The following is an article “Which Type of Leader Are You?” by Marc Primo.
Like a steering wheel that angles the axles and tires toward the right direction, a leader is instrumental in getting a company to its desired destination. If you are one, the effectivity of your troupe’s efforts depends on the type of leadership you implement. But do you know what kind of leader you really are?
While there are several types of leadership, knowing what fits your company’s culture and making time to perfect your style can spell the difference between failure and success. Here, we’ll discuss six types of leadership that are most effective in today’s business culture.
Autocratic or “the decision-maker”. Autocratic leaders are basically strict in all aspects of your company’s operations, particularly in the decision-making process. These types of leaders are usually those who have ran through the mill and know every aspect of the entailing work. While it’s next to never that this leader will take inputs from his team members, the best decision-makers can thrive in such jobs as those in hotel management, newspaper publishing, or even the presidency.
Bureaucratic or “the textbook leader”. This type of leadership is also known as the strict enforcer in how he follows guidelines to a tee to avoid any mistakes. Textbook leaders usually respect the hierarchy and chain of command. They are ideal for companies that don’t require much creativity from the subordinates as they only tend to focus on the company’s administrative needs. These leaders are good types for healthcare, security, and law enforcement sectors.
Charismatic or “the people’s champ”. Wouldn’t everyone love a charismatic leader? A motivating figure whose mere presence encourages his team to follow his lead. Let’s take this one as a role model who has proven himself in the past and earned the right to be crowned the king. Charismatic leaders have an aura of positivity in them that makes them likeable to their employees. Though we don’t often meet these kinds, they flourish in high-energy companies like tech strartups, non-governmental organizations, and strategy groups.
Democratic or “the open-minded chief”. This leader is the closest opposite to an autocratic leader as he welcomes suggestions and ideas form his subordinates even in major company decisions. But this is not for his own lack of knowledge, but more for his thirst to find innovative solutions. He fosters collaboration and synergy and is not afraid to learn a thing or two from the rank and file. Members usually admire this type of leader because they find purpose in their work and are appreciative of company inclusion. This type of leadership is best suited for creative work environments such as in schools, the arts, and startups.
Laissez-faire or “the hands-off manager”. As its moniker suggests, this type of leader implements a hands-off approach to his subordinates and trusts their judgement in minor decision-making processes. The good thing about this type of leadership is that it develops responsibility and accountability among its members, while leaving the monitoring and evaluation aspects to the leader. The laissez-faire leader does provide tools, direction, and resources to his employees to aid them in doing what they think are best for the company. Some companies that can benefit from this type of leadership include those that are into advertising, research and development, and engineering.
Transformational or “the interactive boss”. Much like the charismatic leader, this type of leader motivates his employees with his bursts of energy and bright ideas. The difference lies in how well the transformational leader instills confidence and accountability to his subordinates. They encourage, inspire, and foster creativity among their workers, which all leads to a change in the company and steers it to success. Most transformational leaders take work in software companies, tech startups, and entertainment.