Here’s A Quick Way To Inspire And Lead Your Team

There are a lot of ways to lead a group of people and if you do enough searching on the internet, you will find a lot of research done to show which leadership styles are the most effective. In this article, I have compiled a list of the most commonly found leadership styles and I have provided an example of where that type of leadership style is effective.

Autocratic

This is where one person has control over all decisions and there is little input from group members.

The autocratic leadership style is best used in situations where control is necessary, often where there is little margin for error. When conditions are dangerous, rigid rules can keep people out of harm’s way.

Democratic

There are two variations of this style:

• Persuasive democratic — This is where a leader had already made a decision, but takes the time to persuade others that it is a good idea.
• Consultative Democratic — This is where a leader consults others about their views before making a decision.

Democratic leadership style can bring the best out of an experienced and professional team. It capitalises on their skills and talents by letting them share their views, rather than simply expecting them to conform. When situations change frequently, democratic leadership offers a great deal of flexibility to adapt to better ways of doing things.

Paternalistic

This is where some individuals make all the decisions and expect subordinates to obey. Out of the box thinking is not required of the staff as the leader in this case is in a position to make different decisions concerning the business. The leader should hold the interests of his subordinates at heart, as this will ensure they have a good relationship.

Laissez-Faire

This type of leadership allows employees to carry out activities freely within broad limits.

This type of leadership works best when you are dealing with highly-skilled professionals who are motivated and able to work on their own. Since they are experts in their field they are adequate to work independently. These groups of people are not only capable of working with very little guidance, but they thrive when they are given autonomy in their work. Google is a big supporter of this style

Which one are you?

Now that you have been introduced to these leadership styles, I suggest you try to find one that fits in your job and adapt it into your current style. This may give you a greater understanding of the people you are leading.