Leadership Style
Is there one best leadership style? Evaluate.
Quick and Nelson (2013) defined leadership as “the process of guiding and directing the behaviour of people in the work environment” (p.380). A leadership style is how a leader gives directives, device plans and inspires his people. We will be exploring the five commonly known leadership styles.
Lewin (1939) categorised leadership into three styles: Autocratic, Democratic and Laissez-Faires. Autocratic leaders or authoritarian leaders, always give a clear directions on what, when and how to do the job. This type of leader will have the final say whether it is exclusively from his own ideas, or just a small fraction of the ideas from his team. The decision made by this leadership is less innovative at all times. The misuse of this leadership style is always observed as dictatorian and domineering. (stated in Cherry, n.d.)
Democratic leadership or participative leadership is the best leadership style found to be effective by Lewin (1939). The team members are provided guidance by the leader, who participate in the team, as well as permit the team members to contribute their ideas. The final decision will be made by the leader. The team members are more motivated and this will create an innovative end result. Greenleaf (1970) shared the same theory which he named servant leadership. (stated in Robert Greenleaf, Centre for Servant Leadership, 2013)
Laissez-fair leadership, or delegative leadership is the less effective and productive style of leadership. The team members are not provided with any guidance, and final decision is left to the team members.
Transactional leadership, or managerial leadership (Burns, 1981) describes this leadership as the management style; it applies the basic management practice. The employees are motivated by rewards and punishments. (stated in Cherry, n.d.)
Bass and Riggi (2008) described transformational leadership in which the leaders inspire the employees to follow
Quick and Nelson (2013) defined leadership as “the process of guiding and directing the behaviour of people in the work environment” (p.380). A leadership style is how a leader gives directives, device plans and inspires his people. We will be exploring the five commonly known leadership styles.
Lewin (1939) categorised leadership into three styles: Autocratic, Democratic and Laissez-Faires. Autocratic leaders or authoritarian leaders, always give a clear directions on what, when and how to do the job. This type of leader will have the final say whether it is exclusively from his own ideas, or just a small fraction of the ideas from his team. The decision made by this leadership is less innovative at all times. The misuse of this leadership style is always observed as dictatorian and domineering. (stated in Cherry, n.d.)
Democratic leadership or participative leadership is the best leadership style found to be effective by Lewin (1939). The team members are provided guidance by the leader, who participate in the team, as well as permit the team members to contribute their ideas. The final decision will be made by the leader. The team members are more motivated and this will create an innovative end result. Greenleaf (1970) shared the same theory which he named servant leadership. (stated in Robert Greenleaf, Centre for Servant Leadership, 2013)
Laissez-fair leadership, or delegative leadership is the less effective and productive style of leadership. The team members are not provided with any guidance, and final decision is left to the team members.
Transactional leadership, or managerial leadership (Burns, 1981) describes this leadership as the management style; it applies the basic management practice. The employees are motivated by rewards and punishments. (stated in Cherry, n.d.)
Bass and Riggi (2008) described transformational leadership in which the leaders inspire the employees to follow