Laissez-Faire and autocratic styles of leadership. It is commonly referred to as a democratic way of leadership. A participative leader usually welcomes and takes into account input from members of his team, but makes the ultimate decisions himself. Although this method ensures that the subjects of the leader will remain satisfied since their voice is being taken into account, it often slows down the speed at which decisions can be reached. This can lead to inefficiencies and increased transaction costs.

4) Among the most popular kinds of leadership that are currently being implemented is transactional leadership. In this setup, team members are typically assigned tasks, and based on their performance of these, they are rewarded or punished. Transactional leaders expect those who come under them to obey their instructions, and for their unquestioned compliance, they are explicitly rewarded. Many consider those who head teams in this model as managers rather than leaders.

5) Situational leadership is a the most flexible out of the various kinds of leaderships out there. Leaders who adapt themselves to this model take into account the situation at hand before determining how they will lead their teams. Factors that are normally taken into account when deciding on the leadership strategy include the skill set and level of expertise of the people who make up the team, as well as the kind of style that particular leader and team are most comfortable with.