Six Leadership Styles for Your Business
You’ve probably developed a leadership style—but do you adapt that style to changing situations?
Here are six of the most common leadership styles and their suggested use, as outlined by this article in Harvard Business Review.
COERCIVE
I have worked for coercive people. As you may guess, this style of leadership can lead to rapid results but it has no staying power.
Coercion is destructive, with high staff turnover and low morale being common side effects.
“Do as I say!” works only for a short while. That makes it a tool to use ONLY in emergencies or other situations requiring quick direction.
2. AUTHORITATIVE
This style sounds like authoritarian leadership—but it’s not.
You set guidelines for reaching goals and trust your team to self-direct.
The authoritative style tends to engage staff. For example, a leader might inspire staff by announcing that, “our product/service will help people live healthier and longer lives.” This inclusive and informative approach leads to more satisfied personnel.
Authoritative is the opposite of Coercive.
3. PACESETTING
This approach holds your team and you to high standards.
However, pacesetting can prevent staff from equating their individual work with the big picture—leading to potential staff turnover and burnout.
Pacesetting also brings added pressure to your company. It works best when your staff is motivated and skilled.
4. AFFILIATIVE
Affiliative leadership frequently shapes a positive work environment, because you acquaint yourself with team members and recognize their achievements.
It’s often effective when combined with the Authoritative style in making a balanced workplace.
5. DEMOCRATIC
If you’re not sure about how best to meet challenges or solve problems, the Democratic style is a solid approach.
It may not be great if your team is inexperienced—or if there’s a crisis that calls for quick action.
6. COACHING
Coaching your staff encourages future engagement and leadership.
This style takes the most time to implement, requiring focus on staff’s individual growth.
It pays off by helping employees feel appreciated and inspired. It’s great during performance reviews and can be part of daily conversations.
For more about leadership styles, check out this episode where we discuss each in more depth.
