Content area
Full Text
As a leader, are you a motivational encourager, a morale crusher, or perhaps a combination of the two? The truth is, some days require you to be a coach, some days demand a visionary who motivates the team, and some days make you feel like a dictator instead of a skilled professional at the helm of a talented team.
There are many leadership styles, and no one style is right or wrong. Every leader has his or her own unique voice and individual approach to people and projects. Yet it's important to realize that different styles work better in different circumstances and at different times-and to achieve different purposes.
All leaders, even those who are highly collaborative, use a range of leadership styles, sometimes even within a single day. Being an effective leader means learning to adapt your leadership style to the business environment, your team members, and the business goals you encounter around you.
Being genuine is an essential component of good leadership, but that doesn't mean sticking rigidly to one style. To learn how to be a more effective leader, let's explore some basic leadership styles and how to use them to your-and your team's-advantage.
FIVE BASIC LEADERSHIP STYLES
Most leaders follow at least one (and, most likely, more) of these basic leadership styles:
Authoritative Leadership
Authoritative, or autocratic, leadership works best when a team needs strong direction. This type of leadership identifies challenges that lie ahead and focuses the team on a common goal. It allows individuals to decide how their efforts will achieve the desired end result.
Authoritative leadership doesn't work if you aren't the most knowledgeable member of the group because you can't be an authority on a subject where you lack deep knowledge and experience. This style is used best when there's little time for group decision making and when the situation demands immediate action.
Coaching Leadership
Coaching leadership is most effective when employees are receptive to change and learning because the purpose of your coaching is to help them learn and grow. This leadership style focuses on long-term personal development as well as job-related skills.
Coaching leadership isn't effective when an employee is defiant or if you, as the leader, lack proficiency in what you're trying to teach....