Leadership is a nebulous quality – it can be inspired or forceful, earned or given. But what leadership really boils down to is communication and relationships. Good leaders are able to build relationships and communicate effectively to inspire others to achieve a goal.
The style theory of leadership posits that there are four main types of leaders: autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire, and transformational. Each type of leader has different strengths and weaknesses, and each is better suited for different situations.
Autocratic leaders are decisive and have a clear vision for what they want to achieve. They’re able to make quick decisions and keep things moving forward. However, they can also be inflexible and insensitive to the needs of others.
Democratic leaders are collaborative and consultative. They seek input from others and build consensus before making decisions. This can lead to more buy-in from team members, but it can also result in indecision and stagnation if not done
What are the five additional types of behavioral styles?
Five alternative behavioral systems that range from emphasizing relationship building to completely focusing on achieving results have been produced as a result of the combination of task and relationship leadership behaviors. Depending on particular teams or situations, these various approaches can be more or less effective.
The following five behavioral styles are the result of task and relationship behaviors:
What is the style theory of leadership?
The style theory of leadership, also referred to as behavioral theory, is one of many leadership theories. Instead of emphasizing the individual qualities that make up an effective leader, it focuses on the actions of effective leaders. According to the theory, there is no one leadership style that works in every situation, but instead, leaders typically display two different behaviors to increase their effectiveness.
These two behaviors are:
Task behaviors
These actions can focus on the specific steps a leader can take to increase their effectiveness while also assisting a team in achieving its goals.
Task-oriented leaders place more emphasis on establishing efforts to achieve their goals and setting up actionable goals. These leaders perform best in environments that are organized, clearly defined, and focused on delivering results. Some strengths of task behaviors include:
Relationship behaviors
These actions help team members get along better, boost their spirits, and make everyone feel more at ease in their workplace.
Leaders who are focused on building relationships with their teams encourage collaboration to strengthen those relationships. These types of leaders are suitable for roles requiring regular interpersonal communication. Some strengths of relationship behaviors include:
Finding out how leaders combine these two different behaviors to persuade others and achieve their organizations’ goals is the main goal of identifying these two distinct behaviors. According to this theory, people can develop into effective leaders using learned behavior in addition to inherited traits.
What are the disadvantages of the style theory of leadership?
The flexibility of this leadership style has some drawbacks as well. This theory’s main drawback is that it doesn’t explicitly state what to do to get particular results.
Some additional disadvantages of this theory include:
What are the advantages of the style theory of leadership?
Comparing the style leadership theory to other trait-based approaches, there are several advantages. Its application is supported by numerous studies, making it a reliable and practical method for comprehending leadership processes.
Some additional benefits of this theory include:
Tips for adopting the style theory of leadership
You can use the leadership style theory in a variety of ways to improve your leadership abilities. Examining your leadership style or the style of those around you is one of the first steps in adopting this style. You can reflect and make changes in accordance with your research once you have determined which actions within your company appear to produce the desired results.
You can start implementing behavioral patterns that are more appropriate for your circumstances and the people around you once you’ve determined which behaviors may help your team members succeed. You can use relationship behaviors that emphasize fostering productive communication, for instance, if your team frequently complains about unclear instructions and other communication problems. Individual behavioral skills can be learned or conditioned because they need to be applied in different ways to constantly changing situations.
What are some other common leadership theories?
There are several other theories of leadership besides the behavioral or style theory that concentrate on different aspects of leaders. Additional theories include:
Although some elements of various theories may overlap, each theory has distinctive core elements that set one theory type apart from another theory type. You can learn about your leadership style’s strengths and weaknesses, which could make you a more effective leader. It’s crucial to keep in mind that in order to get the desired results, leaders frequently modify or adapt their leadership style to fit their particular group or situation.
Leadership – Theories & styles
FAQ
What are the 4 types of leadership styles?
- Autocratic.
- Democratic.
- Laissez-faire.
- Transformational.
What are the 3 types of styles of leadership?
- Authoritarian leadership. …
- Participative leadership. …
- Delegative leadership. …
- Reflect on your values. …
- Think about your management style. …
- Decide if you need to make changes. …
- Transformational leadership vs. …
- Expressive leadership vs.
What are 5 types of leadership styles?
- Authoritarian Leadership.
- Participative Leadership.
- Delegative Leadership.
- Transactional Leadership.
- Transformational Leadership.
What are the 7 leadership styles and meaning?
The top seven leadership philosophies are: autocratic, authoritative, democratic, pace-setting, coaching, affiliative, and laissez-faire.
