Leadership Styles

Leadership style refers to the approach and methods a leader uses to guide, motivate, and manage their team. It encompasses the way decisions are made, how tasks are delegated, and the level of collaboration and communication within the group.

Each leadership style has its strengths and weaknesses and can be effective depending on the situation and team dynamics.

 

Types of Leadership Styles

  1. Autocratic leadership style:

If the decision-making power is concentrated in the hands of the leader, it is known as autocratic leadership style. There is no participation by subordinates. The leader has full authority and assumes full responsibility. He dictates what to do and how to do and doesn't take any advice and suggestions from followers.

He expects the workers to follow their orders and tolerate no deviation from their order.

Features:

  1. He makes his own decisions, and he doesn’t take any advice of others.
  2. Reward and punishment are exercised by him very strictly.
  3. There is only one way communication in order to maintain the position.
  4. An autocratic leader describes each job in detail to be completed by the followers.

Advantages:

  1. It is useful in emergency situations.
  2. Gives the best results If the workers are untrained and unorganized.
  3. It is useful when quick decision-making is required.

Disadvantages:

  1. Followers are not involved in the process of decision making.
  2. The morale of employees becomes low.
  3. No chance of employee development using creative ideas.
  4. There is no chance of two-way communication.
  5. The employees perform the work with negative motivation.

 

2. Democratic leadership style:

If the authority and decision-making power are decentralized in subordinates is known, it is called democratic leadership style. The leader delegates authority and provides responsibility even to the followers.

Followers are involved in decision making process. He takes advice and suggestions of other people.

Features:

  1. A democratic leader delegates the responsibility to the employees.
  2. All subordinates in take part in decision making process.
  3. Followers are given importance, giving them job-satisfaction.
  4. Results are easily achieved with reasonable freedom to employees in work.

Advantages:

  1. There is cooperation among employees, giving them job-satisfaction.
  2. It helps in increasing in productivity of employees by increasing their morale.
  3. Involvement of all make decision making a better process.
  4. There are chances of personal growth of employees.

 Disadvantages:

  1. Makes decision making a time-consuming process.
  2. It is not suitable for untrained subordinates.
  3. A leader should really be a capable person. 

3. Free rein leadership style:

When all the authority and responsibility are delegated to the subordinates, it is known as Free rein leadership style. It is also called Laissez Fair style. The free rein leader doesn’t use the power and leaves the power to the subordinates.

This leadership style is very useful when group members are intelligent and fully aware of their roles and responsibilities.

Features:

  1. Subordinates have complete freedom in decision making.
  2. The subordinates are self-directed, self-motivated and self-controlled.
  3. The leader doesn’t interfere in making planning and policies.

Advantages:

  1. The employees are free in decision making, so feel more satisfied.
  2. It increases the morale of employees, that results in increasing their productivity.
  3. This style utilises full creativity and potential of subordinate, leading to their personal development.

Disadvantages:

  1. Leader becomes lethargic.
  2. Sometime the subordinates are not capable.

 

Directing – Keywords and Brief Notes