Seven (7) Leadership Styles In Management You Should Know

Leadership styles in management. A leader is not born but made. It’s a trait that one develops with time, patience, and practice.

Being a leader entails more than commanding people around or being the boss. Anyone can be a boss, but it takes special qualities to be a helpful, useful leader.

There are different styles of leadership, and each has its own pros and cons.

As a small business owner, it’s important to know the different types of leadership styles so you can identify which one best suits your company or you can adapt your own management style to suit your business and employees.

The type of leadership you choose will affect your company culture, employee morale, and overall productivity. Here are the types of leadership styles in management you should know.

Here are (7) popular leadership styles in management:

1. Directive Leadership Or The Authoritarian Leader

This type of leader is also known as the autocratic leader.

They make decisions by either not consulting their team or taking input from others into consideration.

This would work better if you had a small team or were working on a tight deadline where time was more important than accuracy.

The downside of authoritative leadership is that it can be seen as overly controlling. 

This management style often causes employees to feel resentful because they feel unappreciated and undervalued.

To successfully adopt this leadership style, you should frequently solicit feedback from your team to show them that their voices are essential.

2. Paternalistic Leadership

Paternalistic leaders act more like a parent or guardian towards their employees.

They make decisions based on what they believe is best for their employees, even if it goes against what the employees want.

Paternalistic leaders are usually very supportive and always have their employees’ best interests at heart.

However, this type of leadership can be ineffective if employees feel like they’re being babied or treated like children. 

3. The Democratic Leader

This type of leader is also known as the participative leader. They value the input of their team and encourage discussion before making any decisions.

This type of leadership often leads to better buy-in from employees because they feel like their opinions matter.

However, this style of leadership can lead to indecision when there are too many cooks in the kitchen.

If you want to adopt this leadership style, make sure that you’re comfortable being the tie-breaker when it’s needed.

4. The Laissez-Faire Leader

Laissez-faire leaders step back and let their employees make most of the decisions.

This type of leader provides guidance when needed but generally gives their team the freedom to work independently.

This type of leader is also known as the free rein leader or hands-off leader.

They provide their team with the resources they need and step back to let them get on with the job.

This sort of leadership is frequently followed by an increase in ingenuity and inventiveness because employees are given the freedom to experiment.

Laissez-faire leaders are usually very trustful and have faith in their employees’ abilities.

However, this type of leadership can be ineffective if employees feel like they’re not being managed properly or given enough direction. 

It can lead to chaos if there’s no clear vision or goal for the team to work towards.

If you want to adopt this leadership style, make sure that your team knows what your expectations are and that you trust them implicitly.

5. The Transformational Leader

Transformational leaders are concerned with both the individual needs of their employees and the overall goals of the company.

This type of leader focuses on motivating and inspiring their team to achieve great things.

They motivate and inspire their employees to not only achieve personal goals but also contribute to the success of the company.

Transformational leaders are typically very visionaries and have the ability to see potential in both people and projects.

They’re not afraid to challenge the status quo and push their team out of their comfort zone so they can reach new heights.

This type of leadership often leads to higher employee engagement because people are motivated by a shared vision and purpose.

However, the downside of transformational leadership is that it can be time-consuming and energy-draining for the leader and employees. 

This style of leadership can lead to burnout if employees feel like they’re constantly being asked to do more with less resources.

If you want to adopt this leadership style, make sure that you provide adequate resources for your team and give them regular breaks so they can recharge their batteries.

6. The Charismatic Leader 

The charismatic leader is one who uses their charm and personality to get people to follow them.

This leadership style can be effective in getting people on board with your vision and inspiring them to take action.

However, it can also be difficult to maintain because the leader needs to be constantly engaged with their team. 

7. “The Servant Leader”

This type of leader puts their team’s needs above their own and focuses on helping them grow and develop both professionally and personally.

This type of leadership often leads build strong relationships between leaders and employees because there’s a focus on mutual respect and trust.

However, this style of leadership can lead people to take advantage if the leader is too accommodating.

If you want to adopt this leadership style, make sure that you set clear boundaries so people know what you expect from them.

The Benefits of a Servant Leadership Style

In the business world, there’s one style in particular that we think is worth considering: servant leadership.

When properly implemented, a servant leadership style can have a positive impact on both employees and the organization as a whole.

Here’s a look at some of the benefits of this type of leadership.

Employee Morale and Engagement

One of the most important functions of any leader is to ensure that their employees are engaged and motivated.

Luckily, servant leaders are well-suited to this task.

By definition, servant leaders are focused on their team’s growth and development, which creates an environment of trust and mutual respect.

When employees feel like their voices are being heard and their opinions matter, they’re more likely to be engaged in their work and motivated to do their best.

Organizational Culture

The culture of an organization can have a big impact on employee morale, motivation, and engagement.

And servant leaders are in a unique position to shape their organization’s culture for the better.

Because they’re focused on developing their team and empowering them to reach their full potential, When you start small, your employees become more curious and appreciate your direction.

This can lead to a better atmosphere for creativity and innovation to thrive in.

As a result, organizations with servant leaders often have cultures that are more open and collaborative than those with other types of leaders.

Improved communication 

Communication is essential for any organization to function effectively.

But it can be especially challenging in large organizations with complex hierarchies.

Fortunately, servant leaders typically have very good communication skills—something that’s crucial for keeping everyone on the same page and ensuring that everyone knows what’s expected of them.

In addition, because they’re focused on developing their team, they’re more likely to foster an environment where open communication is encouraged. 

Conclusion

Each business owner will have their own management style that works best for them.

And each business will have different needs at different times.

So it’s important for small business owners to be aware of different leadership styles so they can adapt as needed.

So depending on what you prioritize as a business owner will determine which style will work better for you!

Try out a few styles before making a decision on which one suits your business best , chances are you won’t regret it!