In a period of high uncertainty the world needs leaders who are able to embrace change and turn difficulties into opportunities. We need people that inspire and guide us through tough times.
There are three basic leadership styles:
- Autocratic
- Democratic
- Laissez-faire
The first one is the autocratic leadership.
This style puts the “authority” in the hands of one person alone.
These leaders tell everyone what to do.
They enforce their own ideas and judgment. Team members are rarely involved in the decision making process and this creates no real sense of empowerment.
There are situations where this style works well, for instance in a work environment where decisions need to be made quickly.
Studies report that autocratic leadership can lead to high dissatisfaction, because it negatively affects team members morale and doesn’t create a sense of empowerment among staff.
The second style is the democratic leadership.
This style consists of the leader sharing the decision-making abilities with group members.
Democratic leaders encourage creativity, emphasize fairness, and value intelligence and honesty.
This leadership style is one of the most effective styles because it creates higher productivity and increases group morale.
It does have some potential downsides.
For example, in situations where roles are unclear or there is not enough time to allow people to contribute, democratic leadership can lead to communication failures.
The last one is the laissez-faire leadership.
This style is characterized by very little guidance from leaders and complete freedom for followers to make decisions about the completion of their work.
These leaders do not directly participate in decision making, unless followers request their assistance.
This leadership style can be effective in situations where staff members are highly capable, skilled and motivated to work on their own.
At the same time, it is not wise to use this style when staff members lack the experience and knowledge to make decisions about the completion of their work.
Studies report that Laissez-faire leadership produces lower member productivity and satisfaction than both autocratic and democratic styles.
These three leadership styles are the foundation of most leadership styles used today in our society.
To recap:
- The autocratic style works well in situations where decisions need to be made quickly.
- The democratic style is useful when there is plenty of time to allow people to contribute.
- The laissez faire style works very well when members are very skilled to make decisions about the completion of their work.
Before leaving you I would like to share an old saying that I really love, it says:
If your actions inspire others, to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
John Quincy Adams
