Leadership Styles
In order to truly understand and appreciate leadership, it is important to know and be aware of the different leadership styles. In this blog I want to post an article on Leadership Styles that I read several years ago by Annick Brennen. I trust that it will be as enlightening to you as it was to me.
Leadership Styles
By Annick M. Brennen
The term “leadership style” refers to a leader’s manner of behavior in a work situation. According to Fred E. Fiedler, one’s leadership style depends on one’s personality and is therefore relatively fixed. A study of leadership styles therefore, deals mainly with the manner in which the leader carries out his/her leadership functions or roles the use of authority and power and the approach to the decision-making process.
Fundamentally, the leadership adopted is the one with which the person is most comfortable. This is dependent on the person’s values, personality, and how comfortable it is to allow subordinates to participate in the decision-making process. Many of these characteristics are well developed by the time persons on the job would be considered for leadership positions. Meanwhile, many leaders, by means of training and introspection have been able to change their leadership style dramatically.
The Iowa Studies identified the Authoritarian, Democratic, and Laissez-Faire Leadership styles. These leadership styles exist on a continuum from autocratic to laissez-faire.
Authoritarian Style
The Authoritarian Leadership Style is characterized by a leader who makes all the decisions and passes the directives to subordinates who are expected to carry these out under very close supervision. Any subordinates’ attempt at questioning the directives given are discouraged. There is little or no opportunity for subordinates to develop initiative and creativity. Employee behavior is closely controlled through such means as punishment, reward, arbitrary rules, and task orientation.
The authoritarian leadership style is based upon the assumption that the leader knows everything and knows what is best for the organization. Employees are ignorant, indolent, lack ambition, dislike responsibility, and prefer to be led. Employees cannot be trusted to do what is right for the organization. Unlimited authority is thus rightly vested in the leader.
Authoritarian leaders can be arrogant, hostile, boastful, and egotistical.
In spite of its weaknesses, the authoritarian leadership style is well suited for certain environments such as the military, a prison, etc. In those settings, in which the lives of people depend on others following orders, the authoritarian styles is ideal. This style would also be appropriate for directing beginning teachers in the school setting because of their inexperience they tend to need more direction.
The research shows that the authoritarian leadership style is preferable to a democratic one for the achievement of tasks. People love democracy, but it does not mean that it leads to more productivity. An authoritarian leadership style is thus well suited in a very structured environment, where the lives of people are stake, and where the level of professionalism is also low.
Democratic Style
It is characterized by a structured but cooperative approach to decision-making. It focuses on group relationships and sensitivity to the people in the organization. This type of leadership style fosters professional competence. Supervision is minimal as individuals take the responsibility for their behavior. Subordinates are encouraged to express their ideas and make suggestions. However, shared decisions are not likely to occur in all aspects of the organizational operations. Democratic leaders sell ideas. They tend to be warm, confident, and friendly.
The democratic leadership style encourages employee participation and professional growth. It is well suited in environments where people have a very high level of expertise such as software engineers, lawyers, doctors, mature teachers, etc. The democratic leadership style promotes greater job satisfaction and improved morale.
Laissez-Faire Style
This leadership style is quite the opposite to the Authoritarian style. There is the absence of any real leadership and every one is free to do as it pleases. Usually, with no goals or direction there is a state of confusion, and lack of confidence in leadership. The employees also often doubt their own ability to accomplish the task at hand, thus productivity is usually very low.
Although this leadership style is not usually advocated, it has its place with persons who are highly motivated and can work totally on their volition. This type of leadership style would also be appropriate when there is nothing significant at stake. For example, if teachers wanted to give a party, then a laisser-faire style would be most appropriate.
In conclusion, each style has its place in an organization and can be used for different situations, tasks, and the maturity and level of professionalism of employees.
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