In order to be a good leader, it is important to know which kind of leader you are.
You may find that you fit under a couple of categories or that you are definitely one type of leader, but either way, it is helpful to know how you lead to develop your approach and be a more effective leader.
There are many different styles of leadership, but there are 3 main types that people usually fall under:
Democratic– A democratic leader will use the opinions and thoughts of all of their staff members to make a final decision. This can be very successful in making the workplace feel like a team rather than a dictatorship.
Autocratic – An autocratic leader doesn’t take their staff/team members opinions or thoughts in to consideration. This is the opposite of a Democratic Leadership. Although it has its place in some settings, it isn’t widely used to run a business nowadays as it can breed hostility and resentment in a workplace.
Laissez-Faire – Laissez Faire translates to ‘Let them Do’ and this type of leadership literally does what it says on the tin! A leader that uses this style will afford nearly all of their authority to their staff and employees. Although this can seem a nice way to lead, it can cause confusion in the work place as nobody knows who is in charge.
Whilst there may be 3 main types of leader, there are sub-categories for each style.
For instance, coaching – a leader that wants to unlock their employee’s potential, Transformational – A leader that pushes their employees to step out of their comfort zone, or even Beuracratic – these types of leaders do things by the book!
You may find that you use methods from all of these styles to Lead your team or that you use one main technique throughout. It is easy to think that one type of leadership is better than another, however, there can be a time and place for all 3 styles.
With the constant change and pressure that people and businesses are finding themselves under in today’s climate, it may be best to vary your leadership skills at times and combine them with new approaches in order to continue to be the best leader you can be!