Today in David Kiger’s Blog, we want to take a look at some of the most common leadership styles and explain at their core what they mean so as to help you make informed decisions when facing a choice pertaining methods to lead and how to adjust your approach to the situation at hand.

1. Some Of The Most Common
Leadership Styles
By David KigerImage courtesy of rawpixel.com at Pexels.com

2. There are many different leaders that influence us throughout
the lifetime, and just as diverse as the leader themselves, there
are styles that vary greatly according to situations, contexts and
the parties involved in the decision making process and the
achievement of the mission. Leaders aren’t born so as they are
made and become who they are, they all experience different
forces that forge their particular style of leadership and that
prepares them to lead in accordance with characteristics defined
by their own personality and the demands of their business
environment. To say that there is a leadership style that rules
above the rest would be a colossal mistake and a disservice to
leadership in general, mainly because leadership styles are
greatly dependent on the function of the leader, the team and
the particular situation. While some leaders are unable to be
effective utilizing the input of other team members, others thrive
in the participation of their subordinates when contemplating
decisions and outlining a plan of actions.

3. Today in David Kiger’s Blog, we want to take a look at some of the
most common leadership styles and explain at their core what they
mean so as to help you make informed decisions when facing a
choice pertaining methods to lead and how to adjust your approach
to the situation at hand.
Autocratic Leader
The autocratic leader is the textbook example of control over the
situation and a decision-making process that is undertaken by only
one person, the leader. This leadership style is that of managers
who have absolute authority over all aspects of the operation and
receive little to no input from the rest of the team. Their will is the
law and it is imposed upon others without any chance to offer
feedback. The autocratic leader has some advantages as it allows for
the quickest turnaround when it comes to achieving results quickly,
but relies heavily on the leader’s effectiveness and neglects valuable
input from employees sacrificing morale.

4. Bureaucratic Leader
Bureaucratic leaders follow the rules, do everything by the book and
encourage employees to do everything precisely according to set
procedures. This leadership style is particularly effective when it
comes to safety consideration in environments that present
occupational hazards or when team members have to perform
routine tasks in a repetitive manner. This leadership style is very
effective but it allows for little interaction and development of skills.
Democratic Leader
Democratic or participative leaders invite members of their team to
participate in the decision-making process and allow them to have a
role that includes more involvement in the achievement of the
mission. This approach is very effective when it comes to developing
morale and enhancing skills within team member but sometimes
this can come at the cost of swiftness and efficiency. It is important
to know that while many are able to participate, it is the leader who
makes final decisions and takes responsibility for the actions of the
team.

5. Laissez-Faire Leader
The name of this leadership style comes from the French
phrase: “let them do”. This type of leader gives freedom to
their team to go about their business the way they best see fit.
The advantage is that it creates an atmosphere of trust and
mutual respect in which the leader does not meddle into the
affairs of employees because they believe they do not need
close supervision. Laissez-Faire leadership should only be
utilized with teams that are mature and professional and that
are able to work unsupervised. The biggest problem with this
style is not the style itself, but trying to use it with a team that
is not ready for it.

6. Coach Leader
A leader who leads as a coach worries about allowing his team
to reach their full potential. Instead of telling them what to do,
a coach gives the necessary tools to take on tasks full on and
encourages them to take risks and trust their training.
Coaching leaders help their teams develop lasting skills for
their future and groom them into well-rounded professionals.
Transformational Leader
Similar to the coaching leaders, transformational leaders are
inspiring figures who transform their teams by sharing with
them a joint vision of the future. Effective communication,
self-awareness, empathy and emotional intelligence are traits
of the transformational leader as they are clear setting goals
and promote high productivity due to their belief in their
team’s skills.

7. Situational Leader
Situational leaders are on paper perhaps the most effective of
all leaders we can discuss. A situational leader understands
that fluidity and adaptation are the most important aspects to
consider when leading a team. Not every situation can and
should be handled with the same style of leadership, so they
understand the need to adapt to the challenges and transform
their style at a moment's notice. The mission and the welfare
of the team should always be a priority, so a leader must keep
that in mind and shift paradigms as the situation calls for it.