Do you draw inspiration for your management styles from a past role model in your career? Maybe you felt empowered by a boss who listened to your experience, felt supported by a mentor that gave you clear instructions when you were brand new in the industry, or felt inspired to push beyond your self-doubt and deliver a powerful presentation through support from your leadership team. Maybe, instead, you had a negative experience with a leader along your career path that you vowed to do the opposite of when you had the chance to lead others. Management style is extremely important for the success of a team. Below we explore 4 common effective leadership styles to implement.
Democratic Leadership
How could your team benefit from bringing the sharpest minds in your organization together? Democratic leadership involves letting multiple members of your team share their thoughts on a decision that needs to be made and using their unique perspectives to help you make the final decision as the leader of the team.
This leadership style is the direct opposite of autocratic leadership, in which leaders set expectations and enforce them without team input. Democratic leadership is focused on collaboration, inclusion, and team building, but you must be able to consider your team’s input while still using your best judgment and discernment.
Depending on the specific situation, democratic leadership could look like letting your employees take a vote on what healthy snacks should be added to the break room vending machine or gathering department leads together to discuss the pros and cons of moving to a 4-day work week. Making your team feel like part of the process can boost employee engagement and enthusiasm.
Laissez-faire Leadership
Laissez-faire leaders take a hands-off approach when it comes to managing a team. Also known as a delegative approach, laissez-faire leadership focuses on employee autonomy and trust. This leadership style still involves giving your team the support they need to be successful, but ultimately trusting them to handle the execution of their job.
This is a great tactic for organizations with a highly skilled team that doesn’t need micromanagement or continuous direction to meet its goals. While a company operating in a laissez-faire style might not be a good fit for employees who enjoy structure and guidance, it can be empowering to those who thrive in this environment to show up as the best versions of themselves in the workplace.
Strategic Leadership
Strategic leaders are more focused on the grand vision of the company than they are on the day-to-day operations of the business. They can envision a future for the organization that others may not be able to see yet and can effectively communicate how every metric for success is taking the team closer to the long-term goals.
Although they are forward-thinking, they greatly value the well-being of each individual on their team and recognize the importance of employee satisfaction in building a sustainable organization. Strategic leaders create a sense of purpose in mundane tasks and remind employees that they are working towards an outcome that is bigger than the sum of its parts.
Transformational Leadership
Transformational leadership, or visionary leadership, is built on empowerment and creating a work environment that encourages employees to see what they are capable of. This style of leadership focuses on leading by example. These leaders will embody the company’s values and encourage others to do the same, will inspire motivation and big-picture thinking, and will promote engagement from individual team members by taking the time to learn their unique needs. Transformational leaders often take on the role of a mentor, fostering a growth-focused workplace culture and providing ample opportunity for personal and professional growth.
The transformational leadership style is the opposite of the transactional leadership style, where there are rewards and punishments for meeting predetermined goals and definitions of success. Transformational leaders continually raise those benchmarks once they are met, so it’s important to stay tuned in to the morale of your team to prevent burnout and employee turnover.
Fostering Effective Leadership
The most effective leadership style will differ based on your personality, your team, your goals, and your organization. With the proper leadership training under your belt to equip you with the tools and tactics you need to lead with confidence, you will better be able to identify the leadership needs of your team. At Front Line Leadership, our flexible, 10-module leadership development program is built around practical tools and strategies that immediately impact the engagement, performance, and satisfaction of every team member. Contact us to learn more about our training delivery options.