Leadership

Leaders are emerging, everyday and the demand for great leaders is growing! To get to know the types of leadership styles, when to use which ones, and methods to adapt your own style if you think it needs adapting, I’ll refer to Mindtools which provides an informative in depth look at Leadership styles and theories. In their article, “Leadership Styles – Choosing the Right Style for the Situation,” the authors define the types of styles including Transformational Leadership considered the most effective, and one that will be expanded upon throughout this section. Additionally, I’ve found that learning the types of leadership styles is not only important from the point of view of our own skill development, it is also useful to know the general views of the leaders you’re working with, and how they relate to you and the teams they lead. Seeing leadership from this point of view has been super helpful, and more will be covered in the next section. For now I’ve summarized the leadership styles presented by Mindtools below:

1. Transactional Leadership. The basis for this type of leadership is a contract. Employees get paid and must do what they’re told as part of the contract. The premise is that work will get done when there is a reward and that is it. No more. No less. The organization or leaders with this style get to reward and punish employees for either doing what they are told, or not. Good to know right?

2. Autocratic Leadership. This is Transactional Leadership to the extreme. Here, leaders behave with a stance of complete “power” over employees. Members of the team are not given opportunities to make suggestions. The authors suggest this method is good in crisis.

3. Bureaucratic Leadership. Here leaders lead by the book, only and rigorously. The authors suggest this style works if in a manufacturing industry, or toxic substances.

4. Charismatic Leadership. The leaders here inspire with a bottom line view towards self, unlike Transformational Leadership which we’ll talk more about in additional sections. Here the leader may often not believe so much in

the team as they do themselves and feel the team will fail without them. Leaders here also feel invincible and do not take heed to warnings.

5. Democratic Leadership. Here leaders include team members, encourage participation and team members feel in control of their destiny.

There is also an increase in skill development as members of the team are actively engaged in projects with full participation including in decision making. Everything takes longer, though the output is often better.

6. Laissez-Faire Leadership. Here leaders provide resources and advice and leave their teams to their work. It works well with experienced, skilled and self motivated persons and if the leader provides ongoing feedback.

7. Task -Oriented Leadership. Task-oriented leaders focus only on the task, getting something done, not necessarily the well being of their team and is an autocratic style. The work is defined, who will do what is specified, an outlined created, a timeline made and then it’s monitored. This style works well for creating performance standards and benefits team members who need help with time management.

8. People-Oriented/Relations-Oriented Leadership. Leaders here are completely focused on preparing, supporting and developing their teams sometimes at the expense of project tasks. Everyone has an equal say and these leaders are available whenever they are needed. Team members

take more risks and are are generally more productive because they know they will be supported. This style is the polar opposite of the Task-oriented Leader, though a combination of both are most often used in reality. Look to Mindtools “The Blake Mouton Managerial Grid” summary to learn more.

9. Servant Leadership. This style fits anyone who meets the needs of the team. They have integrity, lead with generosity and similar to the democratic style of leadership because everyone is included in decision making. These leaders showcase their teams rather than themselves and stay out of the limelight.

10. Transformational Leadership. Transformational Leadership is seen as the most effective leadership style in business. Here leaders expect the best from others and themselves, inspire with a shared vision, define goals and manage teams with enthusiasm to achieve those goals. Teams are engaged in the process leading to high productivity though this style can also benefit

from detail oriented persons on these teams.

The authors suggest an integration of styles to add to your repertoire and some are more useful than others depending upon the circumstances. Again, great read, great website!

There are many things to be said or done about Leadership. One thing, I’ll say hands down, is if you care about yourself, care about your team or want to build on your leadership skills in any way…Get Yourself Here: The Leadership Transformation Group!! No Kidding! This group offers the most insightful, the most spot on, most informative, most thorough, most effective and greatest training for leadership I have ever participated in!! Now they’ve gone virtual and are launching workshops for as little as $50. It will be a great honor to yourself and your teams, I promise. Sign up to their website and join whatever they’re doing!

In addition to honing in on your own leadership skills, it will teach you how to respond to many types of leaders and personalities. There will be so many long lasting effects and simple techniques that will stay with you forever! I can’t urge you enough to go to the website now, click on a few intriguing topics, or pick up the phone and talk to someone about you or your team needs. Definitely sign up to receive information about seminars, upcoming events and keeping an eye out for the toolbox they are developing! It will get you and your teams from wherever you are to a place closer to here…

…and at the very least, remind you whenever you need it, that a place like this does actually exist and you can think about it or the principles that got you here whenever you need to! I choose this picture also because it’s a great one for centering, meditating, and breathing….and whenever I think of the Leadership Transformation Group training, I go to places like this. In the meantime, go ahead and take a couple of deep breaths…

For additional information please see:

Transforming Leadership, by James MacGregor Burns:

Leadership, by James MacGregor Burns:

Transformational Leadership by Bernard B. Bass & Ronald Riggio:

The Bass Handbook of Leadership: Theory, Research & Managerial Application by Bernard M. Bass & Ruth Bass:

Stories of Transformative Leadership in the Human Services, Why the Glass is Always Full by Steve Burghardt and Willie Tolliver:

Macro Practice in Social Work for the 21st Century by Steve Burghardt

Book photos courtesy of Amazon!

I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.